Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the City of Hoboken today announced the new CLEAR (Camera-based License plate Enforcement for Access & Response times) initiative has made a significant impact on improving the safety and efficiency of downtown Washington Street as the program has already led to a 52 percent reduction in parking violations.
Data collected so far shows:
The improvement, achieved in less than a month, demonstrates the program’s immediate impact in deterring illegal and unsafe behaviors like double parking, parking in bus stops, and overstaying in loading zones past the 20-minute time limit, all before the City had issued a single ticket.
“This is a clear victory for public safety and smart urban planning,” said Mayor Bhalla. “In just one week, we’ve dramatically improved conditions on our busiest street. Fewer cars blocking travel lanes means safer crossings for pedestrians, more reliable bus service, and easier access for deliveries and short-term parkers in loading zones. Washington Street is already moving better, and more safely, than it has in years.”
The CLEAR initiative is part of the City’s Vision Zero campaign to eliminate all traffic-related injuries and deaths by 2030. The program uses camera-assisted enforcement to reduce dangerous and illegal parking behaviors that contribute to congestion, obstruct emergency response, and put vulnerable road users at risk.
The program uses cameras, mounted along Washington Street from Observer Highway to Eighth Street, to capture images of potential violations. These images are then manually reviewed by Hoboken Parking Utility staff. Only when a violation is confirmed is a citation then mailed to the registered vehicle owner, allowing Parking Enforcement Officers to focus on the most egregious offenses, generally excluding quick stops to allow a passenger in or out of the vehicle.
The Hoboken City Council authorized the cameras with an 8-1 vote in 2024, following a subcommittee meeting, presentation, and memo, which outlined Phase 1: data collection and Phase 2: enforcement. That data collection phase showed that 79 percent of bike lane violations last four minutes or less. These short-term violations have a significant impact on safety and traffic flow causing vehicles to swerve into oncoming traffic.
By addressing these behaviors, CLEAR is already making the street safer for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, bus riders, and first responders by improving visibility and reducing blocked travel lanes.
Following initial feedback from the Hoboken Business Alliance, the City is proposing an ordinance amendment, before the Hoboken City Council on Oct. 8, to extend loading zone hours from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. The four-hour time adjustment will allow for more short-term parking of up to 20 minutes for patrons and delivery drivers to better support businesses and residents.
Based on early resident input, the City has also implemented a cap of one ticket per license plate per week during the first month of enforcement, in an effort to prioritize education and compliance with the existing laws. This temporary cap will end on Oct. 31.
During the CLEAR pilot program, the City will closely monitor data and community feedback to make necessary adjustments.
“Whether you're a parent walking your child to school, a senior getting on the bus, or a firefighter racing to an emergency, keeping our streets clear makes a difference,” said Mayor Bhalla. “If we keep our streets clear, we keep our community safe. Plain and simple. CLEAR is helping us get there, one day and one lane, at a time.”
For more information about the CLEAR program, go to www.hobokennj.gov/resources/automated-enforcement.
To provide feedback, email CLEAR@hobokennj.gov.
