Santa Monica’s sneaky new tactic to catch unruly cyclists — it’s a California first with $93 fines

They’re robo-cops. Santa Monica has become the first city in California to crack down on bike lane violations using security cams powered by artificial intelligence. The initiative targets vehicles that illegally park that stop or park illegally in the cyclist’s side of the road, forcing peddlers into the street where the risk of an accident goes up exponentially, according to City Of Santa Monica Blog. To prevent this, the city mounted AI-powered cams on enforcement vehicles, so they can bust violators by recording the time and location, as well as video and photos of the incident. Pedestrians and bicyclists commute along the paved path through the sand at Santa Monica Beach on June 27, 2026 in Santa Monica. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images This marks the culmination of a multi-year eff