The SBCTA Board of Directors approved a four‑month pilot program to test new technology that could improve enforcement on the I‑10 Express Lanes. Since the lanes opened, verifying whether drivers meet the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV 3+) requirement has been a challenge. Current methods depend on California Highway Patrol field patrols and a beacon system where drivers self‑declare their occupancy. However, recent audits showed that more than 40 percent of drivers who claimed HOV 3+ status were not actually eligible. This high level of misuse affects traffic flow, reduces the benefits for true carpoolers, and lowers toll revenue that supports transportation improvements.
To address this issue, the Board authorized staff to launch an Automatic Occupancy Detection (AOD) pilot using camera‑based technology. These systems use advanced imaging and artificial intelligence to count passengers inside a vehicle as it travels through tolling points. Unlike app‑based systems that still rely on driver honesty, camera‑based AOD works automatically and provides verifiable results without requiring drivers to download anything or change how they use the Express Lanes.
During the four‑month pilot, each company will install and operate its equipment at designated locations along the I‑10 Express Lanes. The systems will collect occupancy data linked to toll transactions for testing purposes only. No citations will be issued, and no tolls will be adjusted based on the pilot results. SBCTA staff will review system accuracy, reliability, cost, and overall benefits to determine whether AOD could help improve enforcement and protect against lost revenue in the future. The total cost of the pilot will not exceed $150,000.
At the end of the pilot, staff will present the findings to the Board along with recommendations on next steps. If the technology proves successful and the Board chooses to move forward with a full deployment, SBCTA would need to invest in permanent equipment and make updates to toll policies and operations. For now, the pilot will give the agency valuable real‑world data to understand how automated enforcement tools could enhance fairness and performance on San Bernardino County’s growing Express Lanes network.