Read the full stored bill text
1
May 6, 2025
Nyasha Howard
Secretary to the Council
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Secretary Howard:
Today, along with Councilmembers Lewis George, Henderson, and Nadeau, I am introducing the
“Automated Curbside Management System Amendment Act of 2025”. Please find enclosed a
signed copy of the legislation.
Management of curbside space in the District is a persistent challenge. Loading and unloading
zones are often illegally occupied or obstructed by personal automobiles, which forces freight
and delivery drivers to double -park in vehicle travel lanes. While vehicles can be ticketed for
failure to pay for a metered space or remaining in the space after the meter has expired,
accountability relies on parking enforcement officers discovering a violation before the vehicle is
moved. The lack of consistent accountability for these violations reduces the supply of an already
scarce resource in the District: parking space. Poor curbside management leads to increased
traffic congestion, noise, and emissions as drivers circle the block to find available parking. It also
frustrates residents, businesses, and delivery workers who rely on consistent access to curbside
space for deliveries.
D.C. Code § 50 –2651 currently requires that the Mayor establish a curb loading zone
management program, which may include a system of automated enforcement. Separately, D.C.
Code § 50–2303.02a authorizes the Mayor to use an automated parking enforcement system to
detect parking infractions. Despite being authorized to administer an automated curbside
management system, the District has not yet established a system that efficiently manages the
use of curbside space.
2
Recently, several cities in the United States—including Pittsburgh1 and Houston2—have launched
programs that automate the management of curbside space, particularly loading and unloading
zones, using an online billing system and automated license plate readers. These programs, often
referred to as Smart Loading Zone programs, typically require that drivers set up an account
through which they are automatically billed for using curbside space instead of manually pay ing
for curbside access at a meter or kiosk. License plate readers detect when a vehicle enters the
loading zone and drivers are billed accordingly, while drivers who use the zone without an
account are issued tickets. Some programs prov ide a brief grace period for registered and
unregistered drivers to occupy the curb without charge.
Inspired by the success of these programs, this bill would require that the District Department of
Transportation (“DDOT”) establish an Automated Curbside Management System that uses
technology to obtain and transmit real -time information of curbside use a nd automatically bills
drivers for the time spent at the curb. More specifically, the bill also requires that DDOT establish
and issue regulations for a Smart Loading Zones Program, enumerating certain topics that must
be addressed in the regulations (e.g. , the fee schedule for registered users). The bill allows, but
does not require, DDOT to use a dynamic pricing system that adjusts parking rates based on
demand. Finally, the bill requires that DDOT, for any procurement related to implementation of
the bill, prioritize applicants whose automated curbside management technology can provide
additional functionality, such as the automated enforcement of moving violations. Together,
these changes in law will facilitate more seamless access to the curb, reduce tr affic congestion,
and allow for more efficient deliveries.
Sincerely,
Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6
Chairperson, Committee on Transportation & the Environment
1 City of Pittsburgh, Smart Loading Zones (last visited May 1, 2025), https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/smart-
loading-zones.
2 Automotus, Automotus Partners with ParkHouston to Launch Smart Loading Zones in Houston (Feb 12, 2025),
https://www.automotus.ai/post/automotus-partners-with-parkhouston-to-launch-smart-loading-zones-in-
houston.
1
_____________________________ _____________________________ 1
Councilmember Christina Henderson Councilmember Charles Allen 2
3
4
_____________________________ _____________________________ 5
Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau 6
7
8
9
A BILL 10
11
________ 12
13
14
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 15
16
_________________________ 17
18
19
To amend the District of Columbia Traffic Adjudication Act of 1978 to require that the District 20
Department of Transportation establish an Automated Curbside Management System, to 21
require that the District Department of Transportation establish and issue regulations for a 22
Smart Loading Zone Program, and to make conforming amendments. 23
24
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 25
act may be cited as the “Automated Curbside Management System Amendment Act of 2025”. 26
Sec. 2. Section 302 of the District of Columbia Traffic Adjudication Act of 1978, effective 27
September 12, 1978 (D.C. Law 2-104; 25 DCR 1275), is amended to read as follows: 28
“(a) The District Department of Transportation (“DDOT”) shall establish an Automated 29
Curbside Management System that manages the use of curbside space through: 30
“(1) Cameras, sensors, or other technology that obtain and transmit real-time 31
information regarding the use of curbside space; 32
“(2) An automated payment system that can charge, invoice, or otherwise collect 33
payment from individuals for the lawful use of curbside space, including through an account-based 34
or subscription system available through a browser-based or mobile application; and 35
2
“(3) The issuance of fines or the assessment of points against individuals or their 36
motor vehicles for the unlawful use of curbside space , including parking and other non -moving 37
violations. 38
“(b) The Automated Curbside Management System may use dynamic pricing that adjusts 39
fees for the use of curbside space based on duration, location, time of day, and current demand. 40
“(c)(1) DDOT shall establish within its Automated Curbside Management System a Smart 41
Loading Program that manages curbside space reserved for picking up and dropping off passengers 42
or loading and unloading goods through an automated payment system as described in subsection 43
(a)(2) of this section. 44
“(2) No later than 90 days after the effective date of this section, DDOT shall issue 45
regulations for the Smart Loading Zones Program (“Program”) that include: 46
“(A) A description of locations where Smart Loading Zones are established 47
and the hours during which Smart Loading Zones are in effect; 48
“(B) A description of how individuals or businesses can enroll in the 49
Program, including any restrictions or eligibility criteria; 50
“(C) A fee schedule for the lawful use of Smart Loading Zones; 51
“(D) A fine schedule for the unlawful use of Smart Loading Zones; and 52
“(E) The process by which individuals and businesses are notified of, and 53
can contest the issuance of, a fee or fine. 54
“(3)(A) No later than six months after the effective date of this section, DDOT shall 55
begin operating the Program. 56
“(B) DDOT may, for the first month during which the Program is in effect, 57
issue warning citations that do not impose a monetary penalty. 58
3
“(d)(1) DDOT may contract with a third -party vendor to implement the requirements of 59
this section. 60
“(2) For any request for proposal or any other solicitation of a contract related to 61
the implementation of the requirements of this section as authorized under paragraph (1) of this 62
subsection, DDOT shall prioritize applicants whose technology provides, or can provide, 63
additional functionality, such as: 64
“(A) Automated lane enforcement; 65
“(B) Automated traffic enforcement for moving violations; and 66
“(C) Dynamic pricing. 67
“(e) For the purposes of this section, the term “curbside space” means the space within a 68
street or road adjacent to the curb designated for parking, picking up and dropping off passengers, 69
or loading and unloading goods , excluding parking spaces managed by the Residential Permit 70
Parking (“RPP”) Program administered pursuant to 18 DCMR § 4232 et seq. 71
Sec. 3. The Commercial Curbside Loading Zone Implementation Act of 2009 , effective 72
October 22, 2009 (D.C. Law 18-66; 56 DCR 6608), is repealed. 73
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 74
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact 75
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 76
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 77
Sec. 5. Effective date. 78
This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 79
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30 -day period of congressional review as 80
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 81
4
1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1 -206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 82
Columbia Register. 83