HOT HOV Lane

[jel]

Was waiting for this day. Since we have the new HOT lane on I-167, I was waiting for the morning that someone pulled me over. It was today. "License, registration, and proof of insurance please....pause...oh, I didn't see her (my 4 year old sleeping in the car seat). I replied, "I know, that's why you stopped me, right?" So this will probably be a weekly thing now that the cops are in FULL force looking for HOT violators. It's hard enough seeing an adult in one of these with tinted windows, so a small child will make for some entertaining commutes.

[SkyBaby]

Yikes..... Hmmm... I wonder should we take a poll as to how often you.. or others will be pulled over for "short" folks in these cars? I had my grandson in my car with his huge carseat... and... I pulled along a cop in a zone meant for 2 or more in a car.... and he had his window down... LOL... CHICAGO TRAFFIC.... and said..... "You arent suppose to be in that lane with one person!".... then he seen the carseat and asked if there was a kid in it.... OMG.... he said sorry and then went on his way... IN THE CARPOOL LANE ALONE..... I guess they have different rules.... SkyBaby

[SKYtime]

Hopefully, the same cops will be on the beat and they will just know your car and let you keep going.....

[Bogie]

C'mon down to 95 in NOVA. It's HOV3.

[SKYtime]

Originally Posted by Bogie

C'mon down to 95 in NOVA. It's HOV3.

I would strongly suggest staying out of the HOV3 lane in a two-seater...

[lorennerol]

Originally Posted by jel

Was waiting for this day. Since we have the new HOT lane on I-167, I was waiting for the morning that someone pulled me over. It was today. "License, registration, and proof of insurance please....pause...oh, I didn't see her (my 4 year old sleeping in the car seat). I replied, "I know, that's why you stopped me, right?" So this will probably be a weekly thing now that the cops are in FULL force looking for HOT violators. It's hard enough seeing an adult in one of these with tinted windows, so a small child will make for some entertaining commutes.

It's all about revenue in this state right now. "To Protect and Serve"...the state budget. They see 167 and the other crowded freeways as a huge potential revenue source and little more.

[jel]

I was thinking the same. Why didn't they just open the HOV lane to all traffic? Money. Then they have all these people sitting on the side of the road wasting more manpower. But I'm not bitter, I get to use the HOV lane.

It was HOV3 when I visited Canada, too. They're serious about their carpooling.

[Sky_Pilot]

Originally Posted by jel

Was waiting for this day. Since we have the new HOT lane on I-167, I was waiting for the morning that someone pulled me over. It was today. "License, registration, and proof of insurance please....pause...oh, I didn't see her (my 4 year old sleeping in the car seat). I replied, "I know, that's why you stopped me, right?" So this will probably be a weekly thing now that the cops are in FULL force looking for HOT violators. It's hard enough seeing an adult in one of these with tinted windows, so a small child will make for some entertaining commutes.

I know I'm going to get blasted for my comment and position on this topic, but I just need to point out that the whole reason behind the HOV lane is to reduce the number of cars on the freeway, not to cheat by having a child in the car. Personally, they should ticket any car that is in the lane that does not contain at least two licensed unrelated (family-wise) drivers. You're simply cheating on a technicality.

[lorennerol]

Originally Posted by Sky_Pilot

I know I'm going to get blasted for my comment and position on this topic, but I just need to point out that the whole reason behind the HOV lane is to reduce the number of cars on the freeway, not to cheat by having a child in the car. Personally, they should ticket any car that is in the lane that does not contain at least two licensed unrelated (family-wise) drivers. You're simply cheating on a technicality.

How in the world would you ever enforce such a thing? As a car whizzes past at 60+ how does a cop tell if both drivers are licensed and unrelated?

And even if they pulled people over, how to they tell if the passenger(s) and driver are related?

I'm glad to see they've stepped up enforcement on 167, but I think it's unfortunate that they have focused there and not on all the carpool lanes in the area.

[RedHeaded RedLine]

Originally Posted by Sky_Pilot

I know I'm going to get blasted for my comment and position on this topic, but I just need to point out that the whole reason behind the HOV lane is to reduce the number of cars on the freeway, not to cheat by having a child in the car. Personally, they should ticket any car that is in the lane that does not contain at least two licensed unrelated (family-wise) drivers. You're simply cheating on a technicality.

It is none of the state's business how many people I have in my car. Let's try some equal protection under the law. I paid my sales tax; I paid my gas tax; I may even have paid a toll in that god foresaken Commonwealth. When we are going though Va, it is in the wagon, with 27% tint. The 2 of us and the dog always wiz down the HOV lane, laughing at the fools waiting on line in the sucker lanes. We have been up and back 5 times. Even if we were to get a ticket, it will have paid for itself in time saved. I would factor it into the cost of fuel & deal with it... -J

[jel]

For the first three years I lived here, I refused to drive in the HOV lane because I had a kid. For the last year, I have. I guess the sainthood has worn off and I don't mind letting my kid sleep an extra 40 minutes in the morning because the state wants to make a buck.