HOV Lane Observations

And almost everybody drives above the speed limit too. What's your point? It's only against the law if you get caught!

 

There observance would be "the rules are to be broken, some how"

 

Good observations. I have noticed the same.

 

I am from NJ

Electric Hybrids are allowed in HOV lanes (print out from DOT website proof as many state troopers are unaware of this law and I was almost ticketed if I did not have the article)

Here is what I see in order from most frequent to least

1. Unauthorized vehicles (less then 3 people in car)
2. New Jersey Transit Buses going from South NJ to NYC etc or back
3. Very very few electric plug-ins cause they don't realize they have this privledge

 

here in VA hybrids used to get an HOV exemption so long as they had the "special fuel" plates. about a year ago they stopped the HOV exemption for newly tagged vehicles hybrids/electrics. sicne they realized that people were buying cars so they could use the HOV lanes. IE HOV lanes were getting crowded with single driver hybrids...

Older plates are still exempted. so... if you have an old plate, and you use the HOV lanes...when its time you can transfer the tag to another hybrid/electric.

but people will break the law. not like the cops can catch everyone...

 

What? No legitimate 3+ person carpools?

 

...if that is true for all of CA, then it sounds like the HOV lanes could handle more green stickers sales as long as they kick the bad guys off.

I don't do much HOV travel in VA, but my impression is we minimize offenders better than it sounds like CA does. On the DC Beltway we have HOT-3 and cops are constantly policing the lanes. Seems to me to be their No 1 priority here, as opposed to speed tickets etc.

 

Is that what you teach your kids?

 

Oh no, I'm a very stand up guy, only teach my kids what's right. This is just my observation. I don't even answer the phone with my kids in the car (guilty only if you get caught).

 

This is very true. There are so many offenders on the roads, if they were to just police the carpool lanes, the state would be rich. The green stickers is a sticky subject, along with the offenders, the HOV lanes are almost like regular lanes now.

I honestly don't see the benefit of the green stickers. During rush hour, those lanes are just as crowded as the other lanes. It's only free and clear during non rush hours. So what's the point to have it?

 

Definitely - Same observations but a different order.

• Cars not eligible for HOV decals cars with 2 or more people in them
• People with eligible green or white stickers
• Ineligible cars, driver only
• People who have eligible cars but don't have stickers (usually Tesla model S)

 

Actually, the days that I avoid the HOV lanes in general are weekends and holidays. It seems a lot more people (e.g., families) load up with more than one person in the vehicle.

Then there is the 405 and 5 freeways in OC, which between 4pm and 6pm northbound, fuggitaboutit.

 

It's just not the OC. I'm not sure on the legality of using the fast track lanes on the 110 and 10, but the 605, 210, 91, 57.....it's hopeless during rush hour.

 

That's true, too. Although my HOV lane experience going from Claremont to Irvine in evening rush (east I-10, south SR-57 and south I-5) has been extremely variable, ranging from full posted speeds to parking lot emulation mode.

 

I'd say #2 and #3 are about equal on your list given my observations. Almost no enforcement whatsoever on the 91 and the 405 from south bay to Santa Monica.

You need a Fastrak transponder for the 10/110, and just set the switch to 3+. There was a bill that passed to allow us to use it toll-free so long as our stickers are valid. I don't have the source as I'm typing from my phone right now, but I use it once in a while. There is a $1/month maintenance fee, but that's significantly cheaper than other Fastrak programs so it's hard to complain.

 

I see so many single drivers in non eligible cars everyday on my commute. I'm on the 60, 605 and 210.

I also encounter many people who think I don't deserve to be in the carpool lane despite having a sticker. I get tailgates much more when I'm in the carpool lane. Then there's others who think I'm just breaking the law and know nothing of the stickers.

And my commute which is over an hour is only 5-10 minutes less using the carpool lane. Getting over to it then in and out of it is a mess. Then when I finally get there it rarely moves faster than the regular lanes.

 

Good point yes there are but so far and few in numbers I actually forgot to add them in a far fourth place. LOL nice catch

 

If the green stickers are valid for fast trak, it would be worth while to get one. They are the only lanes that move

SM-N900P ?

 

Note that's only applicable to the 10/110, still pay full price for the 91 and the OC Toll Roads.