so I got pulled over by a cop...

jaguaraja · 07-26-2006, 12:11 PM

I'm driving to a meeting in Brooklyn from eastern LI and I'm on the LIE using the HOV lane. Traffic is moving along nicely and a cop that was also driving with traffic looks me over from the lane to the right of me, crosses into the HOV lane and starts up his lights...just great...

Now I'm confused as I'm not sure what to do, where I was then, there was very little room to pull over on the left, so I couldn't do that. In order to go over to the right I would need to cross the HOV buffer and there was no HOV exit coming soon. The last thing I wanted to do was cross the HOV buffer and add another thing for the cop to ticket me with.

The cop pulls to the right of me and waves me to the right. Phew! At least I knew I could cross the buffer now without worry. I get to the right most lane and pull over. There I am sitting watching in the rear view mirror as the officer writes stuff down and takes a good 10 minutes doing whatever. He then comes over to my window and asks for the usual (license, reg, etc). He takes a look at everything and then he utters the magic words..."you were in the HOV lane, the HOV lane requires you to have a passenger to be with you." I mentally sigh in relief and calmly tell the officer that I have the Clean Pass stickers on the car. He moves to the back of the car to look for the stickers then comes back to me, apologizes since he did not see the stickers, gives me back my license and sends me on my way!

Whew! disaster averted...the day is saved! It's too bad it made me late for my meeting. <_<

HTMLSpinnr · 07-26-2006, 12:28 PM

Semi OT but related to the OP:

Back before hybrids were in the US (1999), I was in Southern CA going eastbound on the CA 91 fwy. I had been traveling in the Fastrak (toll) lanes for work (in the company car). There's a segment after those lanes while still in Orange county that single occupant Fastrak users can remain in the lane. However once you cross county lines and the lanes merge from 2 to 1, they also become HOV only and single occupant Fastrak drivers must exit.. I was daydreaming about an argument I had earlier that day w/ my wife and spaced out on exiting the HOV lane. I had already realized it just as soon as the lane ended, but didn't want to cross the buffer to correct my error, so had planned on exiting at the next possible exit.

Worried that I'd get caught, I checked my rear-view, and it was just my luck that a CHP *was* checking HOV occupants about 100 yards back. He came up along side of me as I was half way to the next exit and did a double-take and noted that I was riding solo. I paniced and crossed the double-yellow buffer about 500 ft before the exit. He had not signaled me to cross over, but I knew after he saw me and fell back, that he was getting ready to pull me over, so I wanted to "undo the wrong" ASAP.

Out of his generosity, he *only* ticketed me for crossing the buffer, rather than riding solo *and* crossing the buffer. Guess it was the more expensive of the two - at the time the fine was $326 which was higher than the $279 minimum. Guess it really was a toll lane that day! When I told him I completely spaced and wanted to get out ASAP, he told me to pay more attention next time and that crossing the yellow was still an offense. To add insult to injury, on my return trip I saw a solo driver deliberately enter and ride in the HOV lane the same day.

I've also heard stories where people swerving into the HOV lane to avoid an accident were also ticketed.

Moral - like the OP did, don't cross the buffer unless directed to do so.

Also makes me glad in AZ that the buffer is solid white which makes it crossable at any point.

BobZ · 07-26-2006, 12:45 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jaguaraja @ Jul 26 2006, 12:11 PM) [snapback]292588[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'm driving to a meeting in Brooklyn from eastern LI and I'm on the LIE using the HOV lane. Traffic is moving along nicely and a cop that was also driving with traffic looks me over from the lane to the right of me, crosses into the HOV lane and starts up his lights...just great...

Now I'm confused as I'm not sure what to do, where I was then, there was very little room to pull over on the left, so I couldn't do that. In order to go over to the right I would need to cross the HOV buffer and there was no HOV exit coming soon. The last thing I wanted to do was cross the HOV buffer and add another thing for the cop to ticket me with.

The cop pulls to the right of me and waves me to the right. Phew! At least I knew I could cross the buffer now without worry. I get to the right most lane and pull over. There I am sitting watching in the rear view mirror as the officer writes stuff down and takes a good 10 minutes doing whatever. He then comes over to my window and asks for the usual (license, reg, etc). He takes a look at everything and then he utters the magic words..."you were in the HOV lane, the HOV lane requires you to have a passenger to be with you." I mentally sigh in relief and calmly tell the officer that I have the Clean Pass stickers on the car. He moves to the back of the car to look for the stickers then comes back to me, apologizes since he did not see the stickers, gives me back my license and sends me on my way!

Whew! disaster averted...the day is saved! It's too bad it made me late for my meeting. <_<
[/b]

That's what you get for missing my BBQ!

tumbleweed · 07-26-2006, 01:40 PM

There are not many HOV lanes in Oregon, in my part of Oregon there are none for over 200 miles. About 2 1/2 years ago I was in Colorado and I noticed the lanes with diamonds in them and a sign that said HOV. I had no idea what the diamonds were or what HOV was but the empty lanes were nice so I used them. I did notice some people looking at me kind of funny but I thought they were just looking at the tourist so I smiled and may have waved. Had a nice trip with no problems.

Last year after I bought my Prius I joined this group and here is where I finally learned what an HOV lane was.

Jeannie · 07-26-2006, 01:48 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(htmlspinnr @ Jul 26 2006, 12:28 PM) [snapback]292606[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Also makes me glad in AZ that the buffer is solid white which makes it crossable at any point.
[/b]

Everywhere I've ever lived, a solid white line means 'don't cross', the same as a solid yellow line. I've lived in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey. Usually the yellow lines separate lanes going in opposite directions and white separates lanes where theyre both in the same direction.

Tempus · 07-26-2006, 02:49 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeannie @ Jul 26 2006, 01:48 PM) [snapback]292656[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Everywhere I've ever lived, a solid white line means 'don't cross', the same as a solid yellow line. I've lived in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey. Usually the yellow lines separate lanes going in opposite directions and white separates lanes where theyre both in the same direction.[/b]

Correct.

Solid Line = Do Not Cross

There is a spot in Rock Creek Park where the right lane is exit only (Right below the Zoo headed northbound for you locals).

About 100 yards before the exit, the line changes to solid white. Traffic can line up for a half mile or more in that lane, and there are always those folks who want to run up and jam in at the last minute.

About once a week the Park Police will set up just over the crest of the hill (the exit is at a slight crest) and all you can see is the helmet and Aviator Shades of one cop peeking over the hill at oncoming traffic.

They have an assembly line set up and anyone who jams in past the solid white line gets waved over into the line to get a ticket.

Quite amusing.

I just looked up the AZ Drivers License manual, and Solid Lines mean do not cross there too, for the record.

Solid White lines are most often seen:

1) At lights with turn only lanes, to prevent you from going straight. If you go straight from the turn only lane, you have crossed the white line

2) Freeway Entrance and Exits to prevent you from swerving off at the last minute or blowing right onto the freeway at the end of the ramp. Usually there is a bit of solid white at each entrance and exit.

3) "Stay In Lane" situations like Tunnels and Construction.

As far as I know, it's universal.

sl7vk · 07-26-2006, 02:52 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Jul 26 2006, 02:49 PM) [snapback]292691[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Correct.

Solid Line = Do Not Cross

There is a spot in Rock Creek Park where the right lane is exit only (Right below the Zoo headed northbound for you locals).

About 100 yards before the exit, the line changes to solid white. Traffic can line up for a half mile or more in that lane, and there are always those folks who want to run up and jam in at the last minute.

About once a week the Park Police will set up just over the crest of the hill (the exit is at a slight crest) and all you can see is the helmet and Aviator Shades of one cop peeking over the hill at oncoming traffic.

They have an assembly line set up and anyone who jams in past the solid white line gets waved over into the line to get a ticket.

Quite amusing.

I just looked up the AZ Drivers License manual, and Solid Lines mean do not cross there too, for the record.
[/b]

Well in Utah it's just a solid yellow line the entire way... Never goes to dashes.... It's in and out as you please for the HOV.

rachelreese · 07-26-2006, 03:21 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Jul 26 2006, 01:49 PM) [snapback]292691[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I just looked up the AZ Drivers License manual, and Solid Lines mean do not cross there too, for the record.
[/b]

Actually, at the bottom of page 43 in the manual (http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/documents/C...de_99-0117.pdf) it says:

Solid White Line
A solid white line marks the right edge of the roadway or separates lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. You may travel in the same direction on both sides of this line, but you shouldn't cross the line unless you must do so to avoid a hazard.

So, technically, it IS ok to cross the white line. I assumed it was totally wrong when I moved here, and grumbled every time someone cut in. Only later did I find out that it's only that you "shouldn't" cross it. What do other states say? I wonder if the rules are murky enough that you can define what you were doing in several cases as "avoiding a hazard", so that most officers don't bother citing for it? I personally haven't heard of anyone in AZ being cited for crossing a solid white line, but that obviously doesn't mean it's never happened.

Interesting.

eagle33199 · 07-26-2006, 04:04 PM

I've never seen anyone cited for crossing a white line, but i do remember back when i was in drivers ed (quite a while ago), i pointed that out to my father one day when we were driving... Technically, you aren't supposed to cross the solid white line, but you also aren't supposed to change lanes in the middle of an intersection. Well, there's one intersection near where we were living that had two lights closely spaced together. the first one had a left turn only lane, as did the second, but in order to get into the left turn only lane for the second you either had to cross the white line or change lanes in the middle of the intersection... interesting problem which, i believe, only helps to prove that you don't get pulled over for breaking trivial little laws like this... you get pulled over because someone has a target they have to reach (in terms of dollars collected from innocent tax payers) or has had a bad day.

usbseawolf2000 · 07-26-2006, 04:52 PM

It happened to me one time also. I was driving toward LI on LIE. The cop realized his mistake before he got out of his car. As soon as I pulled over and stopped, announced through the loud speaker that he didn't see the Clean Pass sticker.

He was also in the left "normal" lane. Sneaky but gets the job done keeping non qualifying drivers off HOV.

Dennis

07-26-2006, 12:11 PM	#1
jaguaraja Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 147 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	I'm driving to a meeting in Brooklyn from eastern LI and I'm on the LIE using the HOV lane. Traffic is moving along nicely and a cop that was also driving with traffic looks me over from the lane to the right of me, crosses into the HOV lane and starts up his lights...just great... Now I'm confused as I'm not sure what to do, where I was then, there was very little room to pull over on the left, so I couldn't do that. In order to go over to the right I would need to cross the HOV buffer and there was no HOV exit coming soon. The last thing I wanted to do was cross the HOV buffer and add another thing for the cop to ticket me with. The cop pulls to the right of me and waves me to the right. Phew! At least I knew I could cross the buffer now without worry. I get to the right most lane and pull over. There I am sitting watching in the rear view mirror as the officer writes stuff down and takes a good 10 minutes doing whatever. He then comes over to my window and asks for the usual (license, reg, etc). He takes a look at everything and then he utters the magic words..."you were in the HOV lane, the HOV lane requires you to have a passenger to be with you." I mentally sigh in relief and calmly tell the officer that I have the Clean Pass stickers on the car. He moves to the back of the car to look for the stickers then comes back to me, apologizes since he did not see the stickers, gives me back my license and sends me on my way! Whew! disaster averted...the day is saved! It's too bad it made me late for my meeting. <_< __________________ I get 50mpg, How 'bout you? (my current bumper sticker)

07-26-2006, 12:28 PM	#2
HTMLSpinnr Gen III Forums Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ (Phoenix) Posts: 4,075 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 218 Thanked 437 Times in 196 Posts Friends: 18	Semi OT but related to the OP: Back before hybrids were in the US (1999), I was in Southern CA going eastbound on the CA 91 fwy. I had been traveling in the Fastrak (toll) lanes for work (in the company car). There's a segment after those lanes while still in Orange county that single occupant Fastrak users can remain in the lane. However once you cross county lines and the lanes merge from 2 to 1, they also become HOV only and single occupant Fastrak drivers must exit.. I was daydreaming about an argument I had earlier that day w/ my wife and spaced out on exiting the HOV lane. I had already realized it just as soon as the lane ended, but didn't want to cross the buffer to correct my error, so had planned on exiting at the next possible exit. Worried that I'd get caught, I checked my rear-view, and it was just my luck that a CHP was checking HOV occupants about 100 yards back. He came up along side of me as I was half way to the next exit and did a double-take and noted that I was riding solo. I paniced and crossed the double-yellow buffer about 500 ft before the exit. He had not signaled me to cross over, but I knew after he saw me and fell back, that he was getting ready to pull me over, so I wanted to "undo the wrong" ASAP. Out of his generosity, he only ticketed me for crossing the buffer, rather than riding solo and crossing the buffer. Guess it was the more expensive of the two - at the time the fine was $326 which was higher than the $279 minimum. Guess it really was a toll lane that day! When I told him I completely spaced and wanted to get out ASAP, he told me to pay more attention next time and that crossing the yellow was still an offense. To add insult to injury, on my return trip I saw a solo driver deliberately enter and ride in the HOV lane the same day. I've also heard stories where people swerving into the HOV lane to avoid an accident were also ticketed. Moral - like the OP did, don't cross the buffer unless directed to do so. Also makes me glad in AZ that the buffer is solid white which makes it crossable at any point. __________________ Rick Johnson - Prius Expert/Gen III Forums Moderator His: Gen III 2010 Prius - Blizzard Pearl Prius IV w/ Solar - 6.3k miles - (First in SW Region!) - 2010 Photos - Mods: Curt Hitch, Toyota Premium Horn, Illuminated Door Sills Hers: Gen II 2004 - Tideland Green Pearl #9 - 117.6K miles - Mods: Bridgestone Ecopia Tires, Homemade mesh foglamp grills Past: Gen I 2002 - Blue Moon Pearl - Mods: Costal hitch Facebook - Ask an Expert I am not employed by Toyota, and the opinions expressed by me as a Prius Expert are not those of Toyota.

07-26-2006, 01:40 PM	#4
tumbleweed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 1,692 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 33 Thanked 105 Times in 84 Posts Friends: 0	There are not many HOV lanes in Oregon, in my part of Oregon there are none for over 200 miles. About 2 1/2 years ago I was in Colorado and I noticed the lanes with diamonds in them and a sign that said HOV. I had no idea what the diamonds were or what HOV was but the empty lanes were nice so I used them. I did notice some people looking at me kind of funny but I thought they were just looking at the tourist so I smiled and may have waved. Had a nice trip with no problems. Last year after I bought my Prius I joined this group and here is where I finally learned what an HOV lane was. __________________ Tom

07-26-2006, 04:04 PM	#9
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,283 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 35 Thanked 70 Times in 40 Posts Friends: 3	I've never seen anyone cited for crossing a white line, but i do remember back when i was in drivers ed (quite a while ago), i pointed that out to my father one day when we were driving... Technically, you aren't supposed to cross the solid white line, but you also aren't supposed to change lanes in the middle of an intersection. Well, there's one intersection near where we were living that had two lights closely spaced together. the first one had a left turn only lane, as did the second, but in order to get into the left turn only lane for the second you either had to cross the white line or change lanes in the middle of the intersection... interesting problem which, i believe, only helps to prove that you don't get pulled over for breaking trivial little laws like this... you get pulled over because someone has a target they have to reach (in terms of dollars collected from innocent tax payers) or has had a bad day. __________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pulled Radio-Big Problem	lowbone	Gen II Prius Technical Discussion	3	09-01-2007 08:13 AM
Finally pulled the trigger!	ttague	Gen II Prius Main Forum	3	05-28-2007 09:19 PM
Got pulled over because I was driving a hybrid	dbotello	Gen II Prius Main Forum	28	09-14-2006 12:53 AM
cargo net pulled from hook	TheNJDevil	Gen II Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	6	12-28-2005 11:45 AM
Pulled the trigger on 06...	jeffn	Gen II Prius Main Forum	10	10-09-2005 09:03 PM

07-26-2006, 04:52 PM	#10
usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 3,254 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 106 Thanked 178 Times in 111 Posts Friends: 59	It happened to me one time also. I was driving toward LI on LIE. The cop realized his mistake before he got out of his car. As soon as I pulled over and stopped, announced through the loud speaker that he didn't see the Clean Pass sticker. He was also in the left "normal" lane. Sneaky but gets the job done keeping non qualifying drivers off HOV. Dennis