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can I drive in HOT lanes free in Los Angeles, i.e. the 10 freeway?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by vajratlr, Oct 23, 2013.

  1. chesleyn

    chesleyn Active Member

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    Well A) tinted windows are illegal in California
    And B) yes they have cameras and more CHP on the 110 now.

    Take the risk if you want. Not sure what the fine is.

    iPad ? HD
     
  2. M12

    M12 New Member

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    no ticket. There's no thermal cameras or anything. Its up to CHP to verify the correct number of occupants vs the setting you put it on.
     
  3. vajratlr

    vajratlr Member

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    Not all tinted windows are illegal right? A lot of factory cars come with back windows tinted and they are very legal. And a lot of time, your passengers are sitting in the back especially if you have little ones. And even if the fronts are tinted and illegal, that's not what we're discussing here... The point here is a regular camera will be difficult to see through windows at night or with tinted windows.
     
  4. vajratlr

    vajratlr Member

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    See my post above...
     
  5. chesleyn

    chesleyn Active Member

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    Tinted windows on drivers and right front passenger side door is illegal period. Whether or not you get an officer who wants to ticket you is their call.

    That said.. if you park on the street in an area with meter maids.. you will get the ticket. Meter maids can give you a fixit ticket. If there is anything illegal on your vehicle, they can issue you a citation. I once received a citation from a meter maid for not having front plates, for expired meter, and tinted windows.
     
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  6. Lourun

    Lourun Member

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    Calif is a tough state, glad I live in lawless NJ.
     
  7. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    Yep, I once got a ticket issued by a meter maid for no front license plate on a dealer demo, which requires only one special issue, clearly marked dealer plate. It was a real hassle to get it dismissed, as it is not handled through the courts, but rather a separate office full of folks out of the same mold as the meter maid.:rolleyes: A customer came to the dealership asking for paper advertising plate fillers from us because he got a ticket while parked. He arrived as the car was being cited, and couldn't convince the meter maid that the new car temporary tag in the window was all he needed. She thought he was required to have the paper advertising to prove it was a new car. This was in Beverly Hills.o_O
     
  8. chesleyn

    chesleyn Active Member

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    As a side note on those dealer tags.. this is the only state I have ever lived in where you can drive a vehicle with no identifiable tags or markings legally.

    One night when driving home from work, some hood rat on the 105 freeway slammed into the front right side of my car and didn't stop. They had no plates on their low rent used car that was obviously just purchased because it had no tags on it.

    I got stuck with a $998 repair bill on my car. ($1000 deductible on my insurance as I carry maximum coverage on my policy.)
     
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  9. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Passengers in the back only? Yea . . . maybe if you're a limo driver ;) BTW ... not only can these high dollar TELEPHOTO cameras see very well in low LUX ... they also see very well low LUX looking into headlights.
    Your tax dollars hard at work. They're zoomed in through the windshield.
    [​IMG]

    They just put up a couple more of these bad boys on your route ... and this one is on the HOV only exit ramp. No use trying to back up. Good thing I got stickers. Maybe be the time you see it - the State will have a nice humor sign hanging from it ... like "Smile!!!" ... or "SUCKER!!!" "Naughty Naughty!!!"

    Yep ... and if the camera sees your front plate is missing ... or a headlight is out ... kiss those fix it ticket dollars good bye.
    .
     
  10. vajratlr

    vajratlr Member

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    Or if you're a parent, I'm guessing you probably don't have kids???
    I haven't seen these cameras on the 10 HOT lanes yet. Or did I miss it?
     
  11. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    Particularly if there is an infant or child seat in the back, which could well be out of the line of sight of the camera.
     
  12. JMT

    JMT Junior Member

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    The cameras are NOT to see how many people are your vehicle, they are just there to take a picture of your car and license plate if you are driving in the HOT lanes w/o a transponder. Are you driving in the HOT lanes by yourself, but have the transponder set to 2/3 people? If you are and CHP pulls you over, expect a nice hefty ticket.
     
  13. vajratlr

    vajratlr Member

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    I'm not sure if this camera posted above is the one that takes pictures of cars without transponder as this one is mounted to the ground and takes picture in front of you. The cameras you're referring to are mounted directly over the HOT lanes and takes pics of the rear of the car.

    But no, I've been using HOT lanes truthfully but always wonder how they can catch cheats. I mean if an CHP pulls someone over, all they have to do is flip the switch to 1. Unless they have a way to verify the switch position before pulling people over.
     
  14. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    I guess I don't understand the purpose of the cameras. I can see it if the violation does not involve the number of people in the car (like a red-light camera, or toll road with a fixed rate), but what is the point if an officer has to pull you over to count heads before a ticket can be issued? :confused:
     
  15. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    Does the system have an indicator overhead so that the CHP officer can tell how the transponder is set? If it shows multiple passengers, and if he sees only the driver, he makes the stop on the vehicle- makes no difference if the driver moves the switch on his transponder, as the violation as already occurred. On the 73 toll road there are red lights on the overhead structure that go on momentarily to indicate there has been no transponder signal in a particular lane. All the officer has to do is sit and watch as car passes the reader. It shows on the far side in the direction of traffic, so he can see it as you go under, if he is parked on the shoulder past the reader.
     
  16. chesleyn

    chesleyn Active Member

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    Wow that camera scares me. :cry:
     
  17. M12

    M12 New Member

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    There are overhead lights that flash to indicate what setting you have it on. The cameras on the other hand are there just to pick off the people with no transponders.
     
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  18. vajratlr

    vajratlr Member

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    So I emailed metro express about the fastrak lanes and there's what they said.. looks like we can use them starting March, I'm assuming you just set the transponder to 3???

    Thank you for contacting the Metro ExpressLanes FasTrak® Customer Service Center.

    During this one-year demonstration period your sticker does not allow access to ExpressLanes as a toll-free solo driver. Solo drivers of alternative fuel vehicles will be treated like all other solo vehicles and will be charged a toll to use the Metro ExpressLanes. Starting Effective November 10th single drivers will be charged a toll to use the Metro ExpressLanes on I-110. All motorists traveling in the Metro ExpressLanes will be required to have a prepaid FasTrak® transponder associated with a valid FasTrak® account. However eligible carpools, motorcycles, and vanpools with a switchable FasTrak® will not be charged a toll to use the lanes.


    Please note, AB2405 recently signed by the Governor, allows toll-free access to the Metro ExpressLanes for green and white sticker vehicles AFTER March 1, 2014 but all vehicles will be required to have a FasTrak® transponder to use the Metro ExpressLanes.
     
  19. inventor00

    inventor00 Active Member

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    I have a Fastrak from the OC, so seems I will have to get another transponder with a switch for 1,2,3 people for the 110? Since green stickers can use it after March 1, 2014
     
  20. Ploni

    Ploni New Member

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    Anyone have a guess which FasTrak setting we would use along with the green decals on the 110 HOT lanes? 1, 2 or 3? If you choose 1, they will bill you, correct?

    Perhaps by March 1 they will post more info.