Ticketed for driving in CA HOV lane w/o stickers?

The night I picked up my car I drove from LA to Oceanside using the HOV lane most of the way. About an hour in the lane. No problems. I was going to tell a cop that I had just purchased the vehicle and was told that hybrid vehicles could drive in the HOV lanes. What? You need stickers? What stickers?

 

About a week after applying my stickers, on a drive from LA to Oceanside, CHP in Orange County spotted me, saw that I was driving solo, pulled in behind me and hit the red lights. I took both hands off the wheel and put them up where he could see them in a "what the $%ck are you doing" motion. He shortly pulled beside me and waived. It wasn't dark and how the he11 could he have missed those ugly stickers on my black Pri? I had my speach ready if he had actually stopped me...

 

I have applied only the 2 smaller stickers on the front/lower left and back/lower right bumpers.

Have had several instances of CHP following me in LA (405 carpool) and SD (15 HOV lane), so far no problems!

 

I posted details about my ticket in an earlier post.

How unsettling to discover mine is the ONLY ticket so far! Is this a precursor of my karma? Is ma kar pre cursed?

Went to court a few days ago to get a trial date - my ticket wasn't in their system yet after 20 days so, according to them, even if I were ready to pay a fine they couldn't accept it. Doncha just luv gummit?

Mark Baird
Alameda CA
THE LAWBREAKER

 

Does anyone know if these stickers allow us to bypass the meter lights by using the carpool lanes on the on-ramps? I'm guessing yes, but I don't know for sure. I've done it at least once though.

 

The answer is an YES.
I read that from San Jose Mercury News, Mr/ Roadshow's column.
A reader was asking exactly the same question.
However, it also mentioned that, even with stickers, you CAN'T drive solo on HOV lanes of expressways (due to an oversight of legistration...). :angry:

 

You mentioned Expressways...I don't have my DMV book handy...What are and Where are some examples of expressways? Thanks.

 

I don't know where you live but, in SF (south) Bay Area, here are some examples:
Capitol Expressway, Montague Expressway, San Thomas Expressway, Lawrence Expressway, etc. Those expressways have traffic lights, speed limit of 55mph and HOV lanes. Prius with stickers are NOT allowed to ride on those HOV lanes, according to Mr. Roadshow. He called those "county-level" expressways (I have no clue why?!).

 

Those roads are owned and maintained by the county government, not the state. Even so, CHP has the jurisdiction to give tickets on them. I agree that it is a stupid loophole and I don't see how it was accidentally created. Why does state law supersede local law except in this case?

(Oh, and for the record, the speed limit on Lawrence is 50, and San Tomas/Montague is only 45!)

 

Thanks for the reply ceric. I better watch for those expressways the next time I'm up north.

 

I'm aware of the issue and occasionally use the HOV lane on Montague but it does raise a question or two:

• Were there absolutely no State funds used in the building, upgrading or maintaining of those roads?
  Is the State 100% reimbursed by the county for the expenses related to CHP patrolling these roads?

Isn't there someone that is a lawyer, has a Prius, and is willing to test this in court?

 

Thanks for the info on using the diamond lane on entrance ramps. I did it the other morning, bypassed a looong line of traffic, and wondered if I'd get ticketed or not.

Jan

 

Well, after all, California is pretty much it's own country.

 

All 4 are affixed, but to glass: lower rear window, lower windshield, side triangle windows. I checked 20-50 hrs with no tickets.

 

JKnight,
With stickers, you are allowed on the HOV entrance ramps 365 days, 24 hours/day. Note that those entrance ramps have no time period attached. They are full-time (weekend included) HOV lanes. (that is why they are surrounded by solid white lines.)