CA HOV Lanes - Who is legal?

[BigJim_610]

Question for the LEO's on this board.

I see many darkened Crown Vic's with CA exempt plates and one driver running the HOV lane during commute hours.

Is this legal or is the CHP allowing them "professional courtesy?"

[Fire in the Hole]

There's been a lot of discussion on this subject already. Try the SEARCH button. Type in "carpool lanes", then check past posts, not past threads. You will find lots of discussion on the rules and regulations, and exemtions there.

[Jonathan Doe]

I drove in a carpool lane alone the other day.

The reason:

I left the all night crime scene in Palmdale at 0630 hrs and traffic was building up. I had to be in my office in east LA to book the evidence, change into my suit and be at Norwalk court by 0830 hrs to meet the deputy district attorney and testify for my case at 0900 hrs. There was no way I could meet the time if I drove in the regular traffic lane. Thus I had to use the carpool lane. I know some LEO's have the reasons to use carpool lanes.

[packnrat]

I drove in a carpool lane alone the other day.

The reason:

I left the all night crime scene in Palmdale at 0630 hrs and traffic was building up. I had to be in my office in east LA to book the evidence, change into my suit and be at Norwalk court by 0830 hrs to meet the deputy district attorney and testify for my case at 0900 hrs. There was no way I could meet the time if I drove in the regular traffic lane. Thus I had to use the carpool lane. I know some LEO's have the reasons to use carpool lanes.

That does not sound like a legal reason to be in the special lane.
A lot of us normal people need to be places at times, but we cannot use this lane.
Now if one has to get some place and a life depends on it,

.

[BigJim_610]

Me to

I was in my marked company van, in the HOV lane and on my way to the major northern CA hospital to work on their blood bank refrigeration system. They were in danger of loosing dozens of pints of blood. Someone could perhaps die, not get sentenced or miss a court date.

I was stopped and cited.

How does that saying go about the spirit of the law?

I drove in a carpool lane alone the other day.

The reason:

I left the all night crime scene in Palmdale at 0630 hrs and traffic was building up. I had to be in my office in east LA to book the evidence, change into my suit and be at Norwalk court by 0830 hrs to meet the deputy district attorney and testify for my case at 0900 hrs. There was no way I could meet the time if I drove in the regular traffic lane. Thus I had to use the carpool lane. I know some LEO's have the reasons to use carpool lanes.

[BigDogatPlay]

I often see unmarked Crown Vics both with E plates and with cold plates running solo in the HOV lanes in the Marin county commute. How CHP treats them, or what they think about it, I don't know but I can certainly guess.

A marked unit, to my thinking, is a different story but I will say that I've seen more than a few local agency marked units flying solo taking their place in traffic with the rest of us. I always did unless it was a code call.

People, generally, know what our unmarked vehicles are when they see them, or can guess. What message does it send if it appears like we are flouting it?

[cmonk518]

All unmarked and marked CA police cars are considered emergency responder vehicles and are pretty much exempt from all highway restrictions, parking ordinances, and such.

I know that especially applies when on-duty, but even off-duty, I don't know of any CHP officers who would pull over a LE vehicle with blue lights or even a license plate number that is tagged by DMV as an first responder vehicle or top brass. That might be more professional courtesy. It might not be fair to most civilians, but these are the same people you would call if you were in deep sh*t. I think thats a fair trade....

[Fjold]

All unmarked and marked CA police cars are considered emergency responder vehicles and are pretty much exempt from all highway restrictions, parking ordinances, and such.

I know that especially applies when on-duty, but even off-duty, I don't know of any CHP officers who would pull over a LE vehicle with blue lights or even a license plate number that is tagged by DMV as an first responder vehicle or top brass. That might be more professional courtesy. It might not be fair to most civilians, but these are the same people you would call if you were in deep sh*t. I think thats a fair trade....

I would never call "top brass" if I was in deep doodoo and they wouldn't be the ones to respond anyway.

[sorensen440]

I drove in a carpool lane alone the other day.

The reason:

I left the all night crime scene in Palmdale at 0630 hrs and traffic was building up. I had to be in my office in east LA to book the evidence, change into my suit and be at Norwalk court by 0830 hrs to meet the deputy district attorney and testify for my case at 0900 hrs. There was no way I could meet the time if I drove in the regular traffic lane. Thus I had to use the carpool lane. I know some LEO's have the reasons to use carpool lanes.

If I used the excuse that I had to be in court at a certain time would you write me a ticket ?

[cmonk518]

I would never call "top brass" if I was in deep doodoo and they wouldn't be the ones to respond anyway.

You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. No one is calling top brass. I'm not saying you would even call top brass in an emergency or if you even could, just saying if CHP ran the plate number even on a car that doesn't look like police vehicle and comes back belonging to a Deputy Chief, Commander, or higher, CHP is highly not going to pull them over. And top brass may not be the first responders to every crime scene, but they have every right and legitimate motive to jet to major crime scene in a hurry if needed. That's their job. That's what gives them the right to travel in carpool lanes whether people like it or not. And you are wrong, in almost all "deep sh*t" scenarios or major crime, someone usually higher ranking than a Sgt. will arrive on scene also.

All I know is that if I was in deep sh*t and appropriate LE needed to use highways and freeways to get to me, I really wouldn't care what roads they use.

It's funny nobody ever complains about motorcycle cops taking up carpool lane space. It's pretty much the same thing, one single individual LEO occupying a tiny piece of road except in a bigger moving object. It's no big deal....

[odysseus]

We must run on some of the same roads. For sure often the HOV lanes during congested commute hours are abused by LE and others with exempt plates who are not in need of them for express transportation. Not just Crown Vics, and mostly all in civilian clothes just looking like they are cruising home at the end of the day.

Everyone I think just jots it down as a professional privilege they get, along with their "business" car they get to use to and from home. However it does create animosity and more of that slow erosion of respect - and leadership\management would be good to hammer down on this practice but for only the necessity of a need for actual work.

I often see unmarked Crown Vics both with E plates and with cold plates running solo in the HOV lanes in the Marin county commute. How CHP treats them, or what they think about it, I don't know but I can certainly guess.

A marked unit, to my thinking, is a different story but I will say that I've seen more than a few local agency marked units flying solo taking their place in traffic with the rest of us. I always did unless it was a code call.

People, generally, know what our unmarked vehicles are when they see them, or can guess. What message does it send if it appears like we are flouting it?

[Jonathan Doe]

If I used the excuse that I had to be in court at a certain time would you write me a ticket ?

If you have a good excuse like that with a subpoena, I will probably give you a break. But, I don't work the streets anymore.

I was almost held comtempt to court when I was late once due to an accident on the freeway. I would not repeat it, again. My excuse for the carpool lane was I was on official government business.

[Fjold]

You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. No one is calling top brass. I'm not saying you would even call top brass in an emergency or if you even could, just saying if CHP ran the plate number even on a car that doesn't look like police vehicle and comes back belonging to a Deputy Chief, Commander, or higher, CHP is highly not going to pull them over. And top brass may not be the first responders to every crime scene, but they have every right and legitimate motive to jet to major crime scene in a hurry if needed. That's their job. That's what gives them the right to travel in carpool lanes whether people like it or not. And you are wrong, in almost all "deep sh*t" scenarios or major crime, someone usually higher ranking than a Sgt. will arrive on scene also.

All I know is that if I was in deep sh*t and appropriate LE needed to use highways and freeways to get to me, I really wouldn't care what roads they use.

It's funny nobody ever complains about motorcycle cops taking up carpool lane space. It's pretty much the same thing, one single individual LEO occupying a tiny piece of road except in a bigger moving object. It's no big deal....

Motorcycles cops (all motorcycles) are legal in the HOV lanes, there's no reason to complain.

[cmonk518]

Motorcycles cops (all motorcycles) are legal in the HOV lanes, there's no reason to complain.

Yup, thats my point...given that hardly anyone ever tailgates a motorcycle in carpool lane, esp. not a motorcycle cop, they occupy pretty much the same amount of space in the car pool lane anyways. Thats why its not even that big of a deal that they use the lane at their discretion, even when alone.

[Go Packers!]

Carpool Lanes (HOV) are a joke! All tax payers pay for them, therefore we should all be able to drive on them.

Most carpool lanes are fairly empty in comparison. Do they really increase the flow of traffic?

It seems to be some liberal attempt of social engineering. Most people I know who drive in the carpool lane are not choosing to take another passenger with them just so they can ride it in it, they were already traveling with another occupant in the vehicle and just take advantage of it. The behavior is unchanged.

By the way, is it an attempt to increase the flow of traffic or reduce emissions? Both?

Now I have no interest in driving a Prius, but it seems to be an unfair advantage to those who can afford these rather pricey hybrids. So called "Lexus Lanes?"

An empty bus???

Electric cars using electricity produced by burning coal???

I'm not bitter or anything.