Do you use the HOV lane illegally?

[Anonymous]

I use the HOV lane every weekday on 270 and the Beltway. It’s often nearly as busy as the other lanes, suggesting to me there are people using it illegally.

Given that this is an anonymous forum with no repercussions for admitting it: do you use the HOV lane, even when you’re driving by yourself? If so, why?

[Anonymous]

Shouldn't you be able to tell if people are using it illegally by seeing if they have the right number of passengers? There's just a lot of traffic, in general, it doesn't seem so odd to me that there are a lot of people in the HOV lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't you be able to tell if people are using it illegally by seeing if they have the right number of passengers? There's just a lot of traffic, in general, it doesn't seem so odd to me that there are a lot of people in the HOV lanes.

I’m concentrating on driving, not on looking in people’s windows. It’s also difficult to see in anyone’s car when I’m in the same lane as them.

[Anonymous]

No, I always drive with Dolly, my inflatable doll.

[Anonymous]

Nope. The fine if you get caught is crazy. No way.

[Anonymous]

I use it too (legally). I find it a huge time saver. I have not really noticed any one person cars. They do random checks where they stop every car so I do not reccomend it.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t committed since the pandemic but when I did I’d say easily 80% of people in the Hov lanes had only one person in the car

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. The fine if you get caught is crazy. No way.

Not worth it to me.

Not only a hefty fine but an entire Saturday spent at traffic school.

Too much money + time lost….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't you be able to tell if people are using it illegally by seeing if they have the right number of passengers? There's just a lot of traffic, in general, it doesn't seem so odd to me that there are a lot of people in the HOV lanes.

Babies in car seats count towards the number of passengers. If there is a baby in a car seat in the back, no one in the other lanes (including the cops that are sometimes waiting on the shoulder) can see.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know about 270, but aren’t the Beltway lanes express lanes that are free for HOV or you can pay a toll as a single occupant?

[Anonymous]

I never cheat on HOV lane rules

[Anonymous]

No, except the last minute before the 270 Bethesda exit, because I don't like changing lanes at the last minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I use the HOV lane every weekday on 270 and the Beltway. It’s often nearly as busy as the other lanes, suggesting to me there are people using it illegally.

Given that this is an anonymous forum with no repercussions for admitting it: do you use the HOV lane, even when you’re driving by yourself? If so, why?

No, I don't. Do you?

[Anonymous]

Hov is silly, we have an electric car and should be exempt