Accuracy of EZ PASS Flex Monitoring

[Anonymous]

I just noticed that the EZ Pass in our SUV was in the 3-person mode. I asked my wife and she thinks she may have switched it into that mode about a month or so ago. Since then I've been driving inside the beltway on 66 by myself to and from work a couple times each week.

So this just made me wonder how exactly do they enforce this? I rarely look at the transponder which is behind my rearview mirror, and could easily have been driving it this way for an extended time.

I know I'm not the first person this has happened to, just curious now if/how they even enforce it ?

[Anonymous]

My DH did the same thing and a cop sitting in the emergency lane pulled him over, checked car, and issued a $500 ticket. I think the EZ pass sensor on the road must alert any waiting police that a vehicle is on the HOV setting so the police can then visually verify.

[Anonymous]

DW did the same thing but I left it on flex mode since I wasn't pulled over for 6 months. Been 2 years now and haven't been pulled over, maybe because I drive a minivan with car seats?

[Anonymous]

It’s a gamble. Clearly could go either way. The ticket is high if caught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH did the same thing and a cop sitting in the emergency lane pulled him over, checked car, and issued a $500 ticket. I think the EZ pass sensor on the road must alert any waiting police that a vehicle is on the HOV setting so the police can then visually verify.

Yes, I think it depends on where you're driving. The newer lanes have cameras. You can see them positioned off to the side right after the toll sensors. It'll detect the number of riders, and there's some sort of built in feedback loop, because sometimes my EZpass will actually beep at me when I pass through. If those cameras don't detect enough riders, they have a human review them, and I think you only get fined if they can prove the seats are empty. I use the lanes often with a kid in a rear facing car seat, and while my transponder beeps about 30-40% of the time, I've yet to get a nasty-gram from Ezpass. You're supposed to receive a warning first, and then they'll start charging you the toll + and admin fee.

I think for the lanes inside 66, it's like you described, as they don't have those cameras installed (yet.) The sensor tips nearby LE if the EZ pass flex is in use, and then the cop will pull you over if the passenger seat is empty (which is why people with car seats were having such a hard time.)

[Anonymous]

OP here. Our Midsize SUV has slighted tinted windows for the second row and rear - came that way from the factory, juts a slight tint for sun reflection I guess. Even though its a very slight tint it does make it harder to see inside unless you are close to the window. So maybe that's the deal. LE see's an SUV, can't easily make out whether there are kids in the back or not and doesn't bother to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH did the same thing and a cop sitting in the emergency lane pulled him over, checked car, and issued a $500 ticket. I think the EZ pass sensor on the road must alert any waiting police that a vehicle is on the HOV setting so the police can then visually verify.

This happened to me too. I was pulled over and the cop saw that I had my two kids in the backseat and let me go.

[Anonymous]

We got a notice once from EZPass that we had it in HOV3 setting and only 2 people were detected in the car. This was on the 95 portion. This was done via remote camera, and it was true (we neglected to switch the EZPass from our last trip). I have no idea if it would have been able to see/detect kids/babies in the backseat if they were there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH did the same thing and a cop sitting in the emergency lane pulled him over, checked car, and issued a $500 ticket. I think the EZ pass sensor on the road must alert any waiting police that a vehicle is on the HOV setting so the police can then visually verify.

Yes, I think it depends on where you're driving. The newer lanes have cameras. You can see them positioned off to the side right after the toll sensors. It'll detect the number of riders, and there's some sort of built in feedback loop, because sometimes my EZpass will actually beep at me when I pass through. If those cameras don't detect enough riders, they have a human review them, and I think you only get fined if they can prove the seats are empty. I use the lanes often with a kid in a rear facing car seat, and while my transponder beeps about 30-40% of the time, I've yet to get a nasty-gram from Ezpass. You're supposed to receive a warning first, and then they'll start charging you the toll + and admin fee.

I think for the lanes inside 66, it's like you described, as they don't have those cameras installed (yet.) The sensor tips nearby LE if the EZ pass flex is in use, and then the cop will pull you over if the passenger seat is empty (which is why people with car seats were having such a hard time.)

Mine beeps sometimes but not all the time. Any idea what the beep means? I asked EZpass and they had no idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH did the same thing and a cop sitting in the emergency lane pulled him over, checked car, and issued a $500 ticket. I think the EZ pass sensor on the road must alert any waiting police that a vehicle is on the HOV setting so the police can then visually verify.

Yes, I think it depends on where you're driving. The newer lanes have cameras. You can see them positioned off to the side right after the toll sensors. It'll detect the number of riders, and there's some sort of built in feedback loop, because sometimes my EZpass will actually beep at me when I pass through. If those cameras don't detect enough riders, they have a human review them, and I think you only get fined if they can prove the seats are empty. I use the lanes often with a kid in a rear facing car seat, and while my transponder beeps about 30-40% of the time, I've yet to get a nasty-gram from Ezpass. You're supposed to receive a warning first, and then they'll start charging you the toll + and admin fee.

I think for the lanes inside 66, it's like you described, as they don't have those cameras installed (yet.) The sensor tips nearby LE if the EZ pass flex is in use, and then the cop will pull you over if the passenger seat is empty (which is why people with car seats were having such a hard time.)

Mine beeps sometimes but not all the time. Any idea what the beep means? I asked EZpass and they had no idea!

Mine was starting to beep every time I flipped the HOV switch, because the battery was dying, but in this case it would beep continuously for 10 minutes (with no way to turn it off. It was a nightmare!) But now with my new transponder, it only beeps sometimes when I pass through a toll plaza, and usually at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got a notice once from EZPass that we had it in HOV3 setting and only 2 people were detected in the car. This was on the 95 portion. This was done via remote camera, and it was true (we neglected to switch the EZPass from our last trip). I have no idea if it would have been able to see/detect kids/babies in the backseat if they were there.

I think they use AI to check if there's any hint of a passenger in the back seats. I bought 3 HOV dummies on Amazon which I rotate each day of my commute and have not been ticketed or pulled over.