Riverside County Takes Steps to Address Carpool Lane Violations
New System Detects High-Occupancy Vehicle Lane Violations Along 91 Freeway
Transportation officials in Riverside County are stepping up enforcement against carpool lane violations with the introduction of high-resolution cameras along the 91 Freeway. This initiative is designed to deter drivers who attempt to misuse the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) 3+ lanes, which require three or more occupants.
Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) officials shared details of the new system with NBC Los Angeles on Thursday. The cameras are strategically placed to monitor vehicles as they pass through the HOV toll facility. “This system is different because it’s a camera looking into the level of your vehicle as you pass through the HOV toll facility,” stated David Knudsen, deputy executive director of the RCTC.
The camera system operates around the clock, detecting the number of occupants in each vehicle. If a car is found with fewer than three passengers, the 50% toll discount associated with the HOV 3+ lane will not be applied. Violations of HOV lane regulations in California typically lead to citations costing approximately $490.
While officials did not disclose the exact locations of the cameras along the 91 Freeway, the RCTC reported that around 100,000 drivers, or 25% of the 400,000 users of the carpool lanes, are caught violating regulations each month, particularly during peak morning and evening hours.
It’s important to note that pets do not qualify as legal occupants for the purposes of using the HOV 3+ lanes, according to RCTC guidelines.
