Archives

Long Island Driver Busted for Mannequin in HOV Lane (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35220611/ns/local_news-new_york_ny/)

The sunglasses on the cloudy day were a giveaway....could have been creative and had a Lady Gaga mannequin.....No that would cause real traffic problems. :p

What's currious is how low the ticket was. If I remember correctly, using a fake passenger in CA will get you a massive ticket compared to just being caught in the lane.

That traffic stop occurred right out by Hauppauge, about 15 minutes east of me.

They do patrol 495 during commuting hours. The HOV is open to all traffic except for four hours in the morning going westbound and four hours in the afternoon going eastbound. When in "HOV mode", they do sit in the median and watch. They are clearly looking for "HOV singles" because they do nothing about the cars in the other lanes zipping by at over 70 (limit is 55).

Last time I was in the HOV (with three people in the car), one of the cruisers had something that looked similar to a radar gun but larger and different. I was wondering it if was an infrared camera (like a FLIR) and he was looking for more than one heat-blob behind the windshield. It was later and dark, so there is no way they could see anyone inside the passing cars. After finding out that the ticket is only $135 plus two points, I wonder where they got the money if they are actually using the heat gun.

The ticket should be $500 or more, considering the budget disaster in NY. The underfunded police force could use the money, although the funds would dry up when people started to realize that saving an hour by sneaking into the HOV would be a $500 per hour mistake.

Someone please explain HOV lane and why it matters whether you have passengers who are real or not:confused:

The idea behind the HOV is to encourage carpooling. If all cars had two passengers instead of one, the traffic volume would be halved when the same number of people commute. The idea on LI has generally been a failure but that is due to the unique nature of the road network, and it is not a problem that is easily solved. So the result is that you get the occasional Plastic Passenger car in the lane because it is so underutilized.

HOV stands for "High Occupancy Vehicle"

Hi Chris:

___Are your HOV lanes exempt for Prius', Insight's and HCH-II's like CA with the stickers? Also, can bikes ride in the HOV lanes?

___Thanks in advance.

___Wayne

Wayne,
The HOV is open to certain driver-only hybrids and electric cars under the Clean Pass program.
Link - http://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/programs/clean-pass - lists those that are eligible:
* Toyota Prius Hybrid, model year 2004 - 2010
* Honda Civic Hybrid, model year 2006 - 2010
* Honda FCX Clarity, model year 2008 - 2010
* Tesla Roadster, model year 2008 - 2010
* Mini Cooper Mini E, model year 2008
* Honda Insight Hybrid (automatic transmission only), model year 2005 - 2006
* Honda Insight Hybrid, model year 2000 - 2004
* Toyota RAV4 EV, model year 2000 - 2003
* Chevrolet S10 Electric, model year 1997 - 1998
The site also defines the criteria - "Motorists whose estimated US EPA fuel economy rating averages at least 45 miles per gallon and meets certain US EPA strict emissions standards will be allowed to participate"
There are plenty of hybrids that don't make the list, including the FFH and FEH, Prius-I, the Insight-II and HCH-I, all GM BAS car and 2-mode truck models, and Chrysler 2-mode truck hybrids.

The HOV guide - http://www.litm.org/downloads/HOVFinal_2.pdf - states that motorcycles can use the lanes, and so can buses and cabs with one or more passengers.

HOV in my state sucks.
Only Hybrids before 2006 and have a Clean pass on them are allowed.
Even the more efficient Prius III (EPA I mean) isn't allowed to ride on HOV unless you have 3 people.

My folks commute together and they would love to get a hybrid for just that purpose.