Troopers target HOV lanes

Having a monthly pass, an additional passenger, an eco-friendly car or a motorcycle are still the only ways a motorist can legally travel in the double-lined, high-occupancy lane on I-15 in Utah and Salt Lake counties.

"We're seeing a lot of problems with people traveling in the express lanes," said Utah Highway Patrol trooper Jeff Nigbur. "We've seen a lot of crashes and a lot of injuries involved with improper lane changes and speeding in those lanes."

Troopers on Tuesday performed an educational enforcement blitz, focusing on motorists' usage of the HOV lanes in Utah County. They are planning a similar crackdown in Salt Lake County today.

Between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon, and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., at least eight troopers will drive with traffic along the length of the express lanes in Salt Lake County. They will look for any violations, including vehicles crossing the double white line, vehicles speeding and vehicles not meeting the various specifications that allow them to use the lanes. Five troopers will continue the enforcement in Utah County between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon today, as well.

"We want to get everyone on the same page as far as what the rules are and why and how to use the lanes," Nigbur said.

During the eight hours of enhanced enforcement in Utah County on Tuesday, Nigbur said 86 vehicles were pulled over. Seventy-six of them were given citations, not all pertaining to travel in the express lanes, and 32 warnings were given, some in addition to a citation.

"Whether drivers are doing these things on purpose or because they don't know the rules around the express lane, the result is the same; the lane is not as safe or functioning as well as it could be," said Utah Department of Transportation spokesman Nile Easton.

He said even though each express lane is carrying more vehicles and freeing up the other lanes more than last year at this time, random noncompliance has hurt the potential efficiency of the lanes. Installing the double lines, with certain dotted locations allowing for entry, earlier this year was intended to provide the more than 1,300 users of the express lanes more security in knowing when and where other drivers would enter and leave the lanes.

"To other drivers, the double white line should be as a wall," Easton said. "Crossing that line is unfair to carpoolers, unfair to pass-holders and is against the law."