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SALT LAKE CITY — That far left express lane looks pretty tempting to drivers trying to get out of delays and get moving along I-15. But HOV enforcement means if you’re in that lane illegally, it could cost you $300 and a ticket.
Utah Highway Patrol is hoping for voluntary cooperation from drivers, but that doesn't always happen.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t stop someone for crossing the double-white line or for an HOV violation in and of itself,” UHP trooper Stanton Tucker said.
During a KSL ride along with Tucker, he pulled over two violators within 20-minutes on I-15. In both cases, the drivers had the express lane decal, but they made illegal maneuvers by crossing over the double-white line.
“It’s a safety hazard for the people in the HOV lane, it’s a safety hazard for the people out of the HOV lane,” Tucker said.
Lisa Miller, the Utah Department of Transportation traveler information manager, says Utah’s HOV enforcement violation rate is on the rise.
“In the past, it’s really been observed pretty consistently to be around 17 or 18 percent," Miller said. "But the last study we observed, there was a pretty big jump up to about 28 percent.”
Then you have to factor in cost. To get more money, UDOT will have to go to the state Legislature for approval.
“Last year, UDOT received $1.9 million in revenue from the Express Lane. But after expenses, UDOT netted $164,000, which goes right back into the budget to maintain the program,” UDOT spokesman John Gleason said.
About 1 in 5 drivers in the Express Lane on I-15 is there illegally. Extra troopers have been assigned in the last month to keep a sharp eye on drivers in the HOV lane to encourage them to comply.
