October 24, 2019
ALEXANDRIA, VA – To ensure fairness for all drivers, the Virginia State Police (VSP); Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), operator of the 66 Express Lanes inside the Beltway; and the 495/95/395 Express Lanes team are working together to strictly enforce high occupancy vehicle (HOV) laws.
On Thursday, October 24, VSP will be coordinating an HOV enforcement blitz across northern Virginia. This means drivers can expect to see an increased police presence on the 495 and 95 Express Lanes and the 66 Express Lanes. Troopers will be on the lookout for drivers not in compliance with the HOV laws.
“Troopers are essential to keeping the busy HOV and express lanes highway corridors in northern Virginia safe and efficient,” said Captain J. P. Koushel, Virginia State Police Fairfax Division Commander. “Whether responding to incidents, stopping dangerous drivers or citing HOV violators, we patrol the roads each and every day to make sure drivers are in compliance with Virginia law.”
In addition to law enforcement on express lanes, the 495/95/395 and 66 Express Lanes teams continue to deploy the latest technology to safely identify violators and deter drivers from evading tolls (the 395 Express Lanes open in November). Most recently, a mobile beacon has been deployed on the 495 and 95 Express Lanes. This mobile tool can easily move to locations throughout the 495/95/395 Express Lanes network to alert VSP when an E-ZPass® Flex is in HOV mode. The 66 Express Lanes will be following suit soon with the same mobile technology.
“Northern Virginia has more than 80 miles of HOV and express lanes operating today that provide commuters with reliable travel options and encourage carpooling and transit use,” said VDOT Tolling Division Administrator David Caudill. “HOV cheating on these facilities is illegal and it can negatively impact the travel of motorists who follow the rules. That’s why we continuously work with partners and Virginia State Police to deter cheaters by developing new and efficient methods for stronger enforcement.”
The mobile beacon is just one of many tools express lanes operators have been leveraging to ensure fair travel on the lanes, in addition to the following:
According to studies by the 495/95/395 Express Lanes team, a majority of Express Lanes drivers support HOV enforcement.
“The rules are there and spelled out. It's a form of theft,” said a frequent Express Lanes driver as part of a focus group. The driver added, “If you just don't feel like paying the toll, you're cheating. The lanes are designed to encourage carpooling and raise money for road funding from those who choose to use the more convenient method despite lack of carpool.”
Drivers should know the laws before hitting the road.
| 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes | 66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway | |
|---|---|---|
| HOV car occupancy requirements | 3 or more people | 2 or more people |
| HOV laws in effect | At all times. 365 days a year, 24 hours a day | Weekdays: Eastbound 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. Westbound 3 to 7 p.m. |
Express lanes can significantly reduce traffic congestion for all commuters while carpooling can help keep tolls lower and reduce harmful carbon emissions from heavy traffic flow.
However, express lanes are dynamically priced, so the more cars on the road, the higher the toll. This means that anyone who cheats by claiming to be a HOV without meeting the requirements could raise tolls for surrounding drivers who are following the laws.
Misusing E-ZPass® Flex on the express lanes is against the law. If stopped by law enforcement, a violator can be fined up to $1,000 and subject to traffic violation points added to his or her driving record.
Drivers can get an E-ZPass® Flex online by visiting www.ezpassva.com, E-ZPass “On-the-Go” retail locations, in-person from E-ZPass®/DMV Customer Service Centers or calling E-ZPass® customer service at 877-762-7824.
Head to www.ezpassva.com for information on how to use an E-ZPass® Flex.
For more information, please contact Michael McGurk at MMcGurk@transurban.com or Michelle Holland at michelle.holland@vdot.virginia.gov.