crossing carpool hard lane marker in SoCal - fine? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sixto · #1 01-10-2004, 12:59 AM

My brother-in-law was late for a flight and cut into the carpool (or was it FastTrack?) lane on CA91 near Corona where there wasn't a painted break. He had passengers in the car and a valid FastTrack transponder. Motorcycle cop just happened to be there. What's the fine for this violation?

Thanks,
Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

jeremy · #2 01-10-2004, 01:15 AM

sixto I think its about A 300.00 dollar fine there are signs up saying what the penalty is but I dont drive on the freeway very much let alone the carpool lane 240D is to stressful in the carpool lane with A bunch of @$$ holes on their cell phones driving 95mph and still wanting to pass! man Iam glad I dont comute on the freeway

The Godfather · #3 01-10-2004, 01:24 AM

So he was on the fast lane, alone, and then went into the carpool lane, crossing a solid line? He's done. That's just bad. $275 I think.

Rules:

1) You don't go on the carpool lane alone
2) You don't cross the solid yellow carpool line to get IN the carpool lane. You wait till it's open for you to get in.
3) It's ok to get out of the carpool lane and cross the solid yellow line to exit or just move out of it.

sixto · #4 01-10-2004, 01:32 AM

Not sure if he went into the carpool lane or FastTrack lane. There was no FastTrack violation (certainly no intent to skip the sensor), headcount violation or speed violation. The sole violation is crossing a solid lane divider to get into the lane. I'm pretty sure I heard that it was a carpool lane.

I thought you weren't allowed to cross a solid lane divider to get out either. Are you saying it's okay?

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

The Warden · #5 01-10-2004, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DR ///AMG
So he was on the fast lane, alone, and then went into the carpool lane, crossing a solid line?

Quote:

Originally posted by sixto
He had passengers in the car

I think that crossing the yellow line to go into the carpool lane is similar to crossing a double-yellow-line on a 2 lane highway to pass someone. I don't know the amount they charge for a fine, nor do I want to know...

Other question: How many passengers did he have? I think that some L.A. freeways require you to have three people in the car to qualify for the carpool lane...kinda like the I-80 north of Oakland.

The Godfather · #6 01-10-2004, 01:36 AM

oops. ok 2 people or more

I guess he was ok with that then.

As for leaving the carpool lane, I'm 99% sure it's ok, because what if you're exit is right there? What you gonna do?

I do it all the time anyway.

MikeTangas · #7 01-10-2004, 03:20 PM

Sixto,

The solid line for the carpool (and FastTrack) is actually a double solid line. It is illegal to cross this double line whether cutting in, or out of the lane. I double line represents an imaginary traffic island and travelers can only ingress or egress from the carpool lanes where the line is broken.

I don't know what the fine will be, but it will probably be $200 or more.

BENZ-LGB · #8 01-11-2004, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sixto
My brother-in-law was late for a flight and cut into the carpool (or was it FastTrack?) lane on CA91 near Corona where there wasn't a painted break. He had passengers in the car and a valid FastTrack transponder. Motorcycle cop just happened to be there. What's the fine for this violation?

Thanks,
Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Sixto, the "ticket" that your BIL signed should have the particular Vehicle Code Sec. that he allegedly violated. Call the local courthouse, ask for the traffic court clerk and ask what the "bail" or fine for violating the particular code section is.

good luck...

lietuviai · #9 01-11-2004, 07:20 PM

Do they still offer traffic school in CA for tickets so you don't have to pay the whole fine amount and then it doesn't go on your record?

BENZ-LGB · #10 01-11-2004, 07:37 PM

...traffic school. You still have to pay the full fine plus the cost of the traffic school plus some other administrative fees. You end up paying more upfront, but then again there are no points tacked on to your driver's license.

You can only go to traffic school every 18 months. so if you get two or more tickets in less than 18 months, you are out of luck.

Best bet is to go to court to fight the ticket. If the officer doesn't show up, you are home free. If the officer shows up you have a choiuce to argue your case to the judge (you will usually lose, however). Or, you can just plea no contest and ASK for traffic school.

If you go to court, please check with the court clerk first and see what the judge's procedure is. Traffic school is solely within the discretion of hte judge. If you chose to fight it, some judges may not let you go to traffic school. So check it out first.

Good luck.