Police and Citizens Target Single-Occupant Cars For HOV Traffic Tickets in Washington
In addition to the standard fine for a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) violation having been raised from $101 to $124, police are using citizen drives to enforce traffic laws.
In the State of Washington, drivers can call 206-764-HERO to report alleged HOV violators. According to a news report in the Seattle Times, the Washington State Patrol will actually send out warning letters to vehicle owners whose vehicle license plates are spotted by other drivers in the HOV lane. If a warning letter doesn't work (maybe the WSP receives more complaints?), then the WSP will apparently "stake out" the location of the alleged violation in order to "catch the cheater in the act."
Aside from the enormous amount of resources the WSP must be spending to "stake out" a location to catch a person allegedly committing an infraction, this creates a shift in police resources - now the police, who are so concerned about HOV violations, are out on I-5 rather than staking out car theft locations.
In addition, the WSP is sending warning letters to motorists who own vehicles even though these same motorists might not have been driving the vehicles they own when the vehicle allegedly committed a traffic offense.
If you've received a traffic ticket, give my office a call, we can help.
