Carpool lane cheaters, the CHP has its eyes on you: Roadshow
Q: What the heck is up with the lack of carpool lane enforcement on Interstate 880 going south between Milpitas and Highway 101? The CHP has been non-existent since COVID started. Every day I see more single drivers using the carpool lane to bypass the backup.
Any chance we could have more enforcement to help law-abiding citizens, remind some community members about following the law, and maybe dole out a little justice?
Dee Kim
A: The CHP is beefing up carpool lane enforcement. The South Bay office wrote 96 tickets over two days recently. More patrols are likely.
Q: Do you know if the CHP has any plans to start enforcing the HOV3+ on I-80 in the near future?
Not too long ago, I was driving someone to SFO in early commute hours and the HOV lane was full of single occupant cars from west Contra Costa County to Berkeley. When I realized traffic was flowing better in the “slow” lane, I moved out of the stop-and-go HOV.
L. Dobbins, El Sobrante
A: The CHP crackdown will include I-80 and 101.
Q: As a regular commuter, even through Bay Area COVID lockdowns, I’ve noticed that nearly 90% of drivers in Northern California HOV lanes are “cheaters.” I use that term loosely since it’s so bad now that, really, no one cares. I got pulled over Monday on 101 South just past Oakland Road. The CHP officer told me that I was ticket #5, with #6 on its way.
You can say, “Well, just find passengers!” It’s not that easy with COVID-19 scares still prominent.
It’s worse for 680 express lanes. I’ve observed every driver in that lane jump out just before the $8 toll, then back in.
We need to get rid of the HOV and express lanes.
Nick Radonich, Morgan Hill
A: HOV and express lanes are here to stay. I agree that carpool lane cheating does appear to have increased.
Q: I am still confused about the express lane sign, “Open to all.” Is FasTrak still required then?
David Roland, Menlo Park
A: FasTrak is not required when the overhead signs say “Open to all.”
Q: My Safeway in Alamo had a DMV kiosk, but when I went back a few days ago to renew my registration there, it was gone. I asked Safeway employees about it and they said it was removed by the DMV without any explanations.
Any idea why, and if they removed them all?
Arianna Conti, Alamo
A: That DMV kiosk was removed at the store’s request, as they no longer had space for it after their remodel. The closest kiosk in that area is in the Safeway at 5431 Clayton Road.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow, or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.