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Beltway HOT Lanes Questions

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by Sasquatch519, Oct 20, 2012.

  1. Sasquatch519

    Sasquatch519 Member

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    So as I've been driving around the beltway recently, I've noticed all the HOT lanes signs have been telling my to visit http://www.expresslanes.com. They've got dynamic pricing to keep the lanes moving, so it keeps getting more expensive as traffic slows down. And it looks like overall it's gonna be a pretty expensive trip, so it's worth reading. But my question surrounds the new EZPass devices you need.

    If you want to use the Express Lanes for HOV (and not be charged a toll) you need to have a special "EZPass FLEX" device with a switch on it - a toll mode option and an HOV mode option. Sounds simple enough, but what is to stop someone from always using the EXPass in HOV mode regardless of the number of people in the car? I can't think of a way they could enforce it. Even if someone was pulled over for a suspected HOV violation, they could simply flip the switch on the device and tell the officer they were paying the toll.
     
  2. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Also be aware that when you get the new ezpass transponder, you have to start paying the monthly maintenance fee. Right now I think it's 50 cents/month.
     
  3. latka

    latka Active Member

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    I was wondering the same thing.
     
  4. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Virginia State Police will enforce the lanes with the help of technology.

    If you don’t have an E-ZPass, roadside equipment will capture an image of your license plate and we will send you an invoice in the mail requesting payment of your toll and an administrative fee.

    If you are carpooling, equipment on the side of the road will alert state police that you have identified yourself as HOV-3 through your E-ZPass Flex. State police will then do a visual check to make sure you indeed have three people in the car.

    https://www.495expresslanes.com/faqs

    The steep fines will probably help dissaude cheating.

    For refusal to pay a toll or falsely claiming carpool status, under Virginia law a judge can choose to issue the following civil penalties:
    • $50 for a first offense
    • $250 for a second offense
    • $500 for a third offense within a period of two years of the second offense
    • $1,000 for a fourth and subsequent offense within a period of three years of the second offense
     
  5. latka

    latka Active Member

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    State police are going to visually monitor every car?
     
  6. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    I see the sale of manniquins on the rise.....
    And those blow up dolls will be put to good use.....
     
  7. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    I agree. Our society is overrun by narcissists and cheaters. At some point, someone will get caught and claim entrapment. With Police teams working in tandem, and scanners and cameras employed, I don't think judges will be very lenient when imposing fines.
     
  8. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    they say 'with the help of technology'... seems ripe for abuse and expensive to enforce IMO.
     
  9. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    When I get the picture and fine in the mail I will just tell them I had 2 small kids with me. Seems like this is going to be an enforcement nightmare.
     
  10. Redolant

    Redolant New Member

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    Isn't 3 people for a car pool kind of prohibitive? getting a person to car pool is effort let alone 2 people.

    Guess the cynic in me would say its a toll road first and HOV second :)
     
  11. beahmer

    beahmer Member

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    That was my point when they came up with this plan. If the road connect 95/66/DTR and two of those thress roads are HOV-2 - wouldnt it make more since to allow for HOV-2 Free?

    Oh weight they want to make money so make it harder to get a free ride and then see how much they can charge. Plus if Two people are in the car - there's even more chance they might say well were are splitting it so lets use it - cha ching.

    And if no one uses it - the state has to cover like some ridiculous amount per year minimum.
     
  12. hberg

    hberg give me some of your tots

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    I mean why improve the roads we have and lanes (that our tax paying dollars pay for) when you can add Hot Lanes which will be useless or unaffordable to the majority. Can't wait to see how this reduces traffic....
     

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