DPS reminds drivers that mannequins won’t prevent HOV fines
Sep 17, 2018, 8:14 PM
(Facebook/Arizona Department of Public Safety)
(Facebook/Arizona Department of Public Safety)
PHOENIX — If you’re running late for work, it may be tempting to take advantage of the less congested HOV lane even if you’re riding solo.
But Bart Graves, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman, told KTAR News 92.3 FM Monday that choice will cost you no less than $400.
Graves said most people pulled over for high occupancy vehicle lane violations in morning traffic say they overslept, are running late for work or have to drop their children off on time.
“It’s always people that are in a hurry because they haven’t left themselves enough time to get to where they need to be,” Graves said.
He said violations that occur in the afternoon are usually blamed on traffic preventing people from getting home from work or attending to family.
“Primarily it’s always a rush hour enforcement situation in Arizona,” Graves said.
Some people have taken HOV violations to a whole new level–last week the department tweeted a photo of someone who had placed a mannequin in her car to make it look like two people were traveling together.
Busted! On Sept 7th, a trooper stopped a driver for an HOV Lane violation on the L-202 Red Mountain at Van Buren. Needless to say, the driver was issued a citation. Troopers cite over 4,000 HOV Lane violators annually. pic.twitter.com/mfCkz5eXrJ
— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) September 13, 2018
This level of boldness doesn’t happen often, Graves said, but “this is not really anything new.”
“It’s amusing that people go to that length to violate the law,” he said.
Graves said he couldn’t say how much someone using a mannequin would be fined because it is up to the courts. A judge can adjust fines based on circumstances surrounding the violation.
In Arizona, state law forbids solo drivers from entering the HOV lane between Monday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Graves said that Arizonans often forget these rules include holidays.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ali Vetnar contributed to this report.
