State police: We didn’t cause backup
Police were out in force Wednesday morning cracking down on those who use the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes illegally. But they said they weren’t the reason for the delays that morning.
The express lanes, from Dumfries to the Pentagon, are restricted to cars and buses with three or more passengers from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
The major crackdown of HOV rules on Wednesday netted 89 total violations, including one person who was charged with drunk driving.
But a crash in the southbound lanes of I-95 near Lorton caused delays in the express lanes for much of the early morning. Drivers who slowed to look at the crash appear to have been the cause of the delays in the HOV lanes, said Virginia State Police spokeswoman Deborah Cox.
Originally, troopers planned to patrol the lanes by sitting on the side of the highway and with troopers who were driving on the lanes. The crash forced police to switch to a roving enforcement of the HOV lanes to avoid additional backups, said Cox.
Some drivers who were stuck in the backup that morning commented on News & Messenger’s Web site, insidenova.com, and were quick to point the blame at police.
“For over 15 miles, from Lorton to Pentagon, traffic [crept] and crawled. I understand VSP are doing their job by doing HOV enforcements but I have serious problems with their approach,” stated Everfreshsista, a motorist from Woodbridge who uses the lanes daily.
State police issued 69 first time HOV offenses, two second time offenses, one DUI and 15 other traffic violations.
First time violators are subject to a $125 fine while second time violators could pay a $250 fine if convicted.
Police also issued summons to two drivers for “move over” violations. The “move over” law passed in 2002 requires drivers to change lanes when possible to avoid a stopped police or emergency vehicle on the shoulder of a highway.
The law has been praised by many in the law enforcement community who say the legislation saves the lives of troopers and fire and rescue crews.
Lawyers in Virginia have voiced their disagreement with the way the law is being enforced, as they maintain police ticket drivers who slow down but cannot change lanes when approaching stopped emergency vehicles.
A Centreville man who slammed into a stopped state trooper’s car parked on the shoulder of I-66, severely injuring the trooper, was sentenced last year to 45 days in jail and to 100 hours of community service to help state police to publicize the law.
If convicted, a person violating the law could loose their license for up to two years, according to the Virginia State Police Web site.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
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Reader Reactions
The way they did the enforcement was a stupid way of doing it. Do it on the ramps as they leave if they are in violation.
Another thing is well if they are requiring those to have 3 in those lanes they need to enforce that the ones with 3 in the mains lanes to be on the HOV.
And yes the VSP do owe explanations as we as we pay taxes and are citizens of VA and the US. We have a right to hold a public official accountable for any action they take and do.
I think the large signs saying HOV TICKETING AHEAD were the real problem. The signs seemed to draw a lot of attention. Just what you need when driving—something to distract you!
I got on HOV at 8:20 and didnt get into DC until 9:30. Yes, VSP should catch cheaters, but their approach was wrong. Some ramps are monitored all the time, others go unchecked for a year. They need to check the ramps, and make it random- not shut down the whole highway.
... and benna, insulting someone for insulting someone is hypocritical. Calm down.
@everfreshsista - Somebody needs attention today. Publicly ridiculing someone for doing their job (and a good job) is not being REAL, that’s being RUDE and INCONSIDERATE. Believe me, I don’t accept just any old answer for everything. Why do you feel so entitled to an explanation anyway? The police had a job to do and they did it…period. They don’t owe you or me, or anyone an explanation. You just deal with it and move on with your day. You have no control over it, so get over it. Maybe you will have a different outlook on life when/if that drunk driver hits you. I find it so interesting that you are the only one that took my post so personal. Maybe you should ponder on that for a bit.
I must admit that I was a bit surprised to read some of the comments here. I was in the HOV lanes that morning, and the commute was indeed crawling from my entrance ramp at PWPkwy all the way to the spot where the accident occurred at Lorton (due to rubbernecking), where they were loading the vehicles on a tow truck, but then we flew in to the Pentagon from there, averaging 65-70 mph. I’m unsure what backup to the Pentagon is being referred to. We certainly did not see one!
We complain that there are tons of violators in the HOV lanes, and then in the next breath complain about there being an enforcement effort (well publicized, I might add) to get rid of those violators. It had gotten to the point where violators were driving in the HOV lanes in Miatas, Corvettes, and other two-seater cars that could not possibly be legal in the HOV lanes, so SOME enforcement effort was certainly needed, as it was getting pretty blatant.
Personally, I applaud any and all efforts expended to catch and punish the violators. Good job, VSP!
@ Benna – I might be the part of society that says what on their mind without dressing it up or biting my tongue but I’M REAL. Now people like you is the reason society is so chopped and screwed—willing to accept just any old answer people give to you and say things without thinking. So I guess the saying is true…it takes all kind to make the world go round.
Thank you VSP! I ride in the HOV lanes every day and continually see violators who make it all the way to the Pentagon in the AM and all the way to the Dale City/Rippon off-ramp in the PM without being caught. Each day I see at least 10 violators each way. Sure, I was late for work on Wednesday, but if that’s what it takes to get these folks off of HOV, I’m all for it; I wish they’d do it more often. And to think, one of them was drunk at that time in the morning!! Again, THANK YOU VSP!!
@everfreshsista - Does it make you feel better about yourself to insult people? It’s people like you that is to blame for the way society is. Only thinking about yourself. FYI, no, I do not ride PRTC’s bus. I do happen to work in the city and sit in traffic everyday to and from work. It’s part of life, it’s part of living in this area. 95 backs up EVERYDAY for SOOO many reasons. However, you and others have to choose one day out of how many to find someone to blame. Get over it, like I said, it’s part of commuting to the city. Find a job closer to home if you don’t ever want to sit in delays.
@ Benna - WOWZERS!!!! It’s scary to think you are as dim as VSP. I bet you don’t even use/drive the HOV lanes probably use PRTC’s bus service to get from point A to point B. The only comment you made that made any sense was “if there is an accident on Interstate 95 traffic slows”. I do agree with that and will add for the majority traffic will come to a complete stop due to rubbernecking. However, as Dr. Payne stated if his/her comment yesterday if there was an accident at the Lorton exit in southbound lanes then traffic south of Lorton going north would be affected. TRAFFIC GOING NORTH FROM LORTON TO THE PENTAGON WAS AFFECTED—-meaning – it couldn’t have been the accident that caused the backup (put your thinking cap on). Again, I have no problem with VSP doing their job however there were no police officers on overpasses, on ramps, or even mixed in with traffic attempting to catch violators at the time I was out there. I wonder what your attitude would be like if you had to sit in traffic for over an hour just to go 15 miles to find there was absolutely nothing up ahead that would cause such a tie-up??
Wow! I am not surprised that this is what society has come to. Whinning and complaining because the police were doing there job at a time that made YOUR life misearable. So sorry to inconveniece YOU. Everyone is all about me, me, me. What if that drunk driver hit you on your way to work or someone you love. Be thankful for the the police departments. And yes traffic would back up going north because of an accident southbound because people do slow way down to catch a peek.
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