Why are motorcycles allowed in some HOV lanes?
Motorcycles are permitted by federal law to use HOV lanes, even with only one passenger. The rationale behind allowing motorcycles to use HOV lanes is that it is safer to keep two-wheeled vehicles moving than to have them travel in start-and-stop traffic conditions. States can choose to override this provision of federal law, if they determine that safety is at risk.
在上述 express lane 通行會(huì)自動(dòng)扣費(fèi)(而不是免費(fèi)通行)。
若在 HOV 路段行駛,則可能被視為 HOV violation。根據(jù)維州交通部的說(shuō)明,在 Hampton Roads HOV 路段每次 violation 罰款$100美元,而在 Norther Virginia 的 HOV 路段首次違反罰款$125美元;第2次違反罰款$250美元、扣3分;第3次罰$500美元、扣3分;第4次罰$1,000美元、扣3分。交通部網(wǎng)站未明確說(shuō)明,但是根據(jù) WTOP 的看,「第x次」是按照5年內(nèi)、而不是1年內(nèi)違反的次數(shù)來(lái)計(jì)算,引用 VA State Police Captain James DeFord 的原話(huà)來(lái)說(shuō),“$125 for the first offense; $250 for a second, [and] then a third in five years is $500, and a fourth in five-years is $1,000.”
例外情形:根據(jù)維州交通部的說(shuō)明, I-495 環(huán)城高速(Beltway)以?xún)?nèi)的 I-66 HOV-2 路段,“Solo drivers have the option of paying a toll to use the lanes in the peak direction during rush hour periods” -- 也就是說(shuō)單人駕駛可以付費(fèi)使用 HOV 路段,并不算 violation,不用罰款和扣分。我在文章開(kāi)頭收到的賬單,就是工作日(2017年12月21日)、inside Beltway、在 I-66 走了 HOV-2 路段,因?yàn)闆](méi)有安裝 E-ZPass Flex 并正確指示 HOV 狀態(tài),所以按照普通車(chē)輛收費(fèi)了,但是不算 HOV violation!