Stretch of carpool lane on Sacramento-area highway to be under ‘maximum enforcement’

The California Department of Transportation and the California Highway Patrol will be cracking down on carpool lane violators on a 12-mile stretch of Highway 99 in the Sacramento area..

From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., from Sept. 19 to Oct. 15, the CHP will begin a “maximum enforcement” period to cut down on drivers who break the rules, according to a Caltrans news release. The patrol will be the northbound and southbound Highway 99 between Elk Grove Boulevard and the U.S. Highway 50 junction in downtown Sacramento.

“Recent Caltrans traffic counts report HOV violations at 47 percent on northbound Highway 99 and 35 percent for southbound 99,” the department stated. “Illegal use of HOV lanes during peak periods can increase congestion in HOV lanes and slow traffic below speeds accepted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).”

The administrations requires speeds at 45 miles per hour or higher during peak commute times 90% of the time.

During this four-week campaign, Caltrans will be assessing the effect of CHP presence and carpool violations.

What are the HOV rules?

Carpool lanes, or high occupancy lanes, are for cars and mass transit with two or more people and motorcycles. Some hybrid, electric and clean-air vehicles get a pass on the carpool lane requirements.

In Northern California, the HOV lanes only operate “part time” during peak hours, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.. During off hours, all vehicles can use the HOV lanes.

Do you get fined for violating CHP rules?

A violation ticket starts at $490. But they may be higher for repeat offenders.

This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 12:20 PM.