Number of HOV violators staggering

ARLINGTON, Va. -- How many drivers are breaking the rules and riding solo in the HOV lanes in the area? A recent high-visibility enforcement effort from the Virginia State Police is providing a snapshot.

On Oct. 21, police set up a large scale enforcement effort along I-95/395. Between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., 89 tickets were issued to drivers, including two summonses for drivers caught ignoring the HOV rules for the second time.

In one instance, a driver was arrested for drunken driving.

"One of the troopers arrested a DUI at 7 a.m. that morning, driving alone in the HOV lanes. His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit," Capt. Tracy Russillo, division commander in Northern Virginia for the Virginia State Police, tells WTOP.

State Police say they are stepping up patrols against HOV cheaters. It has become such a focus in Northern Virginia that some officers are getting overtime to solely focus on enforcing HOV lanes.

Between July 26 and Sept. 12, officers in Northern Virginia, who were strictly focused on HOV enforcement, issued 2,200 summonses. That is not counting officers who simply encountered a violator and issued a ticket while riding in the HOV lanes.

Last year, the Virginia State Police issued 18,269 summonses for violations of the HOV law in Northern Virginia.

Police say large-scale enforcement efforts, like the one last month in Arlington, will continue.

"We will be conducting more of these projects in the near future," says Russillo.

Here's a breakdown of various infractions during last month's special initiative:

• 69 HOV violations (first offense)
  
• Two HOV violations (second offense)
  
• One DUI
  
• Two "Move Over" violations (driving past a stopped officer without changing lanes or slowing down)
  
• 15 other traffic violations

Motorists who violate HOV laws face the following fines:

• First offense is a $125 fine
  
• Second offense is a $250 fine
  
• Third offense is a $500 fine
  
• Fourth offense is a $1,000 fine

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