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.
若在 HOV 路段行駛,則可能被視為 HOV violation。根據維州交通部的說明,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。交通部網站未明確說明,但是根據 WTOP 的看,「第x次」是按照5年內、而不是1年內違反的次數來計算,引用 VA State Police Captain James DeFord 的原話來說,“$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:根據維州交通部的說明, I-495 環城高速(Beltway)以內的 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” -- 也就是說單人駕駛可以付費使用 HOV 路段,并不算 violation,不用罰款和扣分。我在文章開頭收到的賬單,就是工作日(2017年12月21日)、inside Beltway、在 I-66 走了 HOV-2 路段,因為沒有安裝 E-ZPass Flex 并正確指示 HOV 狀態,所以按照普通車輛收費了,但是不算 HOV violation!