No more solo Diamond Lane in CA [Admin Warning: NO POLITICS]

[Joules Burn]

Having lived in other states and used to travel extensively for business, I do hate the fact that CA drivers are allowed to drive on any lane at any time as long as they do not violate minimum speed limit (-10mph than posted).

There are no law to let faster vehicle go by or move over to the right side lane, if a faster vehicle is approaching behind you. Often we experience all lanes being blocked, effectively, by drivers driving side-by-sdie across 3 or 4 lanes at the same speed.

Trucks completely ignore the speed limit on the freeways, as well as the lane restrictions on multi-axle vehicles (not allowed on number 1 or 2 lanes on multilane freeway) and CHP really do not enforce speeding so it appears....

I once heard Mario Andretti being interviewed on a San Francisco radio talk show. He was talking about his experience driving the Autobahn in Germany and Italy. He said, “You know what they call vehicles that hog the left lane on the Autobahn? American drivers!”

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[mkg3]

I once heard Mario Andretti being interviewed on a San Francisco radio talk show. He was talking about his experience driving the Autobahn in Germany and Italy. He said, “You know what they call vehicles that hog the left lane on the Autobahn? American drivers!”

Having driven on both Autobahn and Autostrada, the left lane is used only for passing (not to mention that passing on the right is illegal). My wife's family is from Italy very near France on the Mediterranean coast, have spent bit of time in Italy. From there we've driven all over the nearby countries.

In Italy, Autostrada uses speed cam and will be ticketed if one speeds. In Germany, on the Autobahn, the cameras will catch you if you pass on the right, change lanes more than once in 500m (I think or something like that) and any other stupid maneuvers, but not speeding as long as that's all one is doing.

 

[runwithscissors]

New York's Clean Pass Program will suffer the same fate on October 1st. I never participated in the program because of the stupid stickers you have to put all over your truck. Not sure why they couldn't go with some type of special license plate or decal on the plate itself.

"The Clean Pass program enabled by federal legislative authorization is currently set to expire on September 30th, 2025. As Congress and the President have not reauthorized this program, Clean Pass will end on September 30th.

Beginning October 1st, 2025, vehicles currently participating in the Clean Pass program will no longer be permitted to use the HOV lane without meeting HOV occupancy requirements."

 

[Mousetrap]

My guess is the "extension" was in reference to this article that says the CHP is giving a 2-month grace period where they won't issue citations for being alone in an HOV lane.

Note: it doesn't say they won't pull you over to give a warning, any other agencies can still issue citations, and none of the other benefits/discounts are extended.

 

[IronM5]

My 3 years were up as of this month anyway so I was already anticipating losing the HOV access, Then we decided to buy another EV and learned that the program was ending. It's a shame but I enjoyed it while it lasted!

 

[tjrivian]

On the one hand, the point of HOV lanes is to reduce emissions.

While that is indeed a benefit, that's more a byproduct of having fewer cars on the road than an actual goal of the program in and of itself. The original reason that HOV lanes came into existence were to reduce traffic congestion. HOV lanes are supposed to be significantly faster than regular lanes, thereby incentivizing drivers to carpool when possible. You can't achieve that goal when the lanes are clogged full of solo-driver EVs. It's great that people bought EVs and lowered emissions, but that doesn't help at all with the original stated goal.

 

[Robin]

I just received this notice from CA DMV.

This sucks , now I get to slog thru traffic

 

[onthebrake]

This sucks , now I get to slog thru traffic

The program is extended till 12/01 now. 2 more months!!!!

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

The program is extended till 12/01 now. 2 more months!!!!

Please stop posting misinformation. The program is NOT EXTENDED. And it will not be extended. Full. Stop.

 

[onthebrake]

Please stop posting misinformation. The program is NOT EXTENDED. And it will not be extended. Full. Stop.

STOP YELLING AT ME. It’s not my fault you’re misinformed. They are giving us 60 days grace period so they will not issue tickets until after 12/01.

 

[tjrivian]

STOP YELLING AT ME. It’s not my fault you’re misinformed. They are giving us 60 days grace period so they will not issue tickets until after 12/01.

The grace period is CHP policy only. You're still violating the law by driving in the HOV lane after 10/1, and any non-CHP officer has the liberty to pull you over and issue a citation for that violation.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

STOP YELLING AT ME. It’s not my fault you’re misinformed. They are giving us 60 days grace period so they will not issue tickets until after 12/01.

Some people you can’t help.

 

[onthebrake]

The grace period is CHP policy only. You're still violating the law by driving in the HOV lane after 10/1, and any non-CHP officer has the liberty to pull you over and issue a citation for that violation.

Understood. Other agencies ( police, sheriff ) aren’t going to pull you over on the fwy. Only CHP will and they are granting the grace period.

 

[mkg3]

Understood. Other agencies ( police, sheriff ) aren’t going to pull you over on the fwy. Only CHP will and they are granting the grace period.

let us know how that goes after 10/1, if you decide to keep using the HOV lane with the only sticker.

Typically these curtsy warning are at the discretion of the officer who stops you. They are never going to just say ignore the law for 60 days.

 

[R1TMDSD]

The grace period is CHP policy only. You're still violating the law by driving in the HOV lane after 10/1, and any non-CHP officer has the liberty to pull you over and issue a citation for that violation.

The 60 transition period is not just CHP policy, it’s in the text of the law:

“If this section becomes inoperative pursuant to subdivision (j) the driver of a vehicle with an otherwise valid decal, label, or other identifier issued pursuant to this section shall not be cited for a violation of Section 21655.9 within 60 days of the date that this section becomes inoperative.”

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5205.5&lawCode=VEH

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