Police to Target HOV Violators Tuesday

From Virginia State Police: 

Virginia and Maryland law enforcement agencies are partnering May 22, 2012, to conduct the third annual “Capitol Region HOV Awareness Day.”

The comprehensive traffic-safety enforcement operation will involve High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) saturation patrols by Maryland State Police, Virginia State Police, Alexandria Police, Arlington County Police, Fairfax County Police, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police and Prince William County Police.

Virginia law enforcement will be targeting HOV violators on Interstates 66, 95, 395, and the Dulles Toll Road. Maryland State Police will beconducting its HOV enforcement efforts on Interstate 270.

During both morning and evening rush hours, law enforcement will beutilizing moving and stationary enforcement methods to detect and deter HOV violators. Police will be adjusting their enforcement methods throughout the operation in order to prevent traffic backups and added congestion.

With the increased presence of troopers and officers on the highways,motorists are reminded of Virginia’s and Maryland’s “Move Over” laws. Both “Move Over” laws require motorists to change to another travel lane or, when not able to, to cautiously pass emergency personnel stopped out on the road.

The 2011 HOV enforcement initiative yielded a total of 777 summonses and arrests in both Virginia and Maryland, with 575 of those for HOV violations.