CHP Issuing $500 Traffic Tickets To Carpool Violators In Bay Bridge Lane Crackdown
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— Drivers who violate the carpool rules during the evening commute out of San Francisco on the Bay Bridge are the targets of a CHP crackdown, which could see offenders paying out $500 per citation.
The crackdown is taking place on what's called the Sterling Street on-ramp to the east-bound Bay Bridge at the top of Bryant Street, which CHP Officer Vu Williams says requires three or more occupants per vehicle Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 7 p.m.
"We've noticed recently an increase in the amount of violators using that on-ramp with only a solo person in the vehicle or maybe two, but certainly not three as required by law," said Williams.
Carpools, vanpools and buses that use the lane legitimately have been getting stuck in more gridlock. CHP is responding by increasing enforcement of the ramp over the next few weeks with officers issuing tickets in the evening hours.
When we pull those people over it's kind of funny; you get all sorts of high-fives and cheers coming from those vanpools because they're happy to see us out there," said Williams.
Officer Williams said similar crackdowns in the past have worked, but once they stop the increased enforcement, the numbers go back up.