Dallas cracks down on solo drivers in high-occupancy HOV lanes

(CBS) DALLAS, Texas - Excuses, excuses.

Dallas County sheriff's deputies say they hear a wide variety of "explanations" from drivers caught traveling solo in the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes along Interstate-30, but very few of them are convincing, reports CBS DFW.

From "I got on and I couldn't get off" to "They didn't give us no choice!," the excuses leave a lot to be desired, deputies say.

Other reasons offered for being in the (wrong) HOV lane:  "I have a mid-term," "I just moved here," and even "I'm about to pass out," which actually prompted authorities to call the fire department to respond, reports the station.

Texas HOV lanes are for vehicles with two or more people, motorcycles and government vehicles with visible emergency equipment, according to CBS DFW. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) was monitoring HOV lane violations until October 1 when The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) took over.

CBS DFW spent two days with the deputies on the case and saw them write more than 75 tickets in four hours for HOV lane violations. The violators were reportedly given 300-dollar citations.

The station reports deputies also gave verbal warnings to three local police officers and one federal agent. They told them that they could no longer travel in the HOV lanes alone in their personal cars.

Some of the officers argued saying they had been allowed to drive solo in the lanes for years. But, DART tells CBS DFW that's not true. Spokesperson Morgan Lyons sent the station a 2008 letter signed by DART's Chief of Police. It clarifies who is allowed to travel in the HOV lanes, and, according to the station, it clearly states, "This policy does not apply to off-duty law enforcement personnel in their personal vehicles."