LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The rules for "HOV," or high occupancy vehicle, lanes on Las Vegas roadways will change soon.
A vote by the board of the Nevada Department of Transportation Monday will lead to an extreme tightening of the HOV lane enforcement times.
The only times the lane rules will be enforced will soon be from 6 a.m. until 8 a.m., and from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays.
The rest of the time, the lanes will be free for all drivers to use without worries about receiving a ticket.
Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony, a member of NDOT's board and a longtime opponent of the lanes, said Monday's vote was the right move.
"What we have today are HOV lanes that are 24/7," Anthony said. "It's not being used the way it's supposed to be used, and it's really causing people to break the law."
The Nevada State Police are also weighing in.
This is the statement they sent to Channel 13.
"The Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Division prioritizes traffic enforcement activities across the state to maximize the safety of motorists. This includes enforcement efforts directed at HOV lane violations. Following the Transportation Board’s action to adjust HOV lane hours of operation in Southern Nevada, the Division is studying various messaging, deployment, and enforcement options to ensure compliance with the new controls. The Division is working with the Nevada Department of Transportation and will coordinate ongoing efforts to ensure sustained and effective enforcement within the HOV system."
HOV lanes, which have long irked drivers around the valley, were introduced in 2007. The idea behind them was to encourage people to carpool in order to have less vehicles on our highways.
