Question: HOV use in a 4 wheel vehicle that seats more than 3 ppl.

[Darkness!]

If I have and a truck that is an extended cab (i.e. has more than two seats) what is the prevailing law (if any) about using the carpool lane during commute hours If I have one other occupant? Would I get a ticket along say 80 for not having the required 3 persons? I assume that would be the case with the double cab/crew cab variety of truck as it obviously seats at least 5 adults. But a Ford Ranger for example, while it has "jumper" seats, those seats can only sit a really tiny person. They're really only practical for a pet or secured cargo. What's the word officers? is it a discretionary thing? Depends on the truck?

 

[eddiet204]

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/systemops/hov/hov_sys/

If you have a jump seat that has belts, your car is designed to carry more than 2 people. I would cite.

 

[weasel]

Nice title :|

 

[Junkie]

I've heard before that even if you remove the jump seats, it was originally designed to fit more than 2 so you can still get a ticket.

 

[weasel]

I've heard before that even if you remove the jump seats, it was originally designed to fit more than 2 so you can still get a ticket.

I think he was talking about the "bitch" seat in the middle. My Taco has 3 seat belts in the front and two in the little extra cab in the back.

5 seater :wtf

 

[RightCoastBias]

Thread titles like this are why no one can find an answer to this common question.

Answer is you need 3 people in your car for a HOV that requires 3 people. Unless you are driving a 1 or 2 seater.

 

[NorCalBusa]

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/systemops/hov/hov_sys/

If you have a jump seat that has belts, your car is designed to carry more than 2 people. I would cite.

You mean in olden times. When you wrote tickets and stuff.

 

[eddiet204]

You mean in olden times. When you wrote tickets and stuff.

You have a point there....Now I make my officers do it

 

[twistybits]

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/systemops/hov/hov_sys/

If you have a jump seat that has belts, your car is designed to carry more than 2 people. I would cite.

The linked page says:

"Motorcycles, mass transits and vehicles with two or more (2+) occupants are allowed to access the HOV lanes during their operational hours. An "occupant" is defined as any person who occupies a safety restraint device, i.e. seat-belt." And nothing about number of seats.

Seems like 2 occupants is always enough to drive in HOV? Or is 80 3+?

 

[eddiet204]

The linked page says:

"Motorcycles, mass transits and vehicles with two or more (2+) occupants are allowed to access the HOV lanes during their operational hours. An "occupant" is defined as any person who occupies a safety restraint device, i.e. seat-belt." And nothing about number of seats.

Seems like 2 occupants is always enough to drive in HOV? Or is 80 3+?

I-80 is 3+.

 

[bojangle]

I think he was talking about the "bitch" seat in the middle. My Taco has 3 seat belts in the front and two in the little extra cab in the back.

5 seater :wtf

Wow! :wow Must be one of those Monster Tacos!

 

[Junkie]

Nah, plenty extended cab trucks have 5 seatbelts. I rode in the back of this yesterday at the dunes, was interesting back there... not a practical seat (especially if you want to use both) but it is one in the eyes of the law. I suppose you can fit 5 people if they're very small...

 

[Darkness!]

Yeah, I'll admit the title is very "engrish much?" Funny thing is, I could have sworn I wrote something different originally. Weird. But thanks for the responses, pretty much what I thought. Always seem to get cutoff by some asshat in a truck "passing" in the carpool lane and then holding up everybody before the overpass to SF. Yes, during commute hours.

 

[dziuggy]

what does that mean "For San Francisco Bay Area ONLY, originally factory designed vehicles with a maximum two-seat occupancy may access the HOV(3+) lanes as long as there are two occupants in the vehicles."

you cant access hov 3+ lane in LA area with 2 seater?

 

[Junkie]

I don't believe any of the carpool lanes in LA require 3.

 

[Diezel]

Thread titles like this are why no one can find an answer to this common question.

Answer is you need 3 people in your car for a HOV that requires 3 people. Unless you are driving a 1 or 2 seater.

Or Moto (unless otherwise stated on signage). :thumbup

I don't believe any of the carpool lanes in LA require 3.

There are 3+ lanes in LA. IIRC, it's quite a few of them during Peak Carpool hours, and then rolls to 2+ during off peak hours.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/faq/faq79.htm

Usually that means at least two people, or in some cases three people.