[andykeck]

Their response:

Andy,

Thank you for contacting the Washington State Department of Transportation. I can tell you that the fines listed for HOV lane violations are false. The fine did go up this year in Washington State, but only to $124. There is no increase after repeated offenses.

I'm afraid that my area of expertise ends there and I cannot address the other fines in the attached list. I am sending you a link to a list of fines for other infractions: http://www.courts.wa.gov/content/Pub...20Schedule.doc. I found this link off of a page on the Washington State Patrol website at http://www.wsp.wa.gov/newsfaqs/faqs.htm#violate. The State Patrol is the agency responsible for enforcement on the freeways. As for county and city streets and roadways, you would have to check with the individual municipality.

Thank you for writing, and if you have any further questions concerning the HOV system, please contact me again. For more general questions you can email NWPublicAffairs@wsdot.wa.gov

Leslie Forbis
HOV Operations Engineer
WSDOT - Northwest Region
PO Box 330310
Seattle, WA 98133-9710
Ph: (206) 440-4456
e-mail: forbisl@wsdot.wa.gov