ASK A COP: How to Turn From the Carpool Lane When You Aren't a Carpool?

Question: I would like to know how to turn right onto Campbell Avenue from the Expressway without getting a ticket because you have to be in the 'carpool' lane! This happened to my husband, while driving by himself, in the lane, to turn right onto Campbell Avenue.

ANSWER, From Capt. Charley Adams, Campbell PD:

If a driver is planning on turning right from San Tomas Expressway onto Campbell Avenue, and the Carpool Lane Restriction is in place at the time, the acceptable practice is to enter the far right lane sometime after passing through the previous intersection, and before Campbell Avenue with enough time to safely complete the lane change and turn onto Campbell Avenue.

Carpool Violation citations on the expressway are normally issued when a driver continues straight through an intersection while in the car pool lane and there are insufficient occupants in the vehicle to meet the lane use requirements.

That said, if an officer believes a driver is using the lane in violation of the rules and issues a citation to the driver, the driver has the right to bring the case before the traffic commissioner for a final decision on whether the lane use was actually in violation of the use restrictions.