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Washington State rules on RV's and HOV

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Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie

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Jul 29, 2002, 9:10:08 PM7/29/02
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Those that were at the PNWCO#3 may recall the discussion some of us had
about if (or if not) RV's could use the HOV lane.

If you missed the article in today (Monday) PI, the answer is. NO

At least if the HOV lane is the left most lane. If so it is closed to
all vehicles (even buses) over 10,000 GVW, or towing a trailer.

--
Ralph Lindberg personal email n7...@amsat.org
RV and Camping FAQ http://kendaco.telebyte.com/rlindber/rv
If Windows is the answer I would really like to know what the question is

Deano

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Jul 29, 2002, 9:54:24 PM7/29/02
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"Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie" <rlin...@kendaco.telebyte.com> wrote in
message news:rlindber-F5CFE5...@news.fu-berlin.de...

> Those that were at the PNWCO#3 may recall the discussion some of us had
> about if (or if not) RV's could use the HOV lane.
>
> If you missed the article in today (Monday) PI, the answer is. NO
>
> At least if the HOV lane is the left most lane. If so it is closed to
> all vehicles (even buses) over 10,000 GVW, or towing a trailer.

Good information Ralph. One point of correction though, the story says "Any
vehicle -- excluding transit buses -- that weighs over 10,000 pounds or is
towing a trailer." I have driven my RV in the HOV lanes before, oooops, not
any more now that I know this.

Deano


Baby Sister

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Jul 30, 2002, 1:32:56 PM7/30/02
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"Deano" <happyc...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<ai4rkp$1188qv$1...@ID-62943.news.dfncis.de>...

Since we will be traveling in Washington in September can you tell me
what is an HOV lane? Never traveled in Washington state before.

Thanks,
Baby Sis

Delores Wilson

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Jul 30, 2002, 2:03:02 PM7/30/02
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High Occupancy Vehicle (a car with more than one person in it)

--
DeLores Wilson
Hillsboro, OR
dh...@iname.com

"Baby Sister" <babb...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Harald

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Jul 30, 2002, 2:33:52 PM7/30/02
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*** post for FREE via your newsreader at post.newsfeed.com ***

I read that article in the PI also and proceeded to call their phone number
to get a clarification. It seems that if you look in the archives for that
column there were 2 previous columns that stated the exact opposite. I think
the web site was www.seattle-pi.com/transportation . I can't remember the
exact dates, but if you search their transportation archives for HOV you'll
find 2 times where a WA DOT official said that RV's are exempt from the no
left lane rule. So who do you believe?

--

Harald

Remove the words "IHATESPAM" to reply via email


"Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie" <rlin...@kendaco.telebyte.com> wrote in
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Bob Hatch

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Jul 30, 2002, 2:33:09 PM7/30/02
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"Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie" <rlin...@kendaco.telebyte.com> wrote in
message news:rlindber-F5CFE5...@news.fu-berlin.de...
> Those that were at the PNWCO#3 may recall the discussion some of us had
> about if (or if not) RV's could use the HOV lane.
>
> If you missed the article in today (Monday) PI, the answer is. NO
>
> At least if the HOV lane is the left most lane. If so it is closed to
> all vehicles (even buses) over 10,000 GVW, or towing a trailer.
>
> --
To expand on this post. If you check into the law a little more you'll find
that this ban extends to the left lane on an interstate hwy with more than 2
lanes.

Watch closely as you travel North or South on I-5 and you'll see the signs.
So it's not only the HOV.

--
http://home.attbi.com/~bigtent
Our web site about RVs, and a work in progress.

Ken Weiner

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Jul 30, 2002, 6:04:19 PM7/30/02
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from the Washington State Dept of Transportation HOV web page:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/hov/using.htm

Can I travel in HOV lanes with a large motor home, or towing a boat?
Yes, but only if you 1.) meet the occupant criteria posted on HOV road signs
(2 or more people for most HOV lanes) and 2.) do not exceed 10,000 pounds
gross vehicle weight.


"Harald" <Harald...@IHATESPAMhotmail.com> wrote in message
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Deano

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Jul 30, 2002, 8:42:31 PM7/30/02
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"Ken Weiner" <kwe...@u.washington.edu> wrote in message
news:ai72j5$18v2$1...@nntp3.u.washington.edu...

> from the Washington State Dept of Transportation HOV web page:
> http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/hov/using.htm
>
> Can I travel in HOV lanes with a large motor home, or towing a boat?
> Yes, but only if you 1.) meet the occupant criteria posted on HOV road
signs
> (2 or more people for most HOV lanes) and 2.) do not exceed 10,000 pounds
> gross vehicle weight.

That's kind of a catch 22 Ken, most RV's (Class A type) weigh more than
10,000 lbs. Maybe they mean the class B (van type) or smaller class C type
RV's?

Deano


ben hogland

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Jul 30, 2002, 8:57:08 PM7/30/02
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"Deano" <happyc...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ai7bq2$123g1d$1...@ID-62943.news.dfncis.de...

Yeah, most class C type are above 10K too..

Ben

S. Miller

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Jul 30, 2002, 10:15:13 PM7/30/02
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So if you're towing a boat it's OK, but if you're towing a small travel trailer
it's not..?

Snoball

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Jul 31, 2002, 1:23:22 PM7/31/02
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"Deano" <happyc...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ai7bq2$123g1d$1...@ID-62943.news.dfncis.de...
>
Most states, including Texas, that I've driven in do not allow trailers of
any kind in the HOV lane. In Houston, there's a sign that tells you what's
allowed an what's not as you enter the city.

Snoball


Tom Marik

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Jul 31, 2002, 1:59:46 PM7/31/02
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We like to keep it interesting in California. The HOV rules change on
different stretches of the same road.

Tom

Baby Sister

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Jul 31, 2002, 3:36:01 PM7/31/02
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Thank you - it's what California calls Car Pool or Diamond Lanes.
Makes sense when it's spelled out.

"Delores Wilson" <de...@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:<qxA19.525$nc.3...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net>...

George Lowry

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Jul 31, 2002, 5:58:12 PM7/31/02
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Actually, California uses the term HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle). It is
only the public that uses the Car Pool or Diamond terms...

George

Randy Chapman

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Aug 1, 2002, 10:38:34 AM8/1/02
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With all due respect, or lack of, to the PI, they should have spent a couple
minutes researching the law before printing that, I think (although it does
match what the signs on the road say, interestingly enough). Here's what
the revised code of washingtgon has to say on the matter:

Section 46.61.100:
<snipped>
3) No vehicle towing a trailer or no vehicle or combination over ten
thousand pounds may be driven in the left-hand lane of a limited access
roadway having three or more lanes for traffic moving in one direction
except when preparing for a left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a
private road or driveway when a left turn is legally permitted. This
subsection does not apply to a vehicle using a high-occupancy vehicle lane.
A high-occupancy vehicle lane is not considered the left-hand lane of a
roadway.
<snipped>

I certainly cannot find anything that contradicts this anywhere else in the
law .. the section about HOV under traffic laws (46.61.165) certainly
doesn't limit it based on anything but number of people.

thanks,
--randy

"Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie" <rlin...@kendaco.telebyte.com> wrote in
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Sal

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Aug 1, 2002, 4:56:57 PM8/1/02
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Randy (and Ken),

Thank you for the excellent information. Since most of our RV trips
are from north of Seattle to the ocean beaches further south, we
frequently encounter this exact situation. Our "RV" is a pop-up tent
trailer, so we fit in under the 10,000 limit. So far, I have used the
HOV lanes unless I see the signs which specifically state that the
left lane (or 2 lanes) is excluded for anyone pulling a trailer. Now
I KNOW that I am indeed legal in the HOV lane.

However, I still have one bit that's confusing me ... what if you see
these signs (excluding trailers and/or vehicles over 10,000 lbs from
the left one or two lanes), but the left most lane is HOV? Does the
"HOV lane is not considered the lefthand lane of a roadway" clause
still apply, even though these signs are posted? I think this is the
case when going northbound on I-5, somewhere in between Tacoma and
Seattle.

Thanks,
Scott

"Randy Chapman" <wilbu...@home.com> wrote in message news:<JJb29.723956$352.158411@sccrnsc02>...

Randy Chapman

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Aug 1, 2002, 6:35:14 PM8/1/02
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> However, I still have one bit that's confusing me ... what if you see
> these signs (excluding trailers and/or vehicles over 10,000 lbs from
> the left one or two lanes), but the left most lane is HOV? Does the
> "HOV lane is not considered the lefthand lane of a roadway" clause
> still apply, even though these signs are posted? I think this is the
> case when going northbound on I-5, somewhere in between Tacoma and
> Seattle.

On this I do not know. I *suspect* that you'ld be OK, but it's also quite
possible that a police officer would disagree with that. And the judge
might agree with you -- the question is whether it's worth the effort there.
I have a group legal plan through work so at least there's not much cost if
it comes to it :-)

Thanks,
--randy


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