Bill Doubling Car-Pool Lane Fines Signed
Gov. George Deukmejian on Wednesday signed into law a bill, sponsored by Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), doubling the maximum fine for motorists who violate rules governing car-pool lanes on freeways.
The measure was particularly aimed at lanes, like those on the Costa Mesa Freeway, that are separated from the rest of the lanes by only double yellow lines. The bill will increase the maximum fine for illegally crossing the lines from $250 to $500.
The bill originally was proposed by the Orange County Transportation Commission and was carried in the lower house by Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach). It touched off a bitter fight over car-pool lanes themselves, which are strongly supported by many lawmakers as a solution to California’s urban traffic woes but just as strenuously opposed by those who see them as a violation of individual rights.
Ferguson said the bill was designed to deter motorists who become frustrated by slow traffic and who illegally cross into car-pool lanes to speed up their commute.
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