HOV lane access ramp ticketing by the Atlanta Police Department (buy, legal)

[atler8]

I would like feedback on a longstanding practice by the Atlanta Police Department whereby officers are positioned to do a road block of sorts on the on ramp to the southbound connector HOV lane from John Portman Blvd. downtown.
I ride through the area daily on the on ramp while on a GRTA bus that is headed southbound & see the officers postioned there quite regularly. Firstoff it is a pain for the bus to squeeze through on the access lane between the officer's parked motorcylcles on one side of the ramp & the vehicles they have pulled over for ticketing which are parked on the right side of the lane.
But the main thing that I question is whether or not the practice is entirely above-board or legal given the on ramp signage at the corner of John Portman Blvd. & Piedmont Ave. NE.
The sign reads "HOV I-85/75 south" but does not say "ONLY" HOV. So, is it legal or are they taking advantage of dubious signage?
Perhaps from what I wrote here it sounds like an open & shut case in favor of the A.P.D. but when I actually see the signage every day, it really does appear questionable in it's lack of clarity.
I'm sure the "road block" is a part of the daily goal of ticket writing & a cash cow for the city but I hate that it seems to catch an undue number of out-of-towners who may not be familiar with the interstate access ramps, much less the concept of what HOV means.

[onemanarmy]

Originally Posted by atler8

I would like feedback on a longstanding practice by the Atlanta Police Department whereby officers are positioned to do a road block of sorts on the on ramp to the southbound connector HOV lane from John Portman Blvd. downtown.
I ride through the area daily on the on ramp while on a GRTA bus that is headed southbound & see the officers postioned there quite regularly. Firstoff it is a pain for the bus to squeeze through on the access lane between the officer's parked motorcylcles on one side of the ramp & the vehicles they have pulled over for ticketing which are parked on the right side of the lane.
But the main thing that I question is whether or not the practice is entirely above-board or legal given the on ramp signage at the corner of John Portman Blvd. & Piedmont Ave. NE.
The sign reads "HOV I-85/75 south" but does not say "ONLY" HOV. So, is it legal or are they taking advantage of dubious signage?
Perhaps from what I wrote here it sounds like an open & shut case in favor of the A.P.D. but when I actually see the signage every day, it really does appear questionable in it's lack of clarity.
I'm sure the "road block" is a part of the daily goal of ticket writing & a cash cow for the city but I hate that it seems to catch an undue number of out-of-towners who may not be familiar with the interstate access ramps, much less the concept of what HOV means.

Sorry, when I read HOV, I do not think it infers HOV and or Single Occupancy vehicles. It simply means HOV, the tickets are well deserved.

[cqholt]

HOV means the same all over the country.

It simply means HOV, the tickets are well deserved.

Yes.

[BobKovacs]

That happens at virtually every high-volume HOV on-ramp- not just the Portman ramp that you think has "dubious signage". The ramp I get on at (Williams Street NB) makes it pretty obvious that the left lane is HOV only (since the regular lane is always backed up, moving slowly, and everyone is trying to merge into it), and yet there's always a few cars pulled over for hitting the HOV lane solo. If APD has to keep doing this, and they've always got people pulled over, it's obviously something people continue to think they can get away with, so they deserve the ticket.

[testa50]

Contact GDOT and tell them to improve the signage.

[atler8]

Good idea testa. I've not been sure whether to contact the GDOT or someone else because I thought that the sign was on city property..

BobKovacs
I'd like to check out the signage at another on ramp to an HOV lane so I guess that the Williams St. one you use would not be a good candidate because it serves 2 different lanes going into differing parts of the northbound connector & thus they are well marked, right?
What about the on ramp where you get onto the HOV lane coming inbound? Can you check the signage & see if it is marked with "Only"? I just feel that the distinction is important. Thus, if the Portman on ramp is the only one not marked with an "Only", the GDOT needs to amend it.
By the way, like all of you posters here, I have no sympathy for dodgy folks who try to finnagle their way to abuse the HOV lane or to commit other travesties in traffic.

[JoeTarheel]

I hate solo drivers in the HOV lane. Fine 'em up.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

I hate solo drivers in the HOV lane. Fine 'em up.

They should be publicly flogged.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by cqholt

They should be publicly flogged.

Or maybe something less violent...like "verbally flogged".

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by atler8

Perhaps from what I wrote here it sounds like an open & shut case in favor of the A.P.D. but when I actually see the signage every day, it really does appear questionable in it's lack of clarity.
I'm sure the "road block" is a part of the daily goal of ticket writing & a cash cow for the city but I hate that it seems to catch an undue number of out-of-towners who may not be familiar with the interstate access ramps, much less the concept of what HOV means.

I can see your point.

As others have said, no one has any patience for drivers who intentionally flout the HOV lanes.

However, if you got ticketed because you're not familiar with the area and didn't understand the signs, a judge might buy the argument that the signs are not as clear as they should be. If there's an "Only" marker you are dead in the water. Otherwise I'd give it a shot.