Following up on Monday's question about HOV lanes, several people have written to us asking about the double white lines on the HOT lanes of State Route 167 between Auburn and Renton.
For those not familiar, the HOT lanes are HOV lanes. But the state will let solo drivers use them if they pay a fee using the automatic Good To Go transponder. Another unusual aspect is that the lanes are only enforced from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Outside of those times, the lanes are free to use by anyone, no matter how many people are in the vehicle.
But what has some people confused are the double white lines associated with the lanes. There are signs clearly posted that tell drivers not to cross the double white lines. You are only supposed to cross into the HOV/HOT lanes at entry/exit points, which are designated by dashed white lines. If you're caught crossing the double white lines, it's a$124 fine.
Our readers want to know if you are allowed to cross the double white lines when the HOV lanes are not being enforced (7 p.m. to 5 a.m.)
Here is the answer directly from the Washington state Department of Transportation website.
While it has long been illegal to cross a double white line, most Washington drivers seldom encountered them before the completion of more recent projects, such as SR 167 HOT lanes and two-way transit/HOV lanes on I-90 between Seattle and Bellevue. WSDOT chose to restrict HOT lane access with a double white line at all times (even when the HOT lanes are open to all) to reduce any confusion from a traffic law that might be unfamiliar to many drivers.
So, drivers are not allowed to cross the double white lines ever. Not only is it illegal on SR 167, it's illegal everywhere.
UPDATE: A King County deputy saw this story and asked us to make this clarification.
If an emergency vehicle is coming up behind you with its lights or siren on, you can and must cross the double white lines to let them pass. It's part of RCW 46.61.210, which involves yielding the right of way to emergency vehicles, according to Washington State Patrol spokesman Dan Coon. Again, it only applies if the emergency vehicle is signaling you with its lights or siren.
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