Secrets… exposed!

With the recent completion of the US-95 freeway expansion in northwest Las Vegas, a new form of revenue has arrived for the state: the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane. A few months back, when the freeway and the HOV were brand new, the lane was exclusively for 2+ passenger vehicles. But here’s the secret I’m going to expose, right now, on my website: within the past month or so, they’ve started posting signs with very small printing that state specific times the HOV is in effect. The times are 6am-10am and 2pm-7pm on weekdays.

The thing is, it’s apparently a secret, and nobody knows about it. So I frequently take advantage of the HOV to get through traffic.

And evidently, it’s also a secret from those who enforce the law… As I was driving in the HOV just past 10 this morning, I noticed a darkly tinted car pull up beside me. I could faintly make out a computer system in his center console area, and knew immediately it was a cop. I was speeding a little, but generally going with the flow of traffic, so I didn’t think twice about it… til he quickly dodged behind me and pulled me over.

As he came up to my window and asked for my license and registration (”Papers, please! Show me your papers!”) I asked him why he had pulled me over. “Well, don’t you know you were in the HOV lane?” was his reply.

“Yes… but it’s past 10. I’m allowed to be in the HOV lane. There are signs all up and down the freeway that say so.”

“… really?”

He then tried to save face by pointing out my excessive speed, though I think we both knew it wasn’t a good point to be made, as everyone was going that speed.

He let me go, “with a warning.” …lucky me.

And stupid him.