"Be a Hero"

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   I noticed (and I think it was in the Hampton Roads area) that they have "Be a Hero"signage over their HOV lanes, with an 800 number to call and report HOV-iolators.  Does anyone know how that works and if it does work, why wouldn't we have it on I-95?  Just curious -thanks!

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Luvmyhybrid Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luvmyhybrid Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: "Be a Hero" Posted: 26 May 2005 at 8:49am
	I noticed (and I think it was in the Hampton Roads area) that they have "Be a Hero"signage over their HOV lanes, with an 800 number to call and report HOV-iolators. Does anyone know how that works and if it does work, why wouldn't we have it on I-95? Just curious -thanks!

Bob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Dec 2001 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 2005 at 10:54am
	They used to have it on 95 a bunch of years back. That was before the completion of the isolated HOV. There was a phone number you called and left a license number and description. This was before the internet. The violator got a letter, I believe but no fine. Someone can correct me here, but I think that the reports would be placed on the state trooper computer so that if that person got stopped, they would see that they are a habitual violator. It was dropped probably after legal challenge but not sure.

vabigblue Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote vabigblue Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 2005 at 1:36pm
	You're right Bob. The telephone reports just didn't work out. To my knowledge, unless there was validated proof that a person was in the left lane, they couldn't enforce the charge.

Rebecca22193 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Virginnia Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rebecca22193 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jun 2005 at 2:46pm
	I'm sorry, but I always thought it was a ridiculous notion. The first day the 1-800-NARC program got underway, I thought, "Who would waste their time telling on people?" My father picked me up for work that morning and had a pad of paper glued to his dashboard and a pencil in his hand! LOL He spent more time looking for violators than watching the road. He truly enjoyed himself. I had the experience of driving in a van with my small children. I received several of those letters from people reporting me because they couldn't see my kids. I never got a ticket, nor did I have to defend myself or pay a fine -- but how annoying. When you put something like that into affect, some people get a little over-zealous. Becky

122582 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote 122582 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jun 2005 at 4:00pm
	Sieg Heil!! Report those neighbors. 20% bonus if it's a family member! These programs worked pretty well in both Nazi Germany and more recently with the Stasi in the former East Germany. My wife gets the finger pretty frequently because people can't see the 3 kids in the car. Leave traffic enforcement to the police (those public servants we pay all those tax dollars to employ).