HOV Enforcement

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On the other hand, though, FBI folks going to/from Quantico, and perhaps some others, are reasonable exceptions.

Eric.

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What makes them so special? How about an exception for, say, Postal workers on their way to L'Enfant Plaza, or Wal-Mart greeters during December? What they do is important too, right? No, I'm not buying it - it's elitism and flaunting the law. I don't care if J. Edgar is on his way to get his gown re-hemmed, the law should apply to him as well. Emergency vehicles on a call should be the only exceptions.

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I'm with Mycroftt--Emergency vehicles only.

I still don't think the privileged class should get a free pass for HOV. If Mr. FBI Scientist needs to testify in Arlington, he can darn well get his butt out of bed early enough to get to court before the trial is over -just like I would have to do if I were testifying or on a jury or on trial for being a subversive SOB. A revolution was fought to rid this country of royalty and privileged classes and I don't think we should start building them anew. I say what's good for the goose is good for the gander. HOV lanes for HOV only!

The issue of HOV enforcement is linked to allowing a huge number of non-HOV vehicles in the lanes. In the past, the troopers could sit on the side of the road and check cars as they went past. Now, however, enforcement has to be done at the entrance/exits because of all of the non HOV "legals."

Move forward in time several years when 50% of the HOV traffic is single occupant cars. How on earth will anyone enforce this? To even enforce at the exits would cause a massive backup.

Eric, your argument is a classic example of what we used to call a "cop out" - you evaded the issue and claimed that others are the true privileged class. Tsk, tsk. I guess you concede that there is no justification for the coppers to be above the law.

I have an even better solution to reducing the number of people on the highways. I do about 90% of my work on a computer or a telephone so it doesn't really matter where I sit. I could work at home or in the telework center close to home. Unfortunately, my employer has a decidely 1940's view of work responsibility in that where you are sitting is more important than what you are doing. Damn shame really. I think a large portion of the commuting workforce is in the same boat. Most of this travelling up and down the crowded road is completely unnecessary.

Sorry Eric, but you seem to enjoy an elevated opinion of your argument that is unshared by others. Your claim to have "repeatedly made a valid point. (Namely, that society derives sufficient benefit from permitting ON DUTY law enforcement to use HOV that it warrants the exception.)" mischaracterizes what you have accomplished, which is no more than to have repeatedly uttered the unfounded assertion that there is sufficient benefit derived from the exception to justify its continued existence. A valid opinion no doubt, and one I would not care to argue against, but hardly a valid point since you have not offered any evidence to support it.

I am amused by your misreading of my chide about your childish game of "It takes one to know one" when you made the ridiculous claim that the commuter who plays by the rules, is somehow "privileged" when using the taxpayer-capitalized infrastructure provided for that very reason. Alas, there is no topic line for me to have indicated that I was deliberately going off topic, so allow me to set the record straight: I was off topic and not addressing Eric's argument when I chided him.

In any case, my real beef is with the off-duty commuting lawmen who roar solo past me as I slug my way to work. I don't think they should be allowed to do so. A rereading of the posts reveals that I never accused them of lording it over anyone, as you claim, so I await your retraction of that false accusation. My belief is that they are just guys taking advantage of having been granted special privileges based on their class who are just going to workand I think it should be stopped.