Police in HOV lanes in AM

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   Please be CAUTIOUS in the morning on the stretch of HOV from Newington to Springfield. The speed changes so quickly from 65 to 50 miles per hour within 1/4 to 1/2 miles.  The tramp for the drivers is the Officers of Fairfax are setting at the bottom of the last ramp of the HOV lane in Springfield with a RADAR gun.  The manner in which you are stopped is to STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF BOTH LANES which can cause a MAJOR accident for the drivers.  I have contacted the County Supervisor for the Springfield area.  What I saw this morning was CRAZY and those two officers need to be written up.

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Rochelle45 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rochelle45 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Police in HOV lanes in AM Posted: 22 Feb 2007 at 10:22am
	Please be CAUTIOUS in the morning on the stretch of HOV from Newington to Springfield. The speed changes so quickly from 65 to 50 miles per hour within 1/4 to 1/2 miles. The tramp for the drivers is the Officers of Fairfax are setting at the bottom of the last ramp of the HOV lane in Springfield with a RADAR gun. The manner in which you are stopped is to STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF BOTH LANES which can cause a MAJOR accident for the drivers. I have contacted the County Supervisor for the Springfield area. What I saw this morning was CRAZY and those two officers need to be written up.

Galah Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Galah Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Feb 2007 at 10:37am
	I don't understand the speed limit change, I thought it may have been a carryover from the times when the road was under construction and VDOT just forgot to change the signs.... I have seen that technique for stopping speeders used before in Maryland...but then I thought, Hey, it's Maryland....

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: 22 Feb 2007 at 3:36pm
	Specifically where were they? North or south of Springfield exhange?

DC2RV Members Profile Find Members Posts Master Slug Joined: 28 Feb 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 1014	Post Options Post Reply Quote DC2RV Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Feb 2007 at 7:28am
	I saw one north of Springfield (between there and Edsall).

Galah Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Galah Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Feb 2007 at 9:23am
	....and ANOTHER thing! Was VDOT asleep this morning? My slugs and I are coming north from 610, ready to get on the HOV and the great big sign says CLOSED DO NOT ENTER .....gates weren't down so, we went on anyway but it sure makes you hesitant....

JK 14 n G Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote JK 14 n G Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 2007 at 2:08pm
	I was a slug in a car that got pulled over by the speed trap. While I agree that the tactics used to stop folks was insane, the cops were actually really nice. They explained that the speed limit is 50 in that area due to the continued construction further ahead, and that the area was where the "arteries were bleeding in". It's understandable to keep the speed limit 50mph, but not obvious enough for the drivers. Maybe a blinking marquee would do the trick? Let's fill up the Rt. 17 lot and ease up on Mine Rd.!!

sluDgE Members Profile Find Members Posts Master Slug Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Status: Offline Points: 501	Post Options Post Reply Quote sluDgE Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 2007 at 12:25pm
	The HOV "50 mph zone" at Springfield is only about a mile long. [:0] When traveling southbound on the HOVs, the "50 mph zone" begins just north of the beltway, and it extends to just south of the Franconia-Springfield (Va 7900) southbound HOV entance ramp where the speed limit goes back up to 65 mph. [:)] All three HOV exits through this zone are from the left lane. [;)]

mycroftt Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote mycroftt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2007 at 8:28am
	Wow! I never even noticed those 50 mph signs before this thread was posted. I thought the HOV was 65 all the way. Thanks!

scottt Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Slug Joined: 12 May 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 106	Post Options Post Reply Quote scottt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2007 at 9:15am
	I heard on WTOP there was a backup this morning as a result of police enforcement in the HOV south of Springfield.

SpongeBob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SpongeBob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2007 at 9:26am
	We slid onto the carpool lanes at the Dale City entrance this a.m. and there was a lawman at the end of the ramp. HE GOT ONE! Two cars in front of us: single male driver in a small sedan. Yessssss! We rode in with smiles on our faces. [;)] BTW, we never saw evidence of the pre-Springfield backup by 8:15. But what is up with the huge delays all week prior to Memorial Bridge? That has been adding 10-20 minutes to the commute.