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Friday, Apr. 18, 2025

Are carpool lanes in Denver actually enforced? 

Por Jaijongkit, The Colorado Sun
yes

Denver police issued 34 tickets to drivers who violated minimum passenger requirements in high-occupancy vehicle lanes in 2024, court records show. 

That represents a small slice of the tens of thousands of traffic stops in the city each year, however. Denver police stopped 18,300 drivers for various traffic violations in the first four months of 2024 alone. 

Certain highways such as U.S. Highway 36 and parts of Interstate 25 have express lanes that can be used for free through a switchable transponder pass in vehicles with three or more passengers.  

Standard HOV lanes, such as ones on Santa Fe Drive and U.S. Highway 85, do not require transponders. 

Santa Fe’s HOV lane is restricted to vehicles with at least two passengers at specific times during the morning and evening commute. Drivers who violate the HOV rules normally face a $65 fine but can be fined up to $125 for repeat offenses.

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