The road stripes don't define when it's legal to enter or exit an HOV lane in Arizona


Question from Jan: My question is about the HOV lane. When is it legal to enter and exit that lane? We see a solid white line, and then at other times a double solid white line and occasionally a white dash line.

Answer: Arizona Revised Statutes do not address your question. They do address the days of the week and times; it also provides for passenger count and certain exceptions.

Do not confuse Arizona HOV rule/law with a state such as California where there are certain entry/exit areas for and HOV lane. In Arizona you may enter and exit the HOV lane at any point as long as you are in compliance with ARS 28-737A:

"Except as provided in sections 28-2416 and 28-2416.01 and subsections B, C and D of this section, a person shall not drive a vehicle carrying fewer than two persons, including the driver, in a high occupancy vehicle lane at any time the use of the high occupancy vehicle lane is restricted to vehicles carrying two or more persons, including the driver."

RELATED: Ask a Cop: HOV lanes open outside time restrictions

Perhaps the Arizona Department of Transportation can inform why there are solid white and double white lines around the Valley that identify the HOV lane.

Raul Garcia is a retired sworn officer who spent 12 years on Highway Patrol, nine of which were as a motor officer and the rest as a detective. He is a civilian public informration officer for the Department of Public Safety.

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