The Psychology Of Cheating In Carpool Lanes

"Another reason: Cheaters know the odds of getting caught can be low. Even though 1,200 hours of overtime went to diamond-lane enforcement last year, the number of carpool citations fell 35 percent between 1998 and last year in the San Jose area, from 8,600 to 5,591... Caltrans studies show that when a new carpool lane opens, like on southbound I-680 between Fremont and Milpitas, cheating is rampant. But over the years, as people get used to the system, the violation rate declines. The only place where cheating is consistently above 10 percent in the studies is on the approach to the Bay Bridge."