The Seattle Police Department (SPD), with Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) support, will conduct the second in a series of transit lane emphasis patrols on Thursday, September 17 on Howell Street near 9th Avenue in Downtown Seattle.
Extra officers will be assigned to enforce existing lane restrictions during the afternoon commute. Illegal use of Howell Street transit lanes can delay thousands of bus riders and has been the subject of complaints from transit riders and motorists alike. The fine for illegal use of transit lanes is $136.
Transit lanes throughout Seattle and the region are essential to keeping buses moving. Even a small number of transit lane violators can bring buses to a halt. SPD and SDOT have teamed up to reduce transit lane and other violations, such as blocking of intersections, in an effort to keep traffic and transit moving.