Do you think you can use the HOV lanes in NorCal if you remove the rear seats and have one passenger up front? I was thinking that maybe with the small size of the car you could get away with this. It is not an original idea. Once when shopping for a Jeep the salesman told me you can remove the rear jump seat, get a passenger, and use the HOV lane.

Variation on original question: how about with the rear seats folded down?

 

u can use the hov in norcal as long as you have at least one passenger in the car.
Never heard of anything with the amount of seats you have...

 

There are several places in the Bay Area where 3 persons in the car are required for the carpool lane: a section of 80 from Oakand northward, plus the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and the bridges in the North Bay. For the bridges, it's a major thing because you can use the diamond lanes AND bridge toll is free. Where 3 persons are normally required, 2 persons in a 2-seater car is also allowed. That's where existence of the rear seat comes into play. I don't know the exact rules, but it would make sense if a removed rear seat qualifies but folding it down does not.

 

well there you have it...learn something every day right?
I guess I just don't drive much on highways with heavy traffic or the bridges :/

 

MSFIT,
if you do not have to drive much on highways with heavy traffic or the bridges, then count yourself fortunate.

 

I remembered an article I saw, and it's a fun read: Trickery and excuses abound as CHP tracks Bay Bridge violators. According to the article, removed rear seats do not qualify for the carpool lane:Get the GP Works edition and you'll be okay. If you do the daily bridge commute with a passenger, it might actually make a plausible excuse to choose it over a regular MINI.

 

rkw,
Excellant resource. Thank you. Wasn't quite the answer i wanted to hear, but authentic and detailed. It will help me keep clear of trouble.

 

Good luck with that one. You MIGHT be able to get it by a judge, after you take a day off work to go to court , but IMO they won't let you slide if you just say, "But it's a GP works version!" Do you think it matters who removed the rear seat?