Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, May 8, 2008

INITIATIVE 985

Eyman way out of line with HOV plan

 Tim Eyman and his group have done some excellent work in the past that deserved wide support. When it comes to Initiative 985, however, particularly the monkeying around with the HOV lanes, I am disappointed with the wrong-headedness of that concept and the misuse of the auditor's time and function.

Auditor Brian Sonntag's time should be used to snoop through the books of every last state agency and municipality to detect waste, fraud and abuse and I bet there wouldn't be any time left to stew over something that his skill set is not suitable for in the first place.

The purpose of an HOV lane is to provide an incentive for carpooling and to reward those who do pool, period! Maybe the auditor should investigate the percentage of drivers who are wasting precious resources by driving alone, when in fact they would be able to drive or ride with one, two or three people going to similar destinations. If it turns out that it is a significant number, then maybe on freeways serving major commutes, a second lane should be reserved for HOV use and in the process the congestion, the cost-for-gas problem, the country's oil dependence, as well as the pollution, would all be solved at the cost of some extra striping.

Hans Herzog
Marysville
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