RENTON, Wash. - About 1,000 solo drivers are using the new HOT lanes on Highway 167 during weekday commutes. That's pretty good for the newly launched high occupancy toll lanes, say Washington Department of Transportation officials, but it's still short of the 5,000 drivers they anticipate will regularly use them.

The 12-mile HOT lanes opened May 3 as a four-year pilot project. They include a 12-mile stretch on northbound Highway 167 and nine-mile stretch on southbound between Auburn and Renton. Tolls range from 50 cents to $9, depending on the flow of traffic. So far, the highest toll has been $5.75.

A Department of Transportation spokesperson told the Tacoma News Tribune that solo drivers are saving about 5 to 15 minutes during rush hours use the HOT lanes. But the new HOT lanes aren't without its kinks. Several drivers have complained about the new system, most coming from legitimate car-poolers, cars with two people or more, about the restrictive double lines.

The double white lines separate the HOT/HOV lanes from the general purpose traffic lanes. Before, car-poolers could move freely in and out of carpool lanes. Now, crossing over the double lines is illegal and could result in a $124 fine.

Drivers say they have wait between five to 10 minutes before the double lines end and they can get into the carpool lane. Many drivers ignore the rule, so much so the State Patrol has put a trooper at the interchange of Highway 18 and Highway 167 to enforce the rule.

DOT officials cite say there are several reason why they want to regulate the movement between the HOT lanes and regular lanes. Mostly, they want drivers to enter the HOT lanes so scanners can detect their transponders, devices mounted on the cars' windshields where their toll accounts are debited electronically.

Restricting drivers to cross over during line breaks also helps troopers to enforce HOT lanes use, say DOT officials, but drivers say it's a driving hazard. Drivers reportedly come to a complete stop in the carpool/HOT lanes where changing lanes is allowed to move.

DOT officials want more drivers using the HOT/HOV lanes and say road engineers will gradually make changes to the system. But they expect it will take time for drivers to get used to it. They don’t expect to reach the 5,000 driver mark until the second or third year of the program. The number of drivers projected could also after more months of observing the HOT lane use.