Video: Highway 167 HOT lanes open

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KENT, Wash. - Commuters along highway 167 now have a choice to try and avoid gridlock.

Washington's first HOT lanes were officially activated today.

Drivers headed along nine miles of 167 between Renton and Auburn will now notice a price tag above that far left lane.

While carpoolers are still free, solo drivers with a Good to Go! transponder on their windshield can choose to pay a variable electronic toll to get into the high occupancy, HOT lane. The toll can range from 50 cents, up to $9, depending upon congestion.

"I would pay," said motorist Clyde Davis. "I don't know if I'd pay $9 to get in there, but I think $3 or $4 would be within my pocketbook."

If you want to use it, there's also a learning curve.

Drivers who used to be able to freely enter and exit the HOV lanes will now have to wait until they see dashed lines. Crossing the double white lines will now earn you a ticket from a trooper.

"They have to hit the access points and we're catching a lot of people who are not obeying the double white line restriction," said Captain Steve Burns, of Washington State Patrol.

Troopers say claiming confusion isn't acceptable.

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Solo drivers can now cruise in the carpool lane along Highway 167 for a fee.

State troopers have been patrolling the double white lines for the past week or so. They've been writing roughly 50 citations every day.

If you have two or more passengers and you have a Good to Go! Pass, you need to cover it with a DOT-issued shield to avoid being charged.

The hot lane project will be tested for the next four years.

The DOT will be making adjustments to the system. If it works Washington residents could see more HOT lanes in the future.