Imagine cruising down Florida's I-95, only to be met with confusing HOV lane signs that seem to defy the very laws you thought you knew. That's the reality for drivers in Palm Beach County, where outdated signage is causing a headache for both locals and out-of-state visitors alike. Here’s the deal: a new law that took effect on July 1 allows all drivers to use the far-left lanes without fear of a $160 ticket. But here's where it gets controversial—the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has decided to keep the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) signs in place, despite the change. Why? They claim it’s about finding the “best efficient and safe method” to remove them while keeping the lanes operational. But this is the part most people miss: the signs are staying up indefinitely, with no clear timeline for their removal.
For now, drivers can breathe easy—the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is not enforcing HOV restrictions. Data from WPBF 25 News backs this up, showing a sharp drop in HOV lane tickets. In fact, only 13 tickets were issued in the days following the law change, and most of those have either been dismissed or are pending. Two drivers who paid fines can even get their money back by disputing the violation in court. But here’s the kicker: what happens when confused drivers, especially those from out of state, see the signs and assume the old rules still apply?
The FDOT insists they’ll notify local municipalities and the public before removing the signs, but for now, it’s a waiting game. A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles explained that updating trooper training and systems takes time, emphasizing that their priority is ensuring officers have accurate information to enforce current laws. For those who received HOV citations on or after July 1, 2025, the department has already removed the violations from driving records. But the question remains: is leaving the signs up causing more confusion than necessary?
FDOT’s full statement sheds some light: “High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes on S.R. 9/I-95 are no longer being enforced since the passage of SB 1662. The HOV signage over the lanes will be removed once a decision is made on the best efficient and safe method to accomplish that while preserving the capability to manage the lane. Local municipalities and the public will be notified on signing changes. For now, we have no timeline for removing the signs. Motorists transiting the corridor do not need to worry about HOV restrictions. FHP is aware of the change in legislation and are not enforcing the use of the lanes.”
So, what do you think? Is FDOT’s approach reasonable, or are they creating unnecessary confusion by leaving the signs up? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your take on this head-scratching situation!
