A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department not to place police officers against the median walls of interstates for the purpose of writing tickets to HOV lane offenders.

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-8-188 makes it a Class C misdemeanor, subject to the imposition of a fifty dollar fine, for the operator of a vehicle other than a "high occupancy vehicle" to drive in designated HOV lanes on the interstates of Tennessee during certain hours of certain days of the week; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is responsible for enforcing the traffic laws of the Metropolitan Government and the state of Tennessee within the area of the Metropolitan Government; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has recently posted officers along the inside median walls of certain interstate areas for the purpose of pulling over drivers of vehicles traveling in the HOV lanes that are not carrying passengers; and

WHEREAS, although the Council understands the necessity of enforcing the HOV laws, placing officers along the median walls of the interstates causes increased traffic congestion, poses a serious danger to the officers and the drivers being pulled over, and increases the risks for accidents among the motoring public driving in the congested conditions; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Police Department find an alternative method for enforcing the HOV laws.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department not to place police officers against the median walls of interstates for the purpose of writing tickets to HOV lane offenders.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Police Chief Ronal Serpas.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Jim Gotto, Billy Walls