History will record that the carpool lane instituted in the 1970s under then-Gov. Jerry Brown was one of the great frauds and social injustices ever perpetrated upon “we the people.”
It will record that for more than 30 years our government disenfranchised nearly 20 million of California’s non-carpooling motorists by purposely denying them equal access, equal participation and equal opportunity on our public-funded freeway system, simply because they drove alone in their own car out of choice or necessity.
A Bold and Historic Step
History will also record that the Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce (GWLACC) and the San Fernando Valley Republican Club (SFVRC) took bold steps toward ending this discriminatory wall of separation by adopting the “Motorist Equality Resolution.” This no-nonsense declaration calls for opening the privileged carpool lane to all motorists alike on California's Primary Election Day, Feb. 5, and then leaving the lane open to all licensed motorists thereafter.
A Disgraceful Hoax
History reminds us that the Brown Administration defiantly converted the established “fast lane” into an experimental “high occupancy vehicle lane” instead of building more freeway lanes. Unfortunately, Californians were duped into believing that this radical theory would miraculously “reduce gridlock and protect the environment.”
The absurdity of this disgraceful hoax is that it requires only two persons to qualify for riding on this alleged “high occupancy” lane. The carpooling passenger doesn't have to own a car, be a licensed driver or even old enough to drive.
The harsh reality is that with fewer vehicles on this congestion-free lane, it creates more gridlock on the other lanes. Consequently, there’s even greater harm inflicted upon the environment from emission pollution and wasted gasoline caused by millions of cars stuck in stop-and-go traffic.
Undeniably, the carpool lane has been a shameful failure since its inception.
Nonsense Notions
Nonetheless, foolhardy politicians defend the lane’s existence with more nonsensical notions such as granting special privileges to hybrid motorists without a passenger.
Now, the money-grubbing politicians want to turn this into an elitist “toll lane” so they can extract as many dollars as possible from as few motorists as possible by rewarding the highest bidders with an unjust advantage over low-income drivers.
Let there be no misunderstanding. Government’s bigoted manipulation of this illegitimate lane is a serious breach of one’s equal privileges and freedom of mobility. Simply put, it favors the select few who conform to this unfair doctrine by rewarding them with a privileged free-flowing lane while punishing the majority who do not, or cannot, conform.
This forces them to be left behind in oppressive gridlock.
Turning Equality Upside Down
The exclusive carpool lane goes beyond the “separate but equal” doctrine of yore because it fosters “separate and unequal” conditions in the cruelest sense.
Today’s draconian doctrine defies human respect by isolating all motorists driving alone in standard vehicles and detaining them in burdensome sub-standard lanes.
This degrading treatment causes unwarranted suffering to solo-motorists as they struggle in their drive to and from work to provide for their families.
Make no mistake; this abusive practice on our public freeway system is not only unjust and undemocratic, it’s inhuman.
To the Rescue
Enter the Greater West L.A. Chamber and the San Fernando Valley Republicans. They seek to rescue drivers with the Motorist Equality Resolution that states:
“Whereas, America’s civil rights are granted equally to the individual, it is therefore government’s essential duty to ensure that these rights are protected equally for all members of our citizenry at all time.”
The Resolution notes that “civil rights” is defined as “including the right to vote, the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a democratic society, such as equal access to public schools, recreation, transportation, public facilities, and housing, and equal and fair treatment by law enforcement and the courts”.
The Resolution further states that the carpool lane doctrine is inequitable and contradictory to democracy’s fundamental principle of “equal opportunity for all and special privileges for none.”
Making an Exception
The Resolution calls for the state of California to open all carpool lanes on Primary Election Day, making them equally accessible to each and every motorist alike, thereby ensuring that “all registered voter-motorists driving on our public-funded freeway facilities will have the same equal access, equal treatment and equal opportunity on the drive to their Polling Place as they are guaranteed at their Polling Place.”
Since driving is a privilege, not a right, and each motorist pays the same equal gasoline taxes in the form of a “user’s fee,” each licensed motorist is equally entitled to the same driving privileges on our public freeway system as all other motorists at all times.
That is a civil right.
As California's chief law enforcer, it’s now Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown’s duty to terminate this forbidden wall of separation and re-establish “Equal Opportunity Freeways” for all licensed motorists.
If he doesn't, history will record that 20 million non-carpooling motorists voted for his recall and elected someone who did.
Mr. Rosebrock is the author of the Motorist Equality Resolution and Director of the Wilshire Monorail Project.