[ossiblue]

You must have been on the 110--the Harbor Freeway. The car pool lane on a stretch of that route was just changed to a toll lane on Nov. 11th. If you use it, you need a transponder even if you have passengers and qualify for a "free" usage of the car pool lane. Of course, you must set up a Fast Track account with the transponder for $40-50 to use the toll/car pool lane without charge. That initial charge stays untouched if you have passengers but is charged if you drive solo.

The "logic" behind this was to allow solo drivers to use the former HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle--ie. buses and car pools) and the car pool lanes by paying for it via a transponder. That meant that true car poolers--those with passengers--would also have to have a transponder though they wouldn't be charged for usage of the lane.

Go figure.