Police cracking down on use of 400 flex lanes

Alpharetta police say they're cracking down on abuse of the Georgia State Route 400 flex lane.
 
The Georgia Department of Transportation created the flex lane for drivers to use during peak traffic times. 

Police say drivers are still using the lane, even when it's not open.
 
Channel 2's Mike Petchenik rode a long with Alpharetta Police Lt. J.T. Simpson as he patrolled the expressway Wednesday.
 
The northbound flex lane between Old Milton Road and Windward Parkway is only open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. each morning and again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
 
"We're seeing motorists at all times of the day utilizing that right shoulder flex lane as a regular travel lane," Simpson told Petchenik.
 
Alpharetta Police Department spokesman George Gordon says the lane reverts back to an emergency shoulder outside of the allowed hours.
 
Petchenik obtained a picture shows a broken down car rear-ended by someone using the lane illegally.
 
"That creates a dangerous situation," Gordon said.

While on patrol with police, Petchenik saw the problems first hand.

Simpson ticketed two drivers within 15 minutes. 
 
"I didn't see the sign until I realized you were in the lane and your lights. That's when I realized," one driver told Simpson.
 
"I don't come up here that often so I didn't know," another driver told Simpson. 
 
Simpson says that is no excuse.
 
"The signs are clearly posted. There are two of them. Not seeing the sign is not an excuse," Simpson told the drivers.
 
Police told Petchenik there are so many drivers abusing the lane, they can barely keep up with them, and a lot of people get away without a ticket.
 
They are concerned they will have more bad wrecks on Ga-400 if people don't stop.