Q: Once the HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes are finished on I-85, will they still be available to motorcycles and high occupancy vehicles at no charge?
—Keith Law, Braselton
A: Yes, registered motorcycles, three or more person carpools, emergency vehicles and Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV) with the proper AFV license plate (excluding hybrid vehicles) can use the express lanes toll free, according to the State Road and Tollway Authority. But all I-85 express lane users, including those exempt from paying tolls, need to register their vehicles by opening a Peach Pass account. Choose the toll exempt account (by calling Peach Pass at 1-855-724-7277) to use the lanes at no cost. If there is a chance you will use the I-85 express lanes with less than three people in the vehicle or not driving a motorcycle or an AFV, you must open a personal or commercial toll account instead of a toll exempt account (and select the toll-exempt mode, which can be set to your driving habits). If individuals register as a toll-exempt customer, they will receive a violation if they do not meet the toll-exempt requirements at any time in the express lanes. The toll mode status can be changed at www.peachpass.com or by calling 1-855-724-7277 at least 15 minutes before using the express lanes.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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