State troopers to crack down on illegal use of MnPASS lanes

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is teaming up with the Minnesota State Patrol to crack down on illegal use of the MnPASS Express Lanes on interstates in the metro.

Beginning Wednesday, six state troopers will be patrolling and enforcing the MnPASS lanes on interstates 35E, 394 and 35W during morning and afternoon commutes in an effort to decrease the number of motorists who are driving in the lanes without a MnPASS tag or without two more occupants, according to a statement from MNDOT.

The state troopers will “primarily enforce adherence to MnPASS regulations” and will also help control the flow of traffic, according to a MNDOT statement.

Motorists pay certain rates to use the MnPASS lanes during peak travel times to avoid congestion on the metro’s busiest interstates.