More than 2,100 tickets handed out for improperly using HOV lanes

Vehicles crawl past the nearly empty Pan Am high-occupancy vehicle lanes as morning rush hour traffic crawls in Toronto on Monday, June 29, 2015. (Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

More than 2,100 tickets were handed out by officers patrolling Toronto-area highways for improper use of the controversial high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes that were set up for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

The temporary HOV lanes were set up in June ahead of the Games on heavily-used roads, including the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway. The Pan Am Games kicked off on July 10 and restrictions placed on the lanes were lifted Tuesday night.

Drivers were ticketed for using HOV lanes if they didn't have a Games permit during the multi-sport event, or if they didn't have at least three occupants during the Pan Am Games, and at least two people during the Parapan Am Games.

In addition to the 2,115 tickets that were issued, OPP said another 2,506 tickets were handed out during the Games for other traffic violations along the games route.

Ahead of the Games, efforts were made to ensure motorists were aware of the special lanes. But despite the advance warning, some drivers still chose to rebel against the HOV rules.

In one incident, a motorist was busted for having mannequins as passengers.

Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford also admitted to using the lanes while driving solo, calling them a "pain in the rear end."