‘They’re making you pay for the right to bill you:’ 成人X站 hosts upset over toll changes for SR 167 HOT lane
Jul 26, 2025, 5:01 AM | Updated: Jul 27, 2025, 6:37 am
The High Occupancy Toll lane from Auburn to Renton on SR 167 is becoming an Express Toll Lane. (Image courtesy of WSDOT)
(Image courtesy of WSDOT)
罢丑别听 from Auburn to Renton is being converted into an express toll lane, similar to the 聽between Bellevue and Lynnwood.
Up until now, only solo drivers needed a pass to pay their way into the HOT lane. Carpoolers didn鈥檛 need a pass. It was the honor system. Now they do, or they will be tolled.
“I’ve made friends with total strangers just to use that lane, now it’s still going to cost me an additional fee,” 成人X站 host Spike O’Neill said.
“On ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ he would pick up a prostitute just to drive in a lane like this,” 成人X站 host Jake Skorheim added.
“Did you know, on the Golden Gate Bridge, people wait by the side of the road just to get a ride across?” Spike asked. “Just jump in a car, get a free shuttle across, and let someone else use that high-capacity occupancy lane.”
Drivers will still be able to carpool toll-free, but they will need to have a set to HOV mode to do so, Lauren McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) toll division, told 成人X站 Newsradio. The flex pass costs $15, plus tax.
The change in policy is directly related to the number of drivers who wouldn’t honor the “honor system” in place when using HOT lanes.
“They’re calling all of you liars and cheats. Yes, they are. They don’t trust you. And I don’t think you should trust them. I’m talking about the government. I don’t think you should trust them,” Jake said. “This is what they’re going to force you to do. You have to buy one of these passes. We’ve all seen them in the window, but it’s not free. It should be free. They’re penalizing you and making you purchase this thing. It’s a $15 fee to buy it. You have to set up the account, which is a headache. It is a headache.”
“I’m looking into ways to subvert the law,’ Spike said jokingly. “With regard to this story in particular, I’m looking for ways to subvert the law. I’m going to reach out to Sheriff Swank because he’s the guy who wants to help the commuter along.”
Drivers without a pass will be charged the toll, plus $2 for pay-by-mail. This should eliminate the rampant cheating that SR 167 sees in the HOT lane today. You will also pay a toll for how long you鈥檙e in the lane. The new signs will show segments of the highway. The signs will have toll amounts for three destinations.
You won鈥檛 pay three separate tolls 鈥� only one toll for your destination. You will also have limited options for entering and exiting the toll lane.
“They’re making you pay for the right to bill you. It feels wrong if you need a mechanism to record my information and subject me to your tolling policies,” Spike said. “I got to pay for the right for you to bill me? If you are requiring me to pay in this lane, you should provide me the equipment with which to bill me.”
Listen to the full conversation here.
Listen to聽鈥淭he Jake and Spike Show鈥�聽weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on 成人X站聽Newsradio聽97.3 FM.聽Subscribe to the podcast here.
