JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers TEMPTING-Drivers entering the 118 Freeway First Street eastbound on-ramp are frustrated by rush-hour traffic congestion. Single drivers are using the carpool lane, resulting in tickets. It may seem to local motorists that law enforcement has increased their presence on the 118 Freeway on-ramps with the intention of citing more drivers for carpool lane violations.

But Officer George Myers of the California Highway Patrol disputes that.

The department receives extra funding to step up patrol at times on certain infractions, Myers said. For example, one grant will pay for overtime from March 16 through March 19 to enforce laws on speeding and driving under the influence. However, they currently don't have funding for more patrol for carpool violators, he said.

To those cited for driving illegally in the carpool lane it may seem a waste of law enforcement resources to get a ticket. But Myers said that's not so. A congested carpool lane can contribute to collisions. The more traffic drivers encounter, he said, the more impatient they become, which often leads to accidents.

What's more, some people think the CHP, which patrols freeways, and police departments issue traffic tickets to bring in more revenue to the city and state.

But according to Jaime Coffee, a CHP spokeswoman, money from traffic fines don't go the CHP but to the local courts, which also set their amount if the legislature hasn't already done so.

In the case of traffic tickets issued by Simi Valley police, 17 percent of the fine amount goes to the city. Carpool violators-- drivers without at least one other person in the vehicle--face a fine of $271, which means $46 per ticket for Simi Valley.

"We don't go out and issue people traffic tickets for the purpose of obtaining revenue for the city," said Captain Tony Harper. "We issue tickets for traffic safety ... That's why we enforce traffic regulations, for the safety of the public," he said

Harper said the department doesn't set ticket quotas for officers either, which would be illegal.

Councilmember Steve Sojka, whose father served as a Simi Valley police chief for three years, said the city isn't in the business of exploiting drivers to benefit city coffers.

"That's not our goal or intention to set up and take advantage of a situation," Sojka said. "We don't need to go out and write tickets to get revenue."