It makes little sense for Utah to restrict access to its freeway express lanes in times other than the morning and evening jams that they were designed to bypass, one lawmaker believes.

State Sen. Karen Morgan, D-Cottonwood Heights, proposes allowing all motorists into the far-left lane outside of peak traffic hours. She is working on a bill that will designate those peak rush hours and seek to open the full road at all other times.

"During the off hours we might as well let people ride in those lanes and lower the traffic across the lanes," Morgan said. "The taxpayers have paid for the building of those lanes -- all taxpayers. They should have some access to those."

The express lanes, formerly treated solely as carpool lanes, now are restricted to those who either carpool or pay $50 a month for a sticker. Next fall the Utah Department of Transportation plans to convert to an electronic tolling system that allows motorists to buy a transponder for their vehicle and then pay by the trip whenever they enter an express lane.

Rates for using the new system will vary depending on constantly monitored traffic congestion.

Opening the lanes in off-peak hours could create confusion, said Bryan Chamberlain, UDOT's manager of the electronic tolling conversion.

"'What are the hours of operation?'" he said, imagining a motorist's thinking. "'When can I get in there and when can't I?'

"It would complicate the enforcement a bit. It's a little more understandable if it's [restricted] all the time."

Senate Preside Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said he has similar concerns. People seem to abuse the system already, driving in the lanes without a sticker or passengers, he said. Inviting everyone into the lane might further embolden scofflaws.

"You give people a chance to develop bad habits," Waddoups said.

Besides, he said, there's little need to use the express lanes when traffic is moving well.

Express lanes currently extend along Interstate 15 mostly in Salt Lake County, though UDOT is building more through Davis and Utah counties in conjunction with the electronic tolling conversion.