Prius Drivers Can Cruise in California's Carpool Lanes

Prius Drivers Can Cruise in California's Carpool Lanes

Toyota Prius drivers can now apply for Clean Air Vehicle stickers from the Department of Motor Vehicles that allow them to drive with only one occupant in California's High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.

"This is truly a validation of hybrid technology and its benefits," said Jim Press, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. President and Chief Operating Officer. "Prius owners can now enjoy the freedom of driving in carpool lanes by themselves and knowing they're getting high fuel mileage and generating fewer emissions at the same time."

Access to California's carpool lanes is the second significant benefit for Prius drivers recently announced. The Energy Bill that recently passed Congress includes incentives ranging from $2,000-$3,000 for Toyota's hybrid vehicles beginning January 1, 2006.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2005/08/11/140079.html

Thats not fair

"Since the mid 1990s, the General Assembly has allowed clean fuel vehicles bearing clean fuel plates to use the HOV lanes without the required occupancy. The General Assembly has extended the expiration date several times. Currently, the law is set to expire on July 1, 2006. In August 2003 and again in January 2005, the HOV Task Force recommended that the exemption not be extended in order to preserve the effectiveness of the HOV lanes. In July 2005 Congress passed the new highway bill which, for the first time, permits states to allow hybrid vehicles to use the HOV lanes. Whether the rule is extended will be up to the 2006 session of the General Assembly. "

"Can I use Virginia's HOV lanes in my hybrid vehicle even though my car is registered in Maryland? In order for a hybrid vehicle to use Virginia's HOV lanes, you must have Virginia clean special fuel license plates. This is the only way we have to monitor the use of these lanes when there is only one individual in a car. In order for Virginia to honor Maryland plates, we would need a reciprocal agreement between the two states, and no such agreement exists to our knowledge. "

Yes, same in VA, we've been discussing that