No HOV lane for Prius in Georgia

[the fish]

Most of the Atlanta metro Toyota dealers I have visited have been promoting the Prius and Highlander Hybrid saying that the HOV lanes allow hybrids. I even recall local newspaper coverage of hybrid cars mentioned one of the benefits of hybrid ownership as HOV lane access.

The High Occupany Vehichle lanes in the metro Atlanta area allow Alternative Fuel Vehicles to ride with a single occupant. Apparently the GA DOT requires that cars must have an AFV tag to use the lanes with a single occupant. AFV tags must be approved by the GA Evironmental Protection Division. I called the GA EPD to see if the Prius would qualify and they said no. They apparently follow the EPA guidelines for AFV which currently don't include hybrids.

A word of caution to anyone in Georgia or those travelling through.

[9G-man]

It's supposedly coming shortly, be patient.

[Kiloran]

From [url=http://go.ucsusa.org/hybridcenter/incentives.cfm#GA]Union of Concerned Scientists - Hybrid Center - Consumer Center Incentives - Georgia

State Hybrid HOV: Upon approval through either legislative action in the United States Congress or regulatory action by the United States Department of Transportation to permit hybrid vehicles with fewer than two occupants to operate in a high occupancy vehicle lane, the department shall authorize hybrid vehicles that register and receive a special license plate or decal for a $25.00 fee.

A hybrid gasoline-electric passenger vehicle or light truck is eligible for the waiver, if for any 2000 and later model, a vehicle which has received a certificate of conformity under the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401, et seq., and meets or exceeds the equivalent qualifying California low-emission vehicle standard under Section 243(e)(2) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 7583©(2), for that make and model year or, for any 2004 and later model, a vehicle which has received a certificate that such vehicle meets or exceeds the Bin 5 Tier II emission level established in regulations prescribed by the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under Section 202(i) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 7521(i), for that make and model year vehicle and which achieves a composite label fuel economy greater than or equal to 1.5 times the Model Year 2002 EPA composite class average for the same vehicle class and which is made by a manufacturer. Contact: James Udi, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, james_udi@dnr.state.ga.us.The state DOT is still awaiting interpretation of the federal HOV waiver by the Environmental Protection agency before implementing the program..

Hybrid Income Tax Credit (Bill): H.B. 21 would provide for an income tax credit for the purchase or lease of a new hybrid vehicle.
Introduced 12/14/2004 -- still pending

[the fish]

Thanks, Kiloran. The GA EPD expects the EPA to update thier list of qualifying vehicles under the Clean Air Act in February 2006. Hopefully, there will be news then.

[andrle@bellsouth.net]

Georgia

Georgia law allows hybrids into HOV lanes, but the state bureacracy has dragged its feet in implementing it. This web site link has a good summary of where things stand officially: http://www.dot.state.ga.us/specialsu.../hov-afv.shtml

Georgia law allowing hybrids to get "Alternative Fueled Vehicle" license plates (aka tags) and to drive in HOV lanes is at Georgia Code Section 32-9-4 (allowing use of Georgia’s HOV lanes by certain hybrids if such use of HOV lanes is permitted by Federal law), and Section 40-2-76 (specifying the issuance of license plates for hybrid vehicles for such use).

Georgia's Department of Natural Resources has taken the position that they must wait for the U.S. E.P.A. to conduct a rule making and issue a list of vehicles. However, this position is belied by the fact that other states have already proceeded to enable HOV access. Florida is one example – right next door. A year ago already Florida issued its list of approved vehicles and implemented their program (using vehicle stickers). You can view it at http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/html/titlinf.html I brought this to the attention of William Cook, who is in charge of this issue at Georgia DNR’s Environmental Protection Division (404- 363-7028), almost a year ago. Yet as I understand it they have NOT followed Florida’s example and moved this thing forward.

Why Florida has moved forward smoothly on this issue, while Georgia’s state agencies are frozen on this and flouting Georgia law?

Call Mr. Cook and complain. Also contact Judy Reynolds at Governor Purdue's office (who handles DNR matters) and complain -- 404-656-1776.

[echase]

Anyone know what ever happened with this?

[donee]

Hi fish,

I was in downtown Atlanta last week. Boy all those sky scraper windows got nailed by the tornado.

[Sheepdog]

tornado in ATL? I missed that somehow!

and we dont have HOV lanes here. If we did some a-hole would just hog it anyway and make HOV cars speed or get out of the lane.

Drivers here are just mean. downright double dog cruel and mean. I can see why some of them get shot at every once in a while!