CA HOV Stickers

[Alnilam]

From this morning's L.A. Times:

Only a year after the program was introduced, state officials are perhaps weeks away from capping the number of special permits for hybrid cars to drive in the state's high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Officials set a maximum of 75,000 permits. And as of Thursday, they had received 74,108 applications and issued 62,355 permits.

"At this point, there's no guarantee you're going to get a sticker," said Karen Caesar, a spokeswoman for the California Air Resources Board, which manages the program. "The program is not closed yet, but people need to be aware it's very limited and very successful and popular."

[Tatania]

Well crapola. My application has been up for a week so I'm hoping they'll process it. My check hasn't cleared yet though

[IsrAmeriPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Aug 4 2006, 08:19 AM) [snapback]297671[/snapback]</div>

From this morning's L.A. Times:

Officials set a maximum of 75,000 permits. And as of Thursday, they had received 74,108 applications and issued 62,355 permits.
[/b]

How many of those applications were rejected? How many were for duplicates?

[NorwoodIV]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tatania @ Aug 4 2006, 11:16 AM) [snapback]297706[/snapback]</div>

Well crapola. My application has been up for a week so I'm hoping they'll process it. My check hasn't cleared yet though
[/b]

I'm with you. Mine's been in for almost three weeks, with no check cashed. Supposedly, all applications are date-stamped, and in an official queue. With any luck, we'll get in under the wire.

There's also a nasty rumor going around that it is highly unlikely that they will either expand the program, or extend the existing privilege. Still, it would work through 2008 I believe. I'll take it...

[uclabruins]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pale Alien @ Aug 4 2006, 03:28 PM) [snapback]297925[/snapback]</div>

I'm with you. Mine's been in for almost three weeks, with no check cashed. Supposedly, all applications are date-stamped, and in an official queue. With any luck, we'll get in under the wire.

There's also a nasty rumor going around that it is highly unlikely that they will either expand the program, or extend the existing privilege. Still, it would work through 2008 I believe. I'll take it...
[/b]

Did you have your license plate on your application?

[NorwoodIV]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(uclabruins @ Aug 4 2006, 05:35 PM) [snapback]297927[/snapback]</div>

Did you have your license plate on your application?
[/b]

No. I talked to several sources who said that they will do it with the VIN#. I know three people who had no problems. I now have my plates, and I'm half tempted to either call, or throw another application in...

My thought was that if I got in the line, they would probably find that my plates were issued, by the time they reviewed my sticker application.

Most people take about three to four weeks, with the check cashing late in the process. We'll see...

[bad monkey]

I didn't put my license plate on the application because I flied it the day I bought the car. I got mine about 3-4 weeks later. But in December, there was more of a shortage because they still had not received the full production supply of the '06 retool.

[Alnilam]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pale Alien @ Aug 4 2006, 04:28 PM) [snapback]297964[/snapback]</div>

No. I talked to several sources who said that they will do it with the VIN#. I know three people who had no problems. I now have my plates, and I'm half tempted to either call, or throw another application in...

My thought was that if I got in the line, they would probably find that my plates were issued, by the time they reviewed my sticker application.

Most people take about three to four weeks, with the check cashing late in the process. We'll see...
[/b]

I've heard that, early on, they issued the stickers with just the VIN number. Not any more. I tried and they sent my package back to me with a note to try again when my plates arrived. That worked fine.

As for the breakdown of duplicates and rejections there was no word. It seems there are still about 12,000 to go so I wouldn't worry too much. It just feels like it takes forever.

Now that I have them, I feel a little silly using the HOV lanes since they usually are High Speed lanes and I'm out here trying to get good mileage. When traffic becomes clogged, however, the stickers become worth something.

[rufaro]

My problem was...I DID have my plates...DP from old car...But DMV will not just say, ok, you got yer plates, go in health. I sent in one app. with no plate #, got it bounced. Sent in the next one--before I got the official blessing from the <strike>pope</strike> DMV, with MY plate #....and got the stickers about 10 days later. Official plates about 3-4 weeks after that. Then spent several hours @ DMV office trying to give back the plates I never wanted in the first place, and having my DP plates reassigned to my VIN...after the several hours I spent a few days after coming home w/ the Pri and convincing them the old car, which was/is still mine, just needed different plates, and that the other plates needed to stay with ME...

Never mind...

CA DMV is the most dysfunctional DMV I have seen...and I have lived in/registered cars in Montreal, Massachusetts, Virginia, Rhode Island, New York...and I don't remember now where all else. Never ever ever ran into crap like this before.

Short answer...QUICK...apply for a personalized plate...

[davidsf]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Aug 4 2006, 08:19 AM) [snapback]297671[/snapback]</div>

From this morning's L.A. Times:

Only a year after the program was introduced, state officials are perhaps weeks away from capping the number of special permits for hybrid cars to drive in the state's high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Officials set a maximum of 75,000 permits. And as of Thursday, they had received 74,108 applications and issued 62,355 permits.

"At this point, there's no guarantee you're going to get a sticker," said Karen Caesar, a spokeswoman for the California Air Resources Board, which manages the program. "The program is not closed yet, but people need to be aware it's very limited and very successful and popular."
[/b]

When do these HOV stickers expire?