New Virginia HOV law in effect

[cerberus]

Hi,

I'm new here and I'm not sure this was already covered in a previous thread. I emailed my Virginia delegate and senator about extending the HOV restrictions for clean fuel cars and got a reply two days ago.

Diana C. Dutton, legislative assistant to Delegate Harry Parrish (who died a month ago) wrote and said:

<blockquote>House Bill 1248 passed and was signed into law by Governor Kaine. It allows the continued use of the HOV lanes in Northern Virginia by clean special fuels' vehicles with only one occupant until July 1, 2007. Only those cars displaying the special license tag purchased before July 1, 2006, will be allowed this exemption.

Those tags for vehicles using clean special fuels purchased on or after July 1, 2006, will be a distinctively different design, and they will not be authorized for use in the HOV lanes without the prerequisite number of passengers.</blockquote>

Cerberus

[tadyergey]

Are you saying I can't use the HOV lanes on I-66 becuase I have rescue squad plates on my Prius and not the clean fuel plates?

Tad

[tbstout2]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tad @ May 3 2006, 01:33 AM) [snapback]248944[/snapback]</div>

Are you saying I can't use the HOV lanes on I-66 becuase I have rescue squad plates on my Prius and not the clean fuel plates?

Tad
[/b]

That is correct. Only the Clean Fuel tags give a car the right to drive on the HOV lanes with just one driver.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tbstout2 @ May 9 2006, 11:00 AM) [snapback]252154[/snapback]</div>

That is correct. Only the Clean Fuel tags give a car the right to drive on the HOV lanes with just one driver.
[/b]

Almost...

The only restriction for the new HOV plates after 1 July is on the I-95 / I-395 corridor. I-66 wil not be affected...not sure about the EMT plates though...might be another "unwritten rule" like the Police use now

[grasshopper]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mastergunner @ Jun 5 2006, 10:25 PM) [snapback]266415[/snapback]</div>

Almost...

The only restriction for the new HOV plates after 1 July is on the I-95 / I-395 corridor. I-66 wil not be affected...not sure about the EMT plates though...might be another "unwritten rule" like the Police use now
[/b]

So if I don't have Virginia plates, I can't use the HOV lanes. Is this correct?


I may need to take my two baloon head buddies with me. :P

[GreenGene]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(grasshopper @ Jun 6 2006, 09:29 AM) [snapback]266587[/snapback]</div>

So if I don't have Virginia plates, I can't use the HOV lanes. Is this correct?
I may need to take my two baloon head buddies with me. :P
[/b]

Yep, VA clean fuel plates are required for all hybrids using the HOV lanes in Virginia, unless you have 3 (I-95) or 2 (I-66 and Hampton Roads) or more occupants.

I found an FAQ that refers to hybrids registered in Maryland, but the law seems to apply to all states:

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. [/b]

Source

That said, I've seen hybrids with temporary tags and regular VA tags in the I-95 HOV lanes. Don't know if they ever get pulled over or not.

[GreenGene]

There's an article in today's (6/9/06) Washington Post about HOV enforcement that includes some interesting information.

Police Promise to Curb HOV Violators

From now to when the new hybrid/HOV law takes effect on July 1st, police are supposed to be cracking down on HOV enforcement, primarily on I-95/395.

Last year, they issued approximately 23,000 tickets to HOV violators, an increase of more than 50 percent from 15,000 in 2004. Also last year, they noted a 23% decrease in the number of violators since 2003.

According to recent figures, during peak usage more than 1,800 vehicles are using each of the two HOV lanes on I-95/395, and nearly 25% of those vehicles are hybrids ... up from 4% in 2003. Hybrid use in the I-95/395 HOV lanes has exploded!

Here's what the article had to say about the new law:

Drivers who buy hybrids after July 1 will not be exempt from carpool lane rules on I-95 and I-395 and will have to follow the same rules as other drivers. State officials reminded drivers yesterday that new cars must be fully registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles by June 30 to qualify for the exemption.

Hybrid drivers will be able to use the carpool lanes on I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road, which are not as crowded, no matter when they buy their cars.

Hybrids bought after July 1 will receive a different license plate so police can tell which cars are exempt. The existing plates are white, with a yellow and green emblem on the left side and "clean special fuel" written in green at the bottom. The new plates are blue, with a blue and green emblem on the right side and "clean special fuel" written in blue at the bottom.

The cost for getting the plates will increase from $10 to $25 to pay for the new design and enforcement. Also after July 1, fines for first-time violators will increase from $50 to $125. Second offenders will pay $250 instead of $200 and receive three points on their licenses.[/b]

[tadyergey]

Okay... Sorry to be dumb, but... Do I need the clean fuel plates to drive in the HOV lanes on 66?

[tbstout2]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tad @ Jun 9 2006, 12:44 PM) [snapback]268644[/snapback]</div>

Okay... Sorry to be dumb, but... Do I need the clean fuel plates to drive in the HOV lanes on 66?
[/b]

YOU must have the Clean Fuel plates - or have applied for them - in order to drive on the HOV lanes of 95/395. I was stopped once w/o the plates, but I had the paperwork tht said that they were applied for.

[NoVaSnow]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GreenGene @ Jun 9 2006, 06:29 AM) [snapback]268504[/snapback]</div>

That said, I've seen hybrids with temporary tags and regular VA tags in the I-95 HOV lanes. Don't know if they ever get pulled over or not.
[/b]

I got my Prius on 5/13/06. The dealer issued cardboard temp tags, with an expiration date of 6/12/06.

I picked up my real tags (not clean fuel) on 6/1. The dealer filled out the necessary form to apply for clean fuel plates. I was instructed to fax it to Richmond on or after 6/6.

I faxed the form first thing Tuesday morning, 6/6. I received the plates in the mail Thursday, 6/8.

I am now completely legal in HOV lanes (although I've been chancing it with my temp tags since day 1. I figured the odds of being pulled over for HOV violation in Prius were pretty slim.)

The VA DMV is a smooth-running agency.