New Virginia HOV law in effect

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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:

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.

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:

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Yes, your Prius should have clean fuel plates on it to qualify for the HOV lane on I-66. I don't know anything about HOV enforcement on I-66, but if it's like the enforcement on I-95, the cops have plenty of people to pull over without (usually) bothering a hybrid with VA temp or regular tags. But they can (and apparently do) pull over hybrids without the clean fuel plates - hybrid owners using any Virginia HOV lanes are rolling the dice if they don't have clean fuel plates.

The new law that goes into effect July 1st primarily impacts hybrids using the HOV lanes on I-95/395. To legally drive your Prius in these lanes, you must have applied for clean fuel plates prior to July 1st (and the sooner the better). All hybrids that qualify for clean fuel plates that are registered on or after July 1st will get a clean fuel plate that looks very different from the ones in use today, and hybrids with those new-style clean fuel plates will NOT be able to legally use the HOV lanes on I-95/395.

For HOV on I-66 and in the Hampton Roads area, either old-style or new-style clean fuel plates are fine ... but the new-style plates will cost you more.

Here is the link to VDOT's press release on the rules.

http://virginiadot.org/infoservice/news/ne...ID=NOVA-NR06-19

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoVaSnow @ Jun 9 2006, 01:02 PM) [snapback]268656[/snapback]</div>

Wow! Our DMV system rocks! I'll see ya round the beltway!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoVaSnow @ Jun 9 2006, 01:02 PM) [snapback]268656[/snapback]</div>

Not so slim at all, you were just damn lucky. I've been riding in my Prius on I-66 with HOV Clean Fuel plates since December 2003 and over the years, I have seen at least 10-15 Prius' pulled to the side with flashing police cars for not having the proper plates. It's an issue of revenue for them, it's not like you are getting to ride in those lanes for free, you have to pay EXTRA each year to have plates like that, and Virginia isn't about to let you skirt by without paying...

I don't get up in NoVa very often, but I will be travelling through the area occasionally. When I do, it would be nice to have the option to drive in the HOV lanes. So, I am glad to say that the DMV received my faxed VSA-10 form today. I will be eagerly awaiting my plates.