1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Fraudulent HOV Green sticker prius spotted

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by knckdwntxt, May 17, 2014.

  1. acceleraptor

    acceleraptor Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2014
    228
    75
    0
    Location:
    Milpitas, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Car manufacturers should be able to paint a model in a non-standard color (for that model), at least if the manufacturer uses the color anywhere on their other models/years. I like the red color and considered requesting a PiP but in their red color usually used for the regular Prius line. The extent to which this happens at all with Priuses is probably quite rare though and probably costs extra, so seems pretty unlikely.
     
  2. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2005
    2,783
    1,151
    0
    Location:
    Roseville, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I saw a video on this. Cars are painted in the factory by robots. They load a particular color paint into the robot, and push through a bunch of cars that are coming off of the assembly line. Then they set up the painting robot for another color, and another bunch of cars. If a particular model is coming off the line, they are only set up for the specified paint colors. They really are not set up to handle a one-off case.
     
  3. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,603
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    They are - let me introduce you to my Li'l friend . . . say cheese !! ;

    [​IMG]

    This is the "HOV only exit", southbound i5, just before the El Toro 'Y' - 405 & 5 Junction.

    That said, here's an odd duck, which I spotted when I was leaving work today. It's in our workplace charge stalls ... so, WHY aren't their stickers white?

    2015-04-03 13.39.48.jpg
    .
     
    #103 hill, Apr 3, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2015
    roflwaffle likes this.
  4. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I always give that camera the middle finger every time I exit there (Barranca right?), is it actually operational?

    And that is likely the BMW i3 REX with the gas range extender, which qualifies for the green sticker.
     
    ITgem679 and rxlawdude like this.
  5. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,603
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Talking to the Caltrans folk, its been operational for over 6 months now. I looked underneath the i3 for an exhaust pipe - nothing. Therein lies the mystery - I thought the point of having (only) a 2 gallon gas tank (if it would have had one) , was so the i3 would still be able to qualify for white stickers. Otherwise, if it had a larger tank, the BMW would only qualify for green stickers. The whole experience was inexplicable. I'm hoping I'll run into the owner and be able to get a better understanding of what's going on.
     
  6. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Well if it's the i3 BEV it would have white stickers, the i3 REX gets green stickers. That being said, I'm not familiar enough with the model to tell the exterior visual differences.
     
  7. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,122
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    BMW i3 Forum • View topic - Where's the REx exhaust pipe?

    However!

    BMW i3 BEV has only a single inlet (cover) on the rear passenger side fender for the charging port inlet (J1772 + optional SAE Combo). Crappy location for common charging station locations in the US, if you ask me.

    The REx version has TWO holes, the second is the gas hole on the passenger side front fender (3rd pic at BMW i3 REx: Road-Tripping With 72 Electric Miles, 1.9-Gallon Gas Tank) because its tiny gas tank is in the FRONT!
    It's much more complicated than the gas tank size. See BMW i3 REx Gets Green HOV Sticker, TZEV Rating. It's been discussed a whole bunch on the BMW i3 Facebook group and other places. I think there was also some reporter the misinterpreted some requirements earlier, which then ended up spreading and becoming "common knowledge"/basis for rumors of white stickers on REx equipped i3s.

    Frankly, I don't care much as I have no plans to get a BMW i3.
     
    #107 cwerdna, Apr 4, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2015
  8. SAronian

    SAronian Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2013
    334
    144
    0
    Location:
    Oakland, CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Here's a Persona I've been seeing parked around where I work.

    The stickers looked like they were photographed then printed on glossy paper, perhaps laminated and then stuck on.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. iluvmacs

    iluvmacs Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2005
    280
    104
    0
    Location:
    Madison, WI, USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Wow, yet another Prius color the PiP isn't even available in... :rolleyes:
     
    JacksonMs likes this.
  10. ITgem679

    ITgem679 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2015
    73
    17
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    As of as April 8, 2015, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has issued the 63,255 Green Clean Air Vehicle decals. The maximum number of decals available is 70,000.
    California law allows single-occupant use of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOVs) lanes by certain qualifying clean alternative fuel vehicles. A list of qualifying vehicles and frequently asked questions are provided below. Use of these lanes with a single occupant requires a Clean Air Vehicle Sticker issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Currently, there are two types of stickers that are being distributed by the DMV.
    [​IMG]White Clean Air Vehicle decals are available to an unlimited number of qualifying Federal Inherently Low Emission Vehicles (ILEVs). Cars that meet these requirements are typically certified pure zero emission vehicles (100% battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell) and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. Per AB 266, the expiration date for the white stickers has been extended to January 1, 2019.
    [​IMG]Green Clean Air Vehicle decals were originally available to the first 40,000 applicants that purchased or leased cars meeting California's transitional zero emission vehicles (TZEV) requirement, also known as the enhanced advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle (AT PZEV)* requirement. Per SB 286, the expiration date for the green decals has been extended to January 1, 2019. Per budget trailer bill, SB 853 (Statutes 2014, chapter 27), the green decal limit was increased by 15,000 to 55,000 decals effective July 1, 2014. Now, per AB 2013, effective January 1, 2015, an additional 15,000 decals will be available for a new maximum of 70,000.
     
  11. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    This article says nothing about fraudulent HOV Stickers, only scams of making it appear as if there were multiple passengers in the vehicles.
    Correct, it must be a BEV, PHEV, FCV, or NGV, but the regular Prius is none of those, and would only qualify for the expired Yellow HOV Sticker which was for regular hybrids. I'm not quite sure what you are getting at.
     
  12. ITgem679

    ITgem679 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2015
    73
    17
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    This wouldn't be bad, other than the illegality of doing it, except that in CA we SHARE the roads with motorcyclists who glide down this double yellow during slower traffic times. I would hate to think of someone not checking their blind spot one more time and hurting someone...
     
  13. ITgem679

    ITgem679 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2015
    73
    17
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It was in regards to the original post. But thanks for clarifying for others what each link was for. Yes, I have a hybrid and this is to help educate others on what cars are ok and which aren't. When I bought mine, I didn't know - a month later, I'm well-informed. Just trying to help others...It's really for those that don't know.
     
    PriusC_Commuter likes this.
  14. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    My apologies, I forget not everyone knows the difference between all these "holier-than-thou" vehicles, or California's HOV carpool lane policies.

    EDIT: Just in case for those of you who didn't notice, the "holier-than-thou" part of this comment was meant to be a joke about those who are not familiar with the different types of alternative fuel vehicles.
     
    #115 PriusC_Commuter, Apr 22, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2015
    ITgem679 likes this.
  15. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2005
    2,783
    1,151
    0
    Location:
    Roseville, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    It is actually rather difficult for ANYONE to know the CA HOV carpool lane policies. The applicability of the green decals may be different from that for the white decals (q.v. Golden Gate Bridge), applicability of the decals may depend on time of day (the decals may be disallowed at random times based on traffic), applicability may depend on the funding used to build a particular road (many of the HOV lanes in SoCal).
     
    ITgem679 likes this.
  16. ITgem679

    ITgem679 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2015
    73
    17
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I would sincerely hope no one has that "holier than thou" kind of vehicle or an attitude to match it. Owning these vehicles doesn't make us any better than anyone else, we just have different tastes. I drive mine not because I think I'm above anyone, or that I'm trendy. I simply enjoy my car.
     
  17. ITgem679

    ITgem679 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2015
    73
    17
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thank you for expanding on this, CharlesH. For some, it's hard to stay up on which laws change.
     
  18. SAronian

    SAronian Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2013
    334
    144
    0
    Location:
    Oakland, CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Regardless of the carpool lane rules, these are cars with counterfeit photocopied stickers. The scam is working because it's hard for many people to distinguish a Plug-in from any other Prius.
     
    rxlawdude and ITgem679 like this.
  19. electrode

    electrode Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2015
    42
    13
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Does to PIP come in with a elevated equine dismount option? It probably should, unless PIP owners are self reporting each of their speeding, parking or any vehicular infractions.