Prius in AZ HOV Lanes ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CrazyRussian @ May 23 2006, 08:00 AM) [snapback]259669[/snapback]</div>

So if you have the EV button would the Prius count as AFV? You can add one yourself and it would satisfy the above question. Not that you could drive very far at all, but you would have the ability (sometimes) to switch to all electric. It wouldn't really be in the spirit of AFV but if all they require is a freakin' button then you might be able to qualify that way.

 

I'm confused by the federal requirements, because they are issuing the HOV lane tag in California for hybrid vehicles. Am I missing something?

 

Georgia is also waitng for the EPA regulations to implement its hyprid HOV legislation. The EPA had 180 days to issue the regulations after August 2005. According to a newspaper article I read, the EPA indicated that it was unable to meet the deadline and hoped to have proposed regulations for public comment by late summer. I think it has turned into a political rather than environmental issue.

I don't know why AZ and GA think they have to wait for EPA when California, NY, FL, and New Jersey have implemented.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kkb @ Jun 16 2006, 11:07 AM) [snapback]272244[/snapback]</div>

It is totally political...AZ screwed up years ago when it let the "SUV with Alternate Fuel" propane go through. Now they are "gun shy" and don't want to deal with it. There needs to be pressure/support before you will see something happen. Don't know what that is? but someone has to kick this thing back in high gear...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusphx @ Jun 22 2006, 12:45 AM) [snapback]275118[/snapback]</div>

We just blew into tucson by ways of tombstone/sierra vista. after i shake the dust off my boots, me and DMV are gonna have ah little talk. My hybird better get that puffy plate with the 1% of the msrp times $4.oo bits for every 100.00 bucks of assessed value as my VLT!!!! Ain't got no use for scofflaws, no matter what. The laws the law. tonite, tequilla. tommorow we ride!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(the new sheriff @ Jul 6 2006, 11:59 PM) [snapback]282464[/snapback]</div>

I hope you had a good night and not too bad morning...tequilla can do that...please keep us posted on how this goes. I have been battling this for a year now and all I get is the run around.

 

Ok, I could be missing something..

From: http://go.ucsusa.org/hybridcenter/incentives.cfm

Does anyone know if 1179 has passed?

The monster that is SB 1179: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/47leg/2r/bills/sb1179p.pdf

So, section 28-737 says:

So we have fed approval, with the energy bill...

Subsection K says:

So, paragraph 5 says basically, again, that they'll issue plates or a sticker.

The definition of a hybrid is in 28-737, section H:

So, does the "needs a switch" requirement come from 3c? I can't see *anything* that would prevent a Prius from getting a sticker!

I plan on heading down in a week or so (during the work day) and throwing documentation in their faces until someone gives me a reasonable explanation. I'm not entirely sure I should hold my breath though.....

I'll let y'all know what happens!

edited to add quotes for readability

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AZPriusGirl @ Jul 11 2006, 06:28 PM) [snapback]284716[/snapback]</div>

Seeing you are also from Maricopa, AZ...as am I...you deal with the same issue with going into Phoenix and sitting in traffic while all the big SUV's with that 10 lb. "Compressed Natural Gas" (emty tank) go zipping by with AFV plates. Keep up the fight!!!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phxprius @ Jul 12 2006, 08:33 PM) [snapback]285374[/snapback]</div>

:angry: YES!

I've actually run into two other Prii in Maricopa! One at Fry's and one that came up behind me, leaving my development the other day. Pretty cool.

 

so far, You must contact fed reps and request that the EPA get a move on setting the rules. These rules then have to goto OMB(90days? there) and if passed then AZDMV will have to set up rules regarding hybrids in the HOV. But the real kick in the nice person is that DMV may noy allow hybrids to use the 1% of msrp to determine the VLT, which is a hugh deal. I suggest that you write and contact state reps and governor to please apply this financial incentive to low emmission vehicles. Its a shame that the air, especially in Phoenix, has to be so bad, with posted warnings as one drives thru.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yups @ Jul 21 2006, 09:44 AM) [snapback]289997[/snapback]</div>

Here is the response that I received the other day after a second inquiry into where we stand on this issue:


On Thu Aug 10 11:27 , <[email protected]> sent:


It has not been implemented yet but an implementation committee has been formed and they are meeting on a weekly basis. The formation of the committee was delayed because the Legislative session was much longer than anticipated this year. The majority of the committee members their agencies' Legislative Liaisons. Sorry! drp

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phxprius @ Aug 11 2006, 07:37 PM) [snapback]301822[/snapback]</div>

So, there's a light at the end of the HOV lane? Is the commitee bound to act anytime soon? Will it be just HOV use or will AZMVD use the 1% of MSRP to figure registration fees also?

This was all very exhausting. Especially dealing with Kyle's office. I almost put a sign in front of his election sign,"USLESS" (gas).

thxphxprius

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yups @ Aug 17 2006, 03:41 PM) [snapback]304861[/snapback]</div>

btw, "any day now", is the low down for a pilot program to be approved by the Feds for AZ as far as the HOV usage. There might be a cap at 10K cars. Good for you guys up there in PHX. I wish they'd impliment the tax formula too. I don't feel they will. I guess its back to the governors office...hiho hiho

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Guest @ Aug 17 2006, 03:57 PM) [snapback]304872[/snapback]</div>

Oh Baby Oh Baby... either they're torturing me with malicious lies OR(wait for it) B1179 reaffirms hybrid as being able to apply for AFV special plates effective 9-21-06. It might be pending the FHA pilot program approval, which is an any day thang!!)) cya at DMV!.. Oh BabyOh Baby...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yups @ Aug 18 2006, 11:58 AM) [snapback]305396[/snapback]</div>

BOO HOO,
1179 never passed
plan of action:
please call/ contact governors office AND MVD. Email or snailmail. Request/petition that the 3 hybrids( civic, insight, prius) be registered using the same fomula as ALT vehicles. VLT=1% of msrp times $4.00 for every$100.00 of determinte value( see MVD site for exactness).
As it stands, Yes there is a pending MVD pilot program to grant AFV plates/sticker for hybrids, BUT the registration fees remain exactly as yours is now. Additional fees will aplly if you want the plate.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Guest @ Aug 18 2006, 01:10 PM) [snapback]305448[/snapback]</div>

As I was driving from CG today, I noticed a white Pirus with AFV plates, I wonder if the state has already started the program and we are waiting of the state to notify us???

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(geeksec06 @ Aug 18 2006, 01:44 PM) [snapback]305544[/snapback]</div>

Go back to page 1 of this post dated Mar 4 2006, 11:37 PM. I posted a comment on this when I saw the same car going south toward Casa Grande.

 

I think a AZMVD pilot program for 3 brids, pri being one, got the ok from FHWA last week. Unde the AZMVD pilot, Maricopa county HOV lanes will be open to legal use pending a sticker or plate. mo ltr.

ALSO plse contact the gov & the director and ask for the same VLT calculation they use for the AFV:

08-21-2006

This is an open email that I hope reaches Governor Napolitano and
Director Mendez of the AMVD.
I recently helped purchase a 2006 Toyota Prius, a tier two
vehicle, as established by the EPA. This partial zero emission vehicle
is one of only three vehicles that has been included in the Arizona
pilot program that will enable these low emission vehicles to use the
HOV lanes in Maricopia County. I had hoped when I helped purchased
this car that it would qualify for Alternative Fuel Plates(AFP). I was
corrected by AMVD being told that the AFP are for Alternative Fuel
Vehicles(AFV).Hybrids were not AFV.
The Vehicle License Tax(VLT) is calculated differently for AFV.
The formula is an incentive for more drivers/owners to use this type
of car. I think the hope of the legislators was to encourage the use
of AFV as well as Hybrids (ARS 28-2416 and ARS 28-737). I had hoped
with the approval of the pilot program, the access to AFP for the
approved Hybrids, would bring AFP and the same registration Fees,
specifically the VLT incentive.
Keeping in mind the AFV fiasco of the previous administration,
I feel strongly in the legitimacy of this tax incentive. It is a
small, but significant nudge to encourage the conservation of a
valuable resource, cleaner air.

Sincerely,

 

I did a bit of research and was able to find a contact name in which to direct my questions at the FHWA, I received a call back this morning and it appears that the FHWA generated an approval letter to the AZMVD last week. From the information I was able to gather, all of the vehicles mentioned above had received approval for HOV travel; they wanted to emphasize that even though it has been temporarily approved, a final authorization from the environmental office is pending. They also advised me that since the letter was recently approved, we have to wait for the AZDMV to administratively come up to speed on the new regulation. Well, great news to everyone in AZ!!





<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yups @ Aug 21 2006, 11:07 PM) [snapback]307330[/snapback]</div>

 

I just found this page via google

http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/faqs/scripts/faqs.asp?section=eep

The form it links to is not available, but this look like a very good step.