Hybrid Owners driving illegally on HOV lanes

I think I saw 5 stickerless, solo-driven Prii in the HOV lane today (San Jose area)... is this a trend?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RobertG @ Apr 2 2007, 01:05 PM) [snapback]416611[/snapback]</div>

In SoCal we have a few toll roads such as the 73 and toll lanes on the 91 freeway that require possession of a FastTrak transponder for the vehicle to legally use (or with the 73, you just pay a cash toll). Unlike the Bay area, you don't have to have a transponder in order to get the HOV stickers. They're mutually exclusive.

Even though I had to wait a few months to get my stickers, I stayed out of the carpool lane unless I had another passenger in the car with me. It wasn't worth the possible (then) $271 fine if I'd gotten caught.

 

I live in Washington, comute to Oregon, and we don't have any HOV lane access yet, and probably will not ever get it. And if Oregon alows HOV access, they probably won't let WA liscensed Prius use them, because WA residents are only considered suitable for paying Oregon State Income Tax, nothing more.

But I have never understood the logic of CA handing out X number of HOV lane stickers and then saying OK, that is all there are. I don't see any reason why one driver should receive better treatment becuase they got old enough or save up enough to buy a Prius earlier than someone else.

So I have been thinking. Why not just counterfeit the HOV lane sticker. I would use photoshop and put it on a magnet. Then just follow the laws and probably would never get pulled over for a close examination.

For an emergency plan, You could attach a fish line to the magnet and be able to pull it off and out of sight, should you ever happen to get pulled over.

Sorry, I just hate injustice, and figure that those who have been denied the stickers on average contribute just as much to society as those who got the real stickers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GoEco @ May 29 2007, 01:23 AM) [snapback]451346[/snapback]</div>

So do you have to apply for the stickers? Or are they sent
to you automatically?

Victoria
SF Bay Area

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Jul 17 2007, 01:40 AM) [snapback]480083[/snapback]</div>

Hey Rube Goldberg, while you are at it, why don't you add a boxing glove to the end of an extendable arm similar to what the Little Rascals had on their car. That way, when you get pulled over for illegally driving in the HOV lane, you could just pull a string and punch the cop that is getting ready to cite you right in the face, knocking him out and allowing you to escape...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Jul 17 2007, 10:42 AM) [snapback]480244[/snapback]</div>

Just wrap your Prius in tinfoil so the cops can't see you.

:lol:

 

I am guilty! It isn't often I travel far on a So-Cal freeway, but when I do I am so tempted to jump into the wide open HOV lane. I have been known to merge into the lane a few times when traffic is bad- kind of my right being a hybrid owner, right? It's ok to break the law when you are in a hurry :lol:

I do usually avoid the lane, and watch Prius after Prius drive by. If you are reading this and aren't from SoCal, come visit- it is amazing how many Prii are on these roads! Especially in rush hour! I would think no Prius drivers get sick when they see the HOV lane looking like a Prius train.

 

Yesterday I saw a cop on the shoulder Highway 87 Southbound at San Jose Airport area around 5:30pm, checking cars on the carpool lane. Now, that will teach some caught cheaters!!! ^_^

 

i wrote a letter to our governor today complaining about a limited number of stickers, and calling it a lottery. i hope they do away with the stickers. california should allow all the HCH or Prius Hybrids access into the carpool lane (with or without a toll transponder) or kick them out
its unfair that if i try and sneak into the carpool lane i face getting a $381 ticket even though my car is technically identical to the person driving a stickered one

why dont they require stickers for motorcycles, im sure there are more motorcycles registered then hybrid car owners

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ceric @ Apr 1 2007, 07:35 PM) [snapback]416268[/snapback]</div>

Actually, your info is out of date. This became legal on January 1, 2007.

Those Prii you see doing this are legal if they have stickers.

 

"its unfair that if i try and sneak into the carpool lane i face getting a $381 ticket even though my car is technically identical to the person driving a stickered one"

You miss the whole point. The intent was an incentive to encourage early adopters. Those who bought the car earlier did so before you did, and that early behavior was rewarded. There is nothing unfair about it.


"I've never seen a cheater hybrid, in 30,000 miles of commuting since I got the sticker."

Here's one in Santa Clarita, CA on the I-5:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KTPhil @ Jul 17 2007, 07:39 PM) [snapback]480655[/snapback]</div>

Considering how uninformed people tend to be and how people were auctioning off stickers for thousands of dollars on eBay, I'm not yet inclined to call malice... but then, I'm not going to feel bad when that particular driver gets caught.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IAO @ Apr 2 2007, 01:02 AM) [snapback]416316[/snapback]</div>

Only additional change in northern VA is that hybrids purchased after the middle of last year sometime are allowed to traverse HOV-2 solo. HOV-3 still requires the three people in the vehicle. For example, here in Northern VA, I-95 & I-395 corridor are HOV-3 and unless your prius is grandfathered (with a different tag) you would be in violation during assigned hours. However, I-66 is HOV-2 and you would be covered provided you have your CF tag.

TheDeliman

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deliman31 @ Jul 19 2007, 01:12 PM) [snapback]481655[/snapback]</div>

I have my special fuels plate for Va beach and it great for the HOV here working at the naval base.
The state government has extended the law until 08 for the HOV plates.

 

I wonder if that "clever" owner of the Camry Hybrid realizes that a clearly visible picture of his/her vehicle's CA license plate, along with documentary evidence of fraudulent possesion and display of the HOV stickers on a public roadway, is posted online for the entire Bay Area to see, and for someone to send into the DMV and the local traffic court to report them?

Talk about the ultimate "photo enforcement" ticket. They are cold busted (if some one has the courage to send it in... I don't, I was taught not to tell on my classmates).

In addition to the fines, the bail, and the criminal record (this is malfeasance, not misfeasance or misunderstanding, because the application for these stickers is very clear on which vehicles qualified, and which did not), I wonder how much a new paint job on those bumpers will cost after the stickers are peeled off by the detective that knocks on the door?

 

It's is SoCal, not the Bay Area (Santa Clarita, not Santa Clara).

It's clearly not an accident, though I have not seen this vehicle in the carpool lane. Improper display of the sticker might be a violation in and of itself, though. Or if it is one of the funny paradies, maybe he is in the clear.

 

The Hybrid Camry doesn't qualify for a sticker?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasidetraveler @ Jul 19 2007, 11:45 PM) [snapback]482094[/snapback]</div>

Nope. The criteria are PZEV (or is it AT-PZEV) 2004 and newer (SULEV prior to 2004) and at least 45 mpg highway. Only the Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid qualified. The Insight did not qualify for the '04 and beyond model year because it was only SULEV. Prior models did qualify.

(edited to say mpg instead of mph!)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasidetraveler @ Jul 20 2007, 02:45 AM) [snapback]482094[/snapback]</div>

I wouldn't be surprised if the moron DMV accidentally issued them to the Camry Hybrid. I've seen natural gas vehicles with the yellow hybrid stickers (NGVs are supposed to get white stickers.

Which means the DMV just wasted one of the 85,000 yellow stickers that could have gone to a stickerless Prius. (This is no limit on the white stickers!)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kimgh @ Jul 17 2007, 03:20 PM) [snapback]480436[/snapback]</div>

Can somebody please tell me what became legal on Januay 1, 2007? The folks at www.thetollroadscom (Irvine for the 73,133,241,261,91, etc) are telling me that even with my yellow stickers on my 2004 Prius, I need a transponder or pay the toll on the tollroads/Fastrak. ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING DIFFERENT and I will call them for the the 4th time and ague.
Thanks bunches, vroom