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Prius now allowed in California HOV Lanes!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by davedog, Aug 11, 2005.

  1. Erick

    Erick Member

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    Yes - this will be quite the heated race. I already feel that I am way behind. ;-)

    Not sure why I am in this race; there aren't any carpool lanes on ANY of the freeways I use to get to work.. :-( But there will be in late 2006...
     
  2. Ian MacDonald

    Ian MacDonald Junior Member

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    So does this mean that we can use the HOV lanes at the toll plazas but will be charged for using them via Fastrak?

    Regards,

    -- Ian
     
  3. ceric

    ceric New Member

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    Till the end of June, 2005, there are 57K registered hybrids owners (not all are eligible) in CA. Apparently, we will not run out of sticker quota for current owners. However, I don't think they have all 75K stickers printed. You may have to wait longer if they need to wait for more stickers to arrive if the initial batch run out.
     
  4. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

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    So, at noon 30 I decide to crack open the newspaper . . . and what do I see as the top headline in big bold letters? . . .
    Carpool lanes open to hybrids
    http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/...-14234053c.html

    The two big things I gleamed from the story . . .

    1) It will take about 2 weeks for them to mail the sticker.

    2) It is a window sticker, not a bumper sticker.
    I hope they don’t want it in the front window. I hate stickers and things in my field of view.
    No bobble head Jesus or dice hanging from mirror for me.
     
  5. Brenna

    Brenna Junior Member

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    I am SO excited!

    Question -- I don't want to mess this up.

    I fill out the form & mail it -- with $8. Right?

    No visiting the DMV?

    Thanks. Brenna
     
  6. davedog

    davedog Member

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    correct brenda,

    unless... unless, you live in a stinkin' bay area city which requires you to include fastrak receipts. blah blah garbage. i agree with the other... get the fastrak, and then return it! =) hopefully for a full refund.
     
  7. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    It's not a window sticker.

    It's four yellow stickers. Front and rear bumper and two rear side panels.

    I've read anything from two to six weeks.

    They are issueing them to private people first before they're issuing them to city fleets and other publicly owned Prii. Good!
     
  8. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva\";p=\"115815)</div>
    That was my recollection as well; however, the Sacramento Bee article, linked above, refers to a windshield sticker. I have not been able to locate the description of the sticker, which I remember having seen in the past, on the CA DMV website.
     
  9. bigj3347

    bigj3347 New Member

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    I'm not sure what the sticker looks liek yet . . but i called my dealer today about the CAV sticker. I just bought my prius yesterday so i don't have a license number yet. My dealer told me i just need to go to the DMV, show them my contract and pay 8 dollars and they'll give me a sticker right then and there. I'll have to go try it out and see if it works. i'll try and keep you guys posted.
     
  10. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    I think the Sacramento Bee may have mixed up the HOV decals with the factory sticker that states the 04-05 Prius is an AT-PZEV. The one with the little green car with the leaf. This was referred to in either another article I read or the DMV site. If you look at the CA DMV site the 04-05 is designated AT-PZEV and the 2001-03 is SULEV. Both qualify for HOV status.
     
  11. ceric

    ceric New Member

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    I won't be surprised if they design a new sticker for hybrids since they might decide to disallow hybrids if traffic gets very congested (remember the provision?) For sure, you will not get the same stickers for CNG and pure-electric vehicles.
     
  12. wstander

    wstander New Member

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    As an interesting note, the following pure-electircs and hybrids DO NOT qualify:

    "Neighborhood electric vehicles" like the GEM EV due to inability to exceed 35MPH

    2005/2006 Ford Escape Hybrid, 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 2006 Lexus Rx400h Hybrid, and the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid- due to their fuel economy of less than 45MPG

    Here is a surprise:

    2005 Honda Accord fails to meet ATPZEV as does the 2005 Honda Insight ATPZEV

    The last one is of interest because the 2000-2004 Insights all meet the required standard for their year of manufacture. Did Honda not file the paperwork? Not care? (As an aside, Honda Insights perform better in terms of smog and mileage than most motorcycles and carry 2 people, yet motorcycles HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PERMITTED IN HOV LANES with single occupant.

    I never was able to even see an Insight at a dealer, and when approached, most did not even want to discuss them or simply dismissed them as 'toys'. I am beginning to think that Honda will discontinue the Insight, of at least the current interation.
     
  13. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    2005 Honda Insight fails to meet ATPZEV

    That's right. This year's Insight doesn't get a sticker.

    Boy, am I glad I bought a Prius.
     
  14. Ryca

    Ryca New Member

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    So I got my current registration out of the glove compartment, and I photocopied it, and I notice that it doesn't say "Prius" on there anywhere... It just says "Toyota" and "2005" and stuff. Does it have the necessary information? What else do I need to do? Thanks!
     
  15. wstander

    wstander New Member

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    The VIN will show as a Prius on the DMV computers
     
  16. jrfaris

    jrfaris Member

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    You're lucky you don't live in a designated SFBay area county; then you would have the privilege of mounting a special "hybrid" Fastrak transponder right behind those missing dice. By the way, I hope you're not planning to use HOV lanes to cross a Bay area bridge because you may not be able to do so without that transponder...
     
  17. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ryca\";p=\"116985)</div>
    Look on the second line. I think under "engine" or something like that there should be a letter. If it's "Q" you're fine. If it's "G" you need to get it fixed.
     
  18. Ryca

    Ryca New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva\";p=\"117026)</div>
    Look on the second line. I think under "engine" or something like that there should be a letter. If it's "Q" you're fine. If it's "G" you need to get it fixed.[/b][/quote]

    Awesome - it's a "Q". Thanks!
     
  19. priusenvy

    priusenvy Senior Member

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    What is a

    What is a "hybrid transponder"? Is that one that charges you bridge toll, even if you drive through the HOV lane at the toll plaza?

    There is a page here that contains instructions on how to obtain one of these "Hybrid Vehicle FasTrak Kits", and what to do afterwards to get you Clean Air Vehicle Sticker: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/services/fastrak/hybrids.htm
     
  20. TimeFor

    TimeFor New Member

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    ... and I use mine everyday.