That was my point also, albeit in a wise crack version. Here in No. Calif by and large the HOV lanes are moving at speed or better or pretty empty depending on the particular road. Consequently, restricting the hybrids which are presently allowed to use them with a fee and a required transponder for tolls, would only add to the existing bumper to bumper rush hour congestion in the regular lanes.

Perhaps the original point was ONLY to encourage car pooling, but since that has proved to be a dismal failure (for both practical as well as psychological reasons) why not encourage lower pollution and less gas usage? The cost of doing so is minimal since the lanes are already in existance and the administrative cost can be paid through the sticker/license application fee.

Dan

FWIW, Virginia's HOV lanes are not being choked out by hybrids. Yes, there are a lot of hybrids using them. Yes, people in VA buy hybrids in order to get into the HOV lanes. (There are four Priuses in my neighborhood.) However, the lanes still move faster than non-HOV lanes and any congestion is not due to hybrid vehicles. Hybrids or not, 66 West will still backup from congestion at Manassas, an accident at Hunter Mill, and congestion at Westmoreland. Until that changes, I don't see the problem.

some people mentioned hov lane cheating. do other states have the 764-HERO thing, or just WA?

California Highway Patrol suggested that you contact 1800-TELLCHP. I called and reported a cheater that crossed the double yellow, made me hit my brakes and leave a trail of rubber. They were less than interested.

There are more CHP officers patrolling these days though.

...at least in Dallas.

All but one HOV lane in Big D is without the zipper barrier, so drivers go in and out of the HOV lane at will. Even if they have two passengers, this is illegal and dangerous - it's why I avoid I635 in the evenings. People frequently butt into the HOV lane, then realize someone was going at least 20mph faster only when their face hits the windshield.

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

As stated earlier in this thread, the Hybrid Exemption for the HOV lanes in Virginia will end on July 1. They will 'grandfather' in cars registered before that date for at least one more year. I look at it as a reward for being an early adopter of new technology. Now that Hybrids have been proven to be reliable and not just a fad, the 'risk' of buying one has lessened.

Hopefully they will continue to allow the early hybrids in the lanes, assuming that the numbers of allowed Hybrids will naturally decrease as people buy new cars or move out of the area. NOVA is a high transient area. Realistically the number of hybrids in the HOVS would decrease to an insignificant number in 5-8 years.

I would assume that they will do the same thing for other emerging alternate fuel vehicles (like Hydrogen) which will help to create a market for the first generations, encouraging automakers to innovate by lessoning the risk.

I wonder if there is a provision in the statute in the event of loss, theft or damage of the grandfathered plates.

In WA you can jump in an out of the HOV lanes at will. While I like it when I'm jumping in, I hate it once I'm in.

Hello all, noob commentary coming in. First, I would like to say that it is amazing to hear all of your intelligent and well-thought commentary about the Virginia HOV issue. I really hate message boards with unintelligent ranting and commentary. With that being said, I would like to contribute a couple of things.

First: being a non-hybrid driver on the Dulles Toll Road - 66 corridors for 10 years, I have had no animosity toward hybrid drivers. After all, you have been doing more for the world (both in saving resources and helping the environment) than most others on those roads and you should be rewarded. My wife and I have wanted to 'go green' for a long time, and now that the opportunity for a new car has come, I am getting on board and excited (new HCH coming next week!). I HAVE been driving HOV with 2-3 passengers this year and hybrids do not offend me when I am behind one with only the driver on-board.

Second: If you watch the HOV lanes like I do (parking-lot style traffic has its priveleges), you will see an AMAZING number of cheaters jump over when traffic stops in the regular lanes. For about a year, I rode a bus into the city on said HOV lanes, and I had my commute delayed 3 TIMES due to cheaters jumping in front of (and into) the bus.

A final note: Only on the Dulles Toll Road will you see an aggressive driver in a big SUV tail-gating a Prius doing 55 mph (and 55 mpg) in the HOV lane (after all, if they are going to cheat, they feel it is their right to do it at high speed as well).

Checking the text at 95hov dot com, it says the Hybrid exepmtion is ending on July 1, 2006 for 95/395 HOV-3 restricted lanes. On Dulles Toll Road, 66, and all other HOV roads around VA it is still allowed until July 1, 2007.

It is unclear to me whether the type of plate has any merit on allowing cars on said roadways, the only thing I can tell is that it is for VA State Police to easier identify which cars are Hybrid and which are not.

Please advise if I am reading this wrong, I would hate to mislead.

+ C