House Bill HB1014 was introduced into the VA General Assembly to extend the HOV exemptions for Hybrids titled prior to July 1, 2007. This would extend the HOV Exemptions until July 2009. If you live in VA, please contact your representative and ask him to suport this bill.

To find out who your rep is, and find out how to contact them click below:
http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform

Many complain that the Hybrids are crowding the HOVs and slowing down traffic. The purpose of the HOV lanes in the Washington area was to comply with the Clean Air act of 1990 (not to reduce traffic). Understanding the true mission of the HOV lanes is key for getting non-Hybrid driver's support. The misson is not to let people get to work quicker - it is to reduce air polution by getting more people to drive 'clean Fuel' cars. Once you understand this, how can you not support the Bill?

 

not to mention that if all those hybrids were forced off of Rt 66 and onto backroads, the resulting congestion would be horrific, as would the increased waste in fuel and increased emissions.

 

I truly agree with you oscar i just hope they would thing other ways in order to maintain the respect and cleanliness of the world.
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Autopartswarehouse.com

 

I don't know about Virginia. But in Florida, at least 3/4th's of the cars in the HOV lane are illegal. That is, a single (one) person, not hybrid or other permitted vehicle. The fact is that a $65 fine for driving in the HOV lane, when/if they get a ticket, is not a big deal to someone who makes enough to drive a late-model Bentley. A one-percent probability of having to pay $65 is basically just a $0.65 toll for using the lane.

 

Governor Kaine signed HB2476 on 3/30/09 allowing hybrids to drive in the HOV lanes in Virginia until 7/1/10, when it will again go up for review. Here is a link to the VA legislature site...

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...091+sum+hb2476

Yay!