does anyone know if i can drive my toyota prius in I66 doing the moring rush hour to washington dc

Yes, if it has "clean fuel" tags.

according to VDOT, more than half of the vehicles in the I-66 HOV lanes during
HOV hours are single-driver in hybrid cars/SUVs.(with the clean fuel license
plates) comprare this to I-395, which only has 26 percent hybrid vehicles.

Amy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> does anyone know if i can drive my toyota prius in
> I66 doing the moring rush hour to washington dc


Yes, but you must...MUST have the VA Clean Fuel tags. I have a hybrid, drive I-66 and see cops pulling over Priuses with MD and regular VA tags all of the time. If you don't have the correct tags, the cops will pull you over, whether you are in a Prius or not.

Actually, in order to legally drive your hybrid car in a Virginia HOV lane you must have had your clean fuel vehicle tags BEFORE July 2007. They have grandfathered in those people. The old tags are all white. New clean fuel tags are graduated blue (blue at the bottom which gradually turns white on the top) - these tags do NOT allow you to legally drive in the HOV lanes. And just an FYI - if you have been grandfathered in and you buy a new hybrid, you have to go to Richmond to transfer your tags.

HybridDriver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Actually, in order to legally drive your hybrid
> car in a Virginia HOV lane you must have had your
> clean fuel vehicle tags BEFORE July 2007. They
> have grandfathered in those people. The old tags
> are all white. New clean fuel tags are graduated
> blue (blue at the bottom which gradually turns
> white on the top) - these tags do NOT allow you to
> legally drive in the HOV lanes. And just an FYI -
> if you have been grandfathered in and you buy a
> new hybrid, you have to go to Richmond to transfer
> your tags.


Are you sure that applies to I-66? I know that is the case with I-395, but because I-66 is HOV 2, I don't believe they have done a cut-off yet.

HybridDriver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Actually, in order to legally drive your hybrid
> car in a Virginia HOV lane you must have had your
> clean fuel vehicle tags BEFORE July 2007. They
> have grandfathered in those people. The old tags
> are all white. New clean fuel tags are graduated
> blue (blue at the bottom which gradually turns
> white on the top) - these tags do NOT allow you to
> legally drive in the HOV lanes.

Why do people keep posting shit that is wrong?

You can drive in the HOV lanes on I-66 with both old and new tags. The newer tags affect I-395 and perhaps other parts of the state with HOV lanes, not sure which ones.

pgens- You're wrong and HybridDriver is 100% correct. Usually you're right about what you post here, but I have first hand knowledge regarding this.

you have first-hand knowledge, yet you refuse to just find an actual quotable fact on the net....instead of asking us to rely on your bullshit memories.

What are the chances that hybrids will no longer be allowed in the HOV lanes?

in the knowwww Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pgens- You're wrong and HybridDriver is 100%
> correct. Usually you're right about what you post
> here, but I have first hand knowledge regarding
> this.

http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hov-rulesfaq.asp

What is the new hybrid law that takes effect July 1, 2006?

Consumers need to be aware of changes to the law before purchasing hybrid and other clean fuel vehicles with the intention of using HOV lanes on Interstates 95 and 395.

Vehicles registered for clean fuel license plates on or after July 1, 2006, will not be exempt from the HOV-3 requirement on the I-95/395 HOV lanes from 6 to 9 a.m. or from 3:30 to 6 p.m. However, they will be permitted to use all other HOV lanes in Virginia during HOV hours, including I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road in Northern Virginia.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has created a new clean special fuel license plate for hybrid vehicles registered July 1, 2006, and after. The new plate will have a distinctly different design to help Virginia State Police enforce the HOV restrictions.

Applications received by DMV for clean special fuels license plates on or before June 30, 2006, will receive the current clean special fuel plate. Applications received on or after July 1, 2006, will be issued the new plate, regardless of the date the vehicle was purchased or special ordered. Vehicle owners with clean special fuel license plates registered before July 1, 2006, may renew or transfer their plates to a newly purchased qualifying vehicle after the new law takes effect and continue to be exempt from HOV requirements until July 1, 2007.

What happens on July 1, 2007, when the hybrid vehicle rule expires?

Hybrid vehicles with the required clean fuel license plates will continue to be able to use the I-95/395, I-66 and Dulles Toll Road HOV lanes until June 30, 2008.

The General Assembly approved a one-year extension which was signed into law by Gov. Timothy Kaine in April 2007.

In order for a hybrid vehicle to use Virginia’s HOV lanes during the morning and afternoon rush hours, the vehicle must have a clean special fuel plate issued by DMV.

Not all hybrids qualify for clean fuel license plates but the following do:

* Toyota Prius
* Honda Insight
* Honda Civic
* 2005 Ford Escape
* 2006 Ford Escape
* 2006 Toyota Highlander
* 2006 Lexus RX400
* 2006 Mercury Mariner
* 2006 Honda Accord
* 2007 Toyota Camry
* 2007 Lexus GS450h
* 2007 Ford Escape
* 2007 Mercury Mariner
* 2007 Honda Accord
* 2007 Toyota Highlander

Motorists should check the DMV Web site, dmvnow.com, for an updated list of eligible hybrids.

pgens Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You can drive in the HOV lanes on I-66 with both old
> and new tags. The newer tags affect I-395 and perhaps
> other parts of the state with HOV lanes, not sure which
> ones.


in the knowwww Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pgens- You're wrong and HybridDriver is 100%
> correct. Usually you're right about what you post
> here, but I have first hand knowledge regarding
> this.

No, I am sorry but I am right and I respectfully suggest you update your "first hand knowledge." The VDOT Web page is out of date, as the date was extended to 2009 back in March. HybridDriver did not distinguish where one can still drive in HOV lanes with the newer clean fuel plate and my post corrected it.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2008/03/hybrids_stay_in_hot_lanes.html

Excerpts:

"The Virginia Department of Transportation reminds us this morning that the law allowing hybrids to travel in the carpool lanes has been extended for one year until July 2009. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) signed House Bill 1014 last week.

The exemption had been scheduled to expire on July 1, but as in past years, the Virginia General Assembly voted for a one-year extension. (There's no such program in Maryland.) "

"Vehicles registered for clean fuel license plates on or after July 1, 2006, are not permitted to use the I-95/395 HOV lanes from 6 to 9 a.m. or from 3:30 to 6 p.m. However, they are allowed to use all other HOV lanes in Virginia during HOV hours, including I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road in Northern Virginia."

Others: http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1367419

edit to add: and here's the VDOT news release: http://www.virginiadot.org/news/northern_virginia/2008/hov_exemption_for_hybrid.asp



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/09/2008 01:35PM by pgens.

So let me get this straight:

All hybrid plates can go on I-66 and Dulles HOV lanes until July 1, 2009. (Where are the other HOV lanes in VA?)

Only old hybrid plates can use the I-395/95 HOV lanes.

My car has an old hybrid plate and my wife is blind and on the car title.

Therefore, I can drive anywhere and park anywhere I want.

I laugh at your traffic jams and parking problems.

(and, I suspect an enterprising soul can figure out who I am in RL.)

formerhick76 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So let me get this straight:
>
> All hybrid plates can go on I-66 and Dulles HOV
> lanes until July 1, 2009. (Where are the other HOV
> lanes in VA?)

You identified one other in your post with I-395/95, but the Hampton Roads/VA Beach area has them. I don't remember seeing any in Richmond (certainly not on I-95) so Hampton Roads may be it. I don't know of any other area in Virginia with a dense enough population to really need them.

pgens Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, I am sorry but I am right and I respectively
> suggest you update your "first hand knowledge."
> The VDOT Web page is out of date, as the date was
> extended to 2009 back in March.
>
>
> Excerpts:
>
> "The Virginia Department of Transportation reminds
> us this morning that the law allowing hybrids to
> travel in the carpool lanes has been extended for
> one year until July 2009. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine
> (D) signed House Bill 1014 last week.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

I am purchasing a car that already have clean air plates that were issued prior to july 2006. Do you know if I can keep these plates and transfer them to my name so I can use the HOV lanes?

curious395 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am purchasing a car that already have clean air
> plates that were issued prior to july 2006. Do you
> know if I can keep these plates and transfer them
> to my name so I can use the HOV lanes?


No. In fact, they will pull your registration for the vehicle if you don't turn the old plates in.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> No. In fact, they will pull your registration for
> the vehicle if you don't turn the old plates in.

Not true. When you register the vehicle you will get new plates. The old owner can hang his old plates on the wall in his garage, throw them away, or return them to the DMV, whatever. Once you have a new registration, his old plates are history.

I don't think you can transfer the same plates from one owner to another. I would call the DMV to find out, but I doubt it. I think it's new owner, new registration.

I guess "High Occupancy Vehicle" really means "Car With Only One Person In it With Enough Money to Purchase a Hybrid"

That is nifty! I am looking forward to the even more gentrified HOT Lanes!

curious395 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am purchasing a car that already have clean air
> plates that were issued prior to july 2006.

Only Clean Fuel plates qualify. Clean air plates never allowed you in HOV lanes.

When the car is driving in the HOV lane at 55 mph, How is it any different from my 4 cyl civic? Hybrids do better in heavy traffic

It isn't different, especially when the non-hybrid Civic gets 35-40 mpg and the hybrid SUVs get half that. Unfair, but that's life.

I say get the hybrids out of the HOV lanes. All they did was show our congressmen that people are willing to pay stupid amounts of money to get in the HOV lanes. Now we are getting HOT lanes. Thanks for saving our environment!

right on!

dono Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess "High Occupancy Vehicle" really means "Car
> With Only One Person In it With Enough Money to
> Purchase a Hybrid"
>
> That is nifty! I am looking forward to the even
> more gentrified HOT Lanes!