This is how to lift the Hybrid exemption !!

In the Washington Post Article as well as the VDOT Web Site it says that Governor Warner should lift the HOV exemption for Hybrids if Virginia is notified that it is in violation of Federal Statutes. It also states that Virginia WAS notified already that we are by the Federal Highway Administration. So doesn't the Governor have a legal responsibility to lift the exemption NOW ???

So what do we do ???

********** We need to find a Lawyer who wamts to make a name for himself & do some Pro-Bono work. Then we need to get together & sue Virginia to enforce the law and lift the exemption NOW ********

Any attorneys out there want to Volunteer ?????

We also all need to go to the Governors Website and ask him to obey the Federal Statute & lift the exemption immediately.

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Contact/email_form.html

This is from the VDOT website-------http://www.virginiadot.org/comtravel/hov-rulesfaq.asp


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What happens on July 1, 2006 when the hybrid vehicle rule expires?

There is no guarantee that HOV exemptions for inherently low-emission vehicles or hybrids will continue. Exemptions to rules pertaining to travel on HOV lanes are being scrutinized, and as more ILEVs and hybrids enter the HOV lanes, there becomes an increased need to examine their exempt status.

The HOV Task Force Report released in August made this recommendation: "Do not extend the exemption for vehicles with clean special fuel license plates set to expire on July 1, 2006." The Federal Highway Administration has advised Virginia that its exemption for hybrid vehicles is in violation of current Federal statute, but Congress is considering legislation that would permit states to allow hybrid vehicles to use HOV lanes. There may have more information soon as various hybrid/HOV bills wind their way through Congress

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If it's illegal NOW, why can't it be stopped NOW.







Ron

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Originally posted by SpongeBob
[br]The Sponge has consistently been opposed to Smugs driving their High-Breds right alongside space-and-time-conserving HOVer's. However, fair's fair: they spent the money on the car after the state told them they could use it to drive in the HOV lanes solo wearing a special license plate.

The buyers were told (I presume) that the exemption expires on 7-1-06. It's not fair to the Smugs to break that agreement.

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Well, instead of chaning the law they could just start interpreting the law correctly. That would get hybrids out of the HOVs. As per the law:

As used in this section, "clean special fuel" means any product or energy source used to propel a highway vehicle, the use of which, compared to conventional gasoline or reformulated gasoline, results in lower emissions of oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide or particulates or any combination thereof. The term includes compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, hythane (a combination of compressed natural gas and hydrogen), and electricity.

How can a car that runs on conventional gasoline or reformulated gasoline(as hybrids do) be cleaner than itself? Hybrid owners will argue that it uses electricity too, but do you plug it in at night? No. When it runs out of fuel you go to a gas station. The electricity it uses is converted energy that came from the gasoline you fueled up with. The way they are interpretting the law any car should get clean fuel plates. Most cars use electricity to provide a spark to propel them. Give them clean fuel plates too! They also ignored the "lower emissions" part since we know the Honda hybrids are dirtier than other conventional cars.

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Originally posted by SpongeBob
[br]Snip...
Anyone got a better idea?
Snip

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How about beginning the HOV hours 30 minutes earlier on each end so that they begin at 5:30am in the morning and 3:00pm in the afternoon?

While some of the congestion is a direct result of the number of hybrids now using the HOV, the other problem are the non-carpooling drivers who jump on at 5:45am or 3:15pm knowing that they cannot make it to the end of the HOV within 15 minutes but do so anyway, thereby causing needless backups for those of us who are HOV compliant.

Northbound drivers cannot exit until they get to Springfield and even then some of them do not exit because they know there is better than even chance that there is no State Trooper in the HOV lanes inside the Beltway. And I won't even begin to talk about the Southbound lanes in the afternoon.

Just suffice to say that this is a thought on another way to provide some modicum of relief.


John

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Originally posted by Road Warrior
While some of the congestion is a direct result of the number of hybrids now using the HOV, the other problem are the non-carpooling drivers who jump on at 5:45am or 3:15pm knowing that they cannot make it to the end of the HOV within 15 minutes but do so anyway, thereby causing needless backups for those of us who are HOV compliant.
John

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Fifteen whole minutes? When I get to Horner around 6 am, I nearly get flattened as I cross to the slug lines by all the reckless solo drivers screaming through the lot to get onto the HOV ramp. It has been extremely gratifying, though, to see the Staties at the Horner exit this week in the afternoons. Hope they mix it up and go to other exits just to keep things exciting. I hear the Occoquan exit could use some violator busting.

Ahhhh, but hybrids will get better mileage in the regular lanes than in the HOV lane because they get better mileage under city-type driving (stop-n-go, slower speeds) than highway. There's the irony and the hyprocrisy. Hybrid drivers are saying they're buying their cars to get better mileage, yet they use them in the mode that gets the worst mileage for their car. If they really want to get better mileage, drive them at the slower speeds in the regular lanes.

Come on, NoSUV, admit it. It has nothing to do with the environment. It's really for the "me-first, I can get there faster, drive in the HOV lane" advantage.