Potential Impact of Exempt Vehicles on HOV Lanes

APPENDIX C—STATE LEGISLATION ALLOWING ILEVS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY VEHICLES TO USE HOV FACILITIES

State/Bill Number	Description
Arizona SB 1429 Adopted 6/1/01 Special License Plate	Provides hybrid vehicles access to HOV lanes at any time, regardless of occupancy, based on approval from the federal government.
Arizona SB 1004 Adopted 6/99 Special License Plate	Adds requirements relating to providing proof that a vehicle is a qualifying AFV, including the emission classification meeting low, inherently low, ultra, or zero standards.
Arizona Chapter 6 SB 1002 Adopted 7/96 Special License Plate	Allows AFVs to use HOV lanes after 4/1/97. Requires AFVs to obtain special license plates. Defines AFVs as vehicles powered by an alternative fuel with emission classification of low, inherently low, ultra low, or zero. Appears to meet EPA guidelines.
California AB 2628 Adopted 9/23/04 Special Decal	Allows a vehicle that was produced during the 2004 model-year or earlier that meets California's ULEV and the federal ILEV emission standards, a hybrid vehicle or an alternative fuel vehicle that meets California's advanced technology partial zero-emission vehicle (AT PZEV) standard for criteria pollutant emissions and has a 45 mpg or greater fuel economy highway rating, and a hybrid vehicle that was produced during the 2004 model-year or earlier that has a 45 mpg or greater fuel economy highway rating and meets California's ULEV, super-ultra-low-emission (SULEV), PZEV standards for exhaust emissions, within the scope of vehicles permitted to be issued a decal, label, or other identifier to use the exclusive or preferential highway lanes or highway access ramps. Use of HOV lanes by hybrid and other related vehicles will occur only if the federal government acts to approve use by these types of vehicles.
California Chapter 330 Adopted 9/7/99 Special Decal	From 2000-2003, allows vehicles that meet federal ILEV evaporative emissions standards and California ULEV tailpipe standards to qualify to obtain a clean fuel decal which authorizes access to HOV lanes for vehicles with a single occupant. From 2004-2008 vehicles must meet the federal ILEV evaporative emissions standards and the California SULEV standard to be eligible for the decal. Meets EPA guidelines.
Colorado SB 91 Adopted 4/22/03 Special Sticker	Adds hybrids to the vehicles allowed to operate in HOV lanes regardless of the number of passengers and without payment of a special toll. Stipulates, however, that HOV access shall apply only if it does not affect the receipt of federal funds and does not violate any federal law or regulations.
Colorado SB 30 Adopted 1998 Special Sticker	Allows ILEVs as defined by EPA to use HOV lanes without meeting minimum occupancy requirements. Requires special sticker for these vehicles. Requires the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to monitor use. If this use is determined by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to disqualify the state from receiving federal funds, the provision shall not be in effect.
Florida SB 88 Chapter 2003-45 Adopted 5/27/03 Special Decal	Allows ILEVs to use HOV lanes at any time, regardless of occupancy. Meets EPA guidelines. Also allows hybrids based on federal authorization.
Georgia HB 719 Adopted 5/31/03 Special License Plate	Allows hybrids with fewer than two occupants to utilize HOV lanes upon approval through either legislative action in the U.S. Congress or regulatory action by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Georgia SB 116 Adopted 5/97 Special License Plate	Allows AFVs, meeting EPA ILEV standards to use of HOV lanes with only one occupant. Meets EPA guidelines.
Hawaii SB 1160 Adopted 6/21/97	Exempts electric vehicles from parking fees, HOV restrictions, and waives registration and other fees. The law took effect July 1, 1997 until July 1, 2002. The Hawaii Department of Transportation is to review the incentive program every two years to determine the proper level of incentives for continuation of the program. Meets EPA guidelines.
Maryland HB 884 Chapter 549 Adopted 2002 Special Sticker	Authorizes drivers of ILEVs to use HOV lanes at all times until September 30, 2004 and requires the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to annually report to the General Assembly regarding the impact of ILEVs on HOV traffic. ILEV owners must obtain a permit to use the HOV lanes by going to a vehicle emission inspection program station to demonstrate that the vehicle qualifies. Meets EPA guidelines.
Texas Chapter 1171 SB 5 Adopted 2001 Special Sticker	A motor vehicle displaying the "low-emissions vehicle" insignia authorized by Section 502.186 in an easily readable location on the back of the vehicle is entitled to travel in a preferential carpool or HOV lane designated under this section regardless of the number of occupants in the vehicle. This subsection expires August 31, 2008. The program has not been implemented. Meets EPA guidelines.
Utah HB 289 Adopted 7/01 Special License Plate	Authorizes vehicles with "clean fuels special group" license plates to use HOV lanes at any time, regardless of occupancy. Scheduled to expire December 31, 2005. Meets EPA guidelines.
Virginia Chapter 324 HB 2316 Adopted 3/16/03 Special License Plate	Extends the sunset on the use of HOV lanes by vehicles bearing clean fuel vehicle HB2316 license plates regardless of the number of occupants from July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2006.
Virginia SB 1207 Adopted in 1999 Special License Plate	Extends the date that single-occupant drivers of vehicles displaying "clean special fuel" license plates can use HOV lanes until July 1, 2004.
Virginia Chapter 191 HB 585/SB 274 Adopted 3/96 Special License Plate	Extends the period during which HOV lanes may be used by motor vehicles H.B. 585/S.B. 274 bearing clean special fuel vehicle license plates, regardless of the number of vehicle occupants, until 1999.
Virginia Section 33.1-462 Adopted 1994 Special License Plate	Allows vehicles with clean special fuel license plates to use HOV lanes without meeting the occupancy requirements until July 1, 1997.
Virginia Chapter 46.2-799.3 Adopted 1993 Special License Plate	Established special license plates for clean special fuel vehicles. Defines clean special fuels to mean 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. Initial definition met EPA guidelines, but the Virginia Department of Motor vehicles allowed hybrids to obtain the clean special fuel vehicles license plates in 2000.

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