Politics & Government
Bill Lets Special Fuel Cars Use HOV Lanes
Clean special fuel cars can continue using HOV without minimum people count in car.
Capital News Service
RICHMOND – Vehicles bearing clean special fuel license plates could continue to use highway HOV lanes regardless of how many people they’re carrying, under a bill moving through the General Assembly.
House Bill 1432, sponsored by Delegate Thomas “Tag” Greason, R-Potomac Falls, would extend until July 1, 2012, the authorization for any car with a clean special fuel plate to travel in a high-occupancy vehicle lane. HOV lanes usually are reserved for vehicles with at least two occupants.
This is the second year Greason has carried such legislation. He said it may encourage more Virginians to buy vehicles that don’t use gasoline.
“I get multiple e-mails per month from people saying, ‘Thank you for extending that legislation. I have gone out and purchased a clean fuel vehicle because of the benefit of being able to use the HOV lanes,’” Greason said.
“So I definitely see a direct impact on this legislation and the buying habits of some consumers of the commonwealth.”
To qualify for a clean special fuel license plate, a vehicle must run on:
• Compressed natural gas
• Electricity
• Ethane
• Hybrid gasoline/electric power
• Hydrogen
• Hythane
• Liquified natural gas
• Liquefied petroleum gas
• Methane
• Solar
• Or a combination of clean special fuels
Greason said that because of certain federal regulations, Virginia can’t grant permanent authority for such vehicles to use HOV lanes. Instead, permission must be renewed each General Assembly session.
Delegate Kenneth Plum, D-Reston, also introduced legislation (House Bill 1754) to continue letting alternative-fuel vehicles use HOV lanes. His bill was incorporated into Greason’s.
Last Monday, the House passed HB 1432 by a vote of 90-8. The bill now moves to the Senate; it has been referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.
Sen. George Barker, D-Alexandria, has filed companion legislation (Senate Bill 1034). The Senate Transportation Committee has not acted on it.
Clean special fuel license plates cost $25 a year in addition to the regular vehicle license plate fee. For each plate sold, $15 goes to the Virginia State Police to help enforce the HOV rules.
