Virginia Extends HOV Exemption Again

Virginia has once again passed an exemption to the carpool lane laws, allowing some hybrids access even if the driver is all alone. The extension goes through June 30, 2011.

Only hybrid vehicles with clean fuel plates issued before July 1, 2006 can use the I-95/395 HOV lanes during rush hours. All hybrid vehicles with clean fuel plates can use all other HOV lanes in Virginia during HOV hours, including I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road in Northern Virginia.

Qualifying hybrids include (Source: Virginia):

2003 and Earlier	Honda Civic, Honda Insight, Toyota Prius
2004	Honda Civic, Honda Insight, Toyota Prius
2005	Ford Escape, Honda Civic, Honda Insight, Toyota Prius
2006	Ford Escape, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda Insight, Lexus RX400, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Prius
2007	Ford Escape, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Lexus GS450h, Lexus RX400h, Mercury Mariner, Nissan Altima 2.5, Toyota Camry, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Prius
2008	Ford Escape, Honda Civic, Lexus GS450h, Lexus RX400h, Lexus LS600h, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner, Nissan Altima 2.5, Tesla Roadster, Toyota Camry, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Prius,
2009	Ford Escape, Honda Civic, Lexus GS450h, Lexus LS600h, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner, Nissan Altima, Tesla Roadster, Toyota Camry, Toyota Camry Hybrid 2.4 L., Toyota Highlander, Toyota Prius
2010	Ford Escape 2.5L, Ford Fusion 2.5L, Honda Civic 1.3L, Honda Insight 1.3L, Lexus GS450h 3.5L, Lexus HS250h 2.4L, Lexus RX450h 3.5L, Mazda Tribute 2.5L, Mercury Mariner 2.5L, Mercury Milan 2.5L, Nissan Altima 2.5, Tesla Roadster, Toyota Camry 2.4L, Toyota Highlander 3.3L, Toyota Prius 1.8L

I'm not sure the Tesla Roadster was in the legislatures minds when they wrote the original bill, and I'm not sure the exemption would continue to pass if new vehicles were being allowed in.