Jan McCleese, a manager at Hendrick Honda in Woodbridge, said they are simply no more hybrids left to sell before Virginia essentially ends its six-year exemption for hybrid vehicles on the HOV lanes of Interstates 95 and 395.
“You won’t get a car if you come here,” McCleese said. “There is no chance.”
She said some buyers had put down deposits for car orders 45 days ago and are just now receiving their vehicles straight off the assembly line.
“They can’t build them fast enough,” she said.
Starting Saturday, hybrids purchased after Friday will not be exempt from carpool rules governing I-95/395.
Solo hybrid drivers on other state highways will still be allowed in the lanes until July 1, 2007.
The change is supposed to relieve some frustration about increasingly congested HOV lanes — congestion mainly due to hybrids, officials said. There are more than 10,000 hybrids registered in Virginia with the highest concentration in Prince William County, said Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Ryan Hall.
Hall said hybrid buyers need to have their car registered, not just purchased from a dealer, with the Department of Motor Vehicles by the end of business Friday to get the special plate which will allow them to continue using the express lanes.
Those on waiting lists or those who have yet to take possession of their vehicle will be out of luck, Hall said. Drivers who register after Friday will receive a different plate which will make it easier for police to identify violators.
HOV fines to go into effect
» A first offense will cost $125, up from $50. A second offense will cost $250 instead of $200, and drivers will receive three points on their licenses.
» Fines for third and fourth offenses remain the same at $500 and $1,000.
» Several dealers said the don’t expect demand to drop off because fuel prices are pushing drivers to find more fuel-efficent vehicles.
» For more information, visit www.95hov.com or www.dmvnow.com.
