Virginia motorists driving environmentally friendly cars can continue driving in high-occupancy-vehicle lanes without carrying any passengers under legislation Gov. Tim Kaine has signed into law.
The measure extends the passenger exemption to July 1, 2008. Without the law change, the exemption would end July 1 of this year.
“This is a good bill that shows Virginia’s commitment to energy efficient alternatives and continues to create an environmentally friendly Virginia, all while reducing traffic congestion on heavily traveled roads,” said Del. Tim Hugo, R-Fairfax, who introduced the proposal.
To qualify for the exemption, a vehicle must run on clean-burning fuel such as compressed natural gas, hydrogen or a combination of gasoline and electricity and have a special state-issued license plate. Vehicles registered before July 1, 2006, can drive in the HOV lanes on Interstate 66, the Dulles Toll Road and the Interstates 95 and 395 lanes from Quantico to the District of Columbia exempt from passenger requirements. Vehicles registered after that only enjoy the exemption for I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road.
