HOV privilege elusive for owners of hybrids California's hybrid car owners who'd hoped to drive solo in the car-pool lanes come Jan. 1 have to put the brakes on those dreams because of a legislative stalemate in Washington, D.C. Although Assembly Bill 2628 is set to become law with the new year, it cannot be implemented without approval by Congress, where the measure is stalled indefinitely. That's confused and frustrated many hybrid enthusiasts who loved the idea of zipping past their gas-guzzling brethren on Los Angeles' notoriously jammed freeways. "We're getting e-mails from all over the state, from people who either say they own a hybrid or they're thinking about buying one, saying, 'When can we use the HOV lanes?"' said Louise Rishoff, district director for Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, the Woodland Hills Democrat who introduced the legislation. "We're just waiting for Congress," she said. "The bill acknowledges that this federal approval is a prerequisite to implementation. But (Pavley's) also very confident that it's going to happen." That's little solace to Los Angeles's hybrid drivers who embraced the perk they get for doing right by the environment. Hybrids were wildly popular this year in Southern California - the state led sales for the Toyota Prius - and the thought of cruising in the car-pool lanes piqued the interest of many shoppers eyeing the new environmentally friendly technology. But now, driving solo in the HOV lane will get them only the threat of a $271 fine. "I am disappointed that it hasn't passed, yeah, of course," said Toyota Prius driver Michael DeDonato, who had been looking forward to taking car-pool lanes when he drove from Westchester to Garden Grove to teach karate classes after work. "We would all like to be able to drive solo in the car-pool lanes, and I think we deserve to." Read entire article by clicking this link.
