Hi Folks,
Just want to share what I've found out about the HOV (car pool lane) stickers. I spent most of yesterday learning about it.
If you live in most of california, just fill out the form on the DMV's page
If you live in any county surrounding the SF bay, you have to jump through hoops. You need to get a special electronic radio transmitter before you get the sticker. The DMV page has incorrect information at this time, since the rules seem to be changing quickly and two dofferent goverenment agencies are involved.
The hoops are:
o You need to get a special FasTrak radio transmitter.
The transmitter is required so you will be properly billed when you use the toll bridges. This ignores the fact that some of us (most???) don't commute across a toll bridge. It's required anyway.
To get this transmitter, you have to mail in a copy of your registration which has to identify your car as a hybrid. Unfortunately, MY registration does not mention the model, just the make and VIN.
If you have an existing FasTrak automatic toll account, you have to trade it in for a new one.
The form has to be downloaded online, (a PDF) and printed out, then mailed in. You can't call it on or do it on-line. The PDF file will not print unless you have a recently updated copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader.
They will mail you the transmitter and the special paperwork that the DMV is not expecting.
Note that this does not apply to people with hybrids in adjacent counties who do commute via the SF Bay area toll bridges. They don't need to get a transmitter.
o You need to send the DMV a form and $8 and your proof of FasTrak account.
As of today, the DMV still does not know that the FasTrak folks are telling us that we need a special trasnmitter, not the standard account.
A DMV employee told me to just send in the $8 and the form to see if it is accepted.
The form must be mailed, since the local DMV offices are not stocking the sticker.
o The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) has put out a contract for more than $800,000 to install fastrak readers on the 4 bridges that have dedicated carpool lanes.
Wouldn't it be cheaper to simply put up a sign saying "hybrids exit carpool lane here to pay toll"?
Please, if you are in california, please contact your state senator and assembly person and ask that they revoke that silly requirement. None of the other low polution cars (electric, CNG, vanpool, etc) are required to get an electronic tag, so why should we.
As a parting shot: Liz Figeroa, state senator for my area, did not know that almost 1/2 of all the hybrids in california are in the greater bay area.
Let your elected representatives know.
Daniel fa