• Font Size    
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Hybrid Vehicles Losing Some Of Their Privileges

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +   
Dec 12, 2007 2:18 pm US/Pacific

Hybrid Vehicles Losing Some Of Their Privileges

Hybrids Without State "Clean Air Vehicle" Decals Will Have To Pay To Park

LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― Not just any hybrid vehicle is eligible to park for free at parking meters in the City of Los Angeles anymore. Only motorists with state-issued "Clean-Air Vehicle" decals on their cars will have the privilege after a vote Wednesday by the City Council to direct the City Attorney's Office to amend the current law.

The city's Department of Transportation started program three years ago that allowed anyone with a Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight, or Ford Escape Hybrid to park for free at city meters. The program did not stipulate that the cars must display the state decal, which is designed by the state to allow solo drivers to use carpool lanes.

The new adenine approved today allows for cars with the decal to park for free through January 1, 2011, while all cars without the decal must pay for meters.

LADOT officials estimate that the current program costs the city about $116, 560 per year, which is 0.56 percent of the total annual meter revenue for LA City.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.