HOV lanes; extend sunset provision allowing those vehicles bearing clean special fuel license plate. (HB2476)

Introduced By

Del. Tim Hugo (R-Centreville) with support from co-patrons Del. Chuck Caputo (D-Oak Hill), Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston), and Del. Tom Rust (R-Herndon)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

HOV lanes; clean special fuel vehicles. Extends until July 1, 2010, the "sunset" provision allowing vehicles bearing clean special fuel license plates to use HOV lanes regardless of the number of passengers. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/14/2009Committee
01/14/2009Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/09 093467548
01/14/2009Referred to Committee on Transportation
01/23/2009Impact statement from DPB (HB2476)
01/27/2009Reported from Transportation with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/27/2009Committee substitute printed 093593548-H1
01/29/2009Read first time
01/30/2009Read second time
01/30/2009Committee substitute agreed to 093593548-H1
01/30/2009Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB2476H1
02/02/2009Read third time and passed House (93-Y 5-N)
02/02/2009VOTE: --- PASSAGE (93-Y 5-N) (see vote tally)
02/03/2009Constitutional reading dispensed
02/03/2009Referred to Committee on Transportation
02/04/2009Impact statement from DPB (HB2476H1)
02/19/2009Reported from Transportation (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/23/2009Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/24/2009Read third time
02/24/2009Passed by for the day
02/25/2009Read third time
02/25/2009Reading of amendment waived
02/25/2009Passed by for the day
02/26/2009Reading of amendment waived
02/26/2009Read third time
02/26/2009Amendment by Senator Barker withdrawn
02/26/2009Reading of amendments waived
02/26/2009Amendments by Senator Stolle rejected (17-Y 21-N) (see vote tally)
02/26/2009Passed Senate (36-Y 2-N) (see vote tally)
03/09/2009Enrolled
03/09/2009Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2476ER)
03/09/2009Impact statement from DPB (HB2476ER)
03/10/2009Signed by President
03/11/2009Signed by Speaker
03/30/2009G Approved by Governor-Chapter 676 (effective 7/1/09)
03/30/2009G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0676)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 2 minutes.

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HB2299.

Comments

Brian writes:

This helps reduce the traffic on the main lanes of 95 while construction is being done on the lanes to increase to four lanes accross the Purple Heart Bridge, and the HOV lanes are still free flowing (in years only an accident slows these lanes on a normal basis). No new vehicles can join, it is only grandfathered so the lanes will not get any significant increase, but dumping this traffic on the main lanes would add to an already bad traffic situation. It helps with the air quality, oil consumption, along with green house gases emitted since these cars average in excess of 50 miles per gallon. The objections usually are not logical and are more emotional. Research would show you that this is a good bill and the pros outweigh the cons.

Sheri writes:

I agree 100% with Brian and could not have said it better. Yes I do own a Hybrid and have the original CF tags. there are times when I am on the lanes in the mornings and see only a handful of cars at all. In the evening the only issue is at the end of the HOVs and even without the Hybrids this was a problem area. One day all of us with CF tags will either move away or retire and this will no longer even be an issue, but for now it just makes sense to renew the bill. Thank you.

Mark writes:

I say end this practice July 1, 2009 even though I own a Prius. HOV translates to high occupancy vehicle. There is no reason why someone who chooses not to drive a hybrid should be punished. A Honda Civic can get 38-40 mpg which is the same as a Camry Hybrid, but that driver doesn't benefit from the HOV lanes. If you want to use these lanes, get two more passengers and use them as they were intended. By the way, CF plates do not work in Maryland for all the Virginia hybrid drivers who think they can use the HOV lane on 270. You will be stopped by MSP and receive a $500 zero tolerance citation!

Greg writes:

I agree with the extension. Anything you can do to keep traffic off of the regular lines is a necessity.