Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes certain low-emission or hybrid vehicles that contain only 1 occupant to use High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) lanes free of charge, effective January 1, 2012 until January 1, 2015.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the following vehicles to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, even if the vehicle contains only 1 occupant, without being required to pay the tolls normally imposed on single occupancy vehicles (Sec. 1):
• Vehicles that meet the super ultra-low emission vehicle (SULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal inherently low-emission vehicle (ILEV) evaporative emission standard;
• Vehicles that meet the advanced technology partial zero-emission vehicle (AT PZEV) standard;
• Vehicles produced in 2004 or earlier that meet the ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal ILEV standard; and
• Hybrids produced in 2004 or earlier that meet the SULEV, ULEV or partial zero-emission vehicle (PZEV) standard.

• Authorizes the Department of Transportation to create decals that will identify eligible low-emission vehicles and to charge a fee for the decals (Sec. 1).

• Limits the total number of decals that may be issued by the Department of Transportation to no more than 85,000 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text