Looks like the week of Feb. 20th will be when the last of the HOV stickers will go out. To me it seems that alot of fellow HCH II's will not be getting them which to me is not fair. Promoting alternative fuel vehicles and not allowing everyone to have the same privileges is wrong. I think they should make a lane just for Hybrids. lol What do you guys think???

 

Well, I'm happy to report that I FINALLY received my stickers on Friday January 20, 2006. Exactly 75 days after I mailed my application! My stickers are number : HE044325

 

CHP isn't patrolling the HOV lanes now. They wouldn't be patrolling the hybrid lanes either. Sorry, just a little bitter.

 

What's to be bitter about -- seriously -- it will be several months before they get to 75,000. Where's this February 20th stuff come from anyway?

Don

 

Guess what just came in the mail!! Only 4 days after the check cleared and 22 days after I mailed my first application (had to do it twice because the dealer miswrote the VIN on my DMV paperwork). Actually looking forward for the first time to my commute tomorrow!

 

If traffic tends to flow relatively well, the patrols are light to non-existent. However, between 605 and 57 on 210 is heavily patrolled in SoCal. Logic could be that if the traffic flows fine, then monitoring resources are best spent elsewhere. If the HOV lane is continually slow then patrol it frequently. Dunno the logic, assuming there is one.

 

HOV'd today! Oddly, felt a twinge of being "naughty" and that I was going to get in trouble when I first moved into the lane.

Feeling lasted approximately 3 seconds.

It cut my commute from the usual 75-85 minutes down to 65. I am rather pleased with it plus it was relaxing to drive. Route of I-10, 57N, 210W to 605.

By the way, relaxing to drive should not technically be true. A vehicle is 50% more likely to be involved in an accident in the HOV lane as the far right lanes. 30-40% more likely for the lane next to the HOV. Texas DOT did a full study on this, an interesting read. (HOV lanes without a physical boundary) HOV access has nothing to do with safety apparently.

Relaxed we may be, but shouldn't be.

 

What were the first 3 numbers on your sticker?

 

Arghhh, just got off the phone with ARB (800-242-4450). They said that if my check did not clear in 4-6 weeks, it means that it got "lost in transit" and they recommend resubmitting. Also, they mentioned that for some odd reason the certified mail goes to a wrong department and they had many complaints about lost applications that were sent certified! Also, the cap is still at 75,000, not 50,000, so there's still a good chance for me to get the stickers after I resubmit. I guess I have to wait another 3-4 weeks!

 

The freakin' ARB is absolutely no help at all. Can anyone post the DMV number? ARB can't look 'em up, but DMV can.

Help!

Don