Va. Should End Hybrids' HOV Use in '08

D ear Dr. Gridlock:

Have you heard anything about extending the provision that permits hybrids to use HOV lanes?

Robert Pease

Springfield

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) signed House Bill 2132, sponsored by Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax), to extend the hybrid exemption one year until July 1, 2008, for motorists with the proper clean-fuel tags.

Then Virginia should drop it and let the carpool lanes serve their original customers. What once seemed like a good way to encourage the purchase of cleaner-emission cars by allowing drivers an exemption on interstates 95, 395 and 66 and the Dulles Toll Road has turned out to be a mixed blessing.

Dear Dr. Gridlock:

Exempting hybrids from HOV restrictions does not lower pollution and only makes matters worse.