Colorado Opens up HOV to Hybrid Cars

Colorado hybrid car owners will be happy to note they can begin applying for a permit to enter the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. Anyone who gets the permit will be able to use them on Interstate 25 Express Lanes, U.S. 36 Santa Fe Drive and State Highway 82 HOV lanes.

Only 2,000 permits will be issued initially through a lottery system. You can apply through May 31 online, through the mail and in person. The permits will be issued in mid-June. The federal mandate, unless extended, allows hybrids access until September 30, 2009.

Those receiving the permits will get a decal and they will be required to obtain an ExpressToll transponder. The transponder is required for use by CDOT to keep track of how the hybrid cars are affecting the lanes. If it is determined that a serious degradation in the flow of traffic is occurring because of the added vehicles, the permits may be revoked.

CDOT requires the hybrid vehicle owner's name, the license plate number, the vehicle identification number of the hybrid vehicle and the hybrid vehicle make and year as a condition to obtaining a permit.

Source: CDOT to issue permits for hybrid HOV use - The Denver Post. Photo from flickr by pbo31.