End of Clean Air Program Means Up to $500 Fines for HOV Lane Violations

Solo drivers of low-emission vehicles are no longer allowed to use California’s carpool lanes, as the state’s grace period for the discontinued Clean Air Vehicle Decal program officially expired Sunday.

The program, administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles, ended in October, but enforcement had been paused to give motorists time to adjust. With that pause now lifted, the CHP and other agencies can issue citations of up to $500 for vehicles traveling in high-occupancy vehicle lanes without the required number of passengers.

Launched in 2001, the decal system was designed to encourage the adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles by granting single-occupant access to HOV lanes. Roughly 500,000 drivers were stil

See Full Page