Solo carpool drivers will have at least three years of stickers
QWe got a hybrid car too late for the old carpool stickers and then my husband’s 2001 Corolla died.
We had saved up for years to get a plug-in, which we got last month. Now we find out that buying a plug-in 2017 means the stickers will expire in 2019.
Had we had held off and taped his Corolla for three more months and got a plug-in in January the sticker would work until 2025, right?
I am seriously so depressed I could die. I am old, have a long painful commute, a bad back and this car was expensive. We have solar, we care about the earth and this was one little perk. I also feel like a chump.
How could this be that this one window of time has this inequity? Please tell me I misread the analysis. We are not a bunch of jerks. Argh! — Carolyn Coughlin, Vallejo
AThe new rules can be confusing, but I bring good news. Sponsors say here are the guidelines for AB 544, signed into law a couple of weeks ago, for getting stickers to drive solo in carpool lanes. The bill allows vehicles that received a decal in 2017 or 2018 to receive another decal that is eligible until 2022. This will ensure that everyone has at least three years of use on their decal. In the new program, an individual can only use the decal for three years after the year they purchased it up until 2025.
The new stickers will also look different (i.e. not green or white) to distinguish them from the ones which expire in 2019.
QI have a 2012 Prius C. The left rear taillight filled with water this spring. Other neighbors had a similar problem. The dealer billed me $220 to replace it. Have other Prius drivers had a similar problem? — Erin Coolman, Santa Cruz
ANot that I have found out. Toyota has had numerous complaints about malfunctioning taillights, but your water problem is a new one for me.
QSome drivers have “sticker shock” usually resulting from having to apply meaningless decals all over their new $140,000 Tesla to get carpool decals. I recently returned from the greater Toronto area and observed that Ontario issues very nice looking green on white, “GREEN VEHICLE” license plates that are good for HOV lanes and HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes. Free tolls for going green. Can we get these plates in California? — Charlie Gibson, Campbell
AThere are no plans to do so. The DMV said switching to license plates would make it significantly more expensive to operate the program.