Parking restricted to electric cars

At our Costco, they have those things. There is a guy that works there that parks his Ford EV there and plugs it in. I have met him a couple of times, and he said that he has never seen anyone in the other spot, which is a different type of charger. I asked if he would think it would be ok to part there and he said it doesn't bother him.
One time, it was very crowded, so I did park there and had no troubles at all.

I, too, thought it would be a cool idea to make it look like it is plugged in.
I would really like to know if it is ok to part there too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kkister1492\";p=\"64036)</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Brian\";p=\"64045)</div>

It's illegal!!!

The particulars of who may and may not park in these spaces are detailed in CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE SECTIONS 22511 & 22511.1.

[Edited to fix a broken link]

 

P.S. The operative language is:

(g) For purposes of this section, "zero-emission vehicle" means any car, truck, or any other vehicle that produces no tailpipe or
evaporative emissions.

 

Well, ours don't either if we're in EV mode .

I don't think I'd be too concerned about parking there...

Dave

 

I still think if someone took the cover for the tow ring on the front bumper off and put a plug there it would look like it should plug in... I know the wheel chair gang will surround your car if they catch you in a handicapped parking place... but what are the plug-in people going to do??

Just Kidding

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveG\";p=\"64063)</div>

Mind telling us how you'd' get around this pesky requirement:

"22511.1. (a) A person may not park or leave standing any vehicle in
a stall or space designated pursuant to Section 22511 unless a valid
zero-emission vehicle decal identification issued pursuant to
Section 22511 is displayed on that vehicle."?

Parking laws are enforced with zeal by revenue starved municipalities in California. It's an easy way to raise cash.

 

Yeah, I'll have to agree....It is illegal. C'mon Prii people...I know it'd be great to park in the EV spots...but WE ARE NOT EV; therefore, we do not park in the EV charging spots. As we are with the Prii, let's lead an example.

It IS LEGAL to park for free in metered parking spaces in the City of Los Angeles! We just need to follow the time limits and such. It's an initiative to get folks into driving hybrids. Wouldn't it be great if parking lots in such places as CostCo, the grocery store, and the shopping area, had designated hybrid spots? It'd be a great initiative for more folks to by them!

 

I doubt that minimum wage worker at costco will be able to tell the prius from an EV car or even care that a hybrid car is in the EV spot. I also strongly doubt their rent-a-cop parking patrols would even bother either, so i would say you're about 95% safe parking on the EV spots. It might be illegal but they have to care enough to actually enforce it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Semicharmedguy26\";p=\"64091)</div>

Perhaps the business' employees and the security guards will not be able to tell the difference between a hybrid and an EV, however, a distinctive decal must be displayed on the car while it is parked in such a designated spot:

22511. (a) Any local authority, by ordinance or resolution, and any
person in lawful possession of an offstreet parking facility may
designate stalls or spaces in an offstreet parking facility owned or
operated by that local authority or person for the exclusive purpose
of fueling and parking a vehicle that displays a valid zero-emission
vehicle (ZEV) decal identification posted on the driver's side rear
window or bumper of the vehicle or, notwithstanding any other
provision of law, if the vehicle does not have a rear window or
bumper, on the driver's side of the windshield issued by the
Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to this section. The
designation shall be made by posting a sign in compliance with
subdivision (d) or (e).

In addition, suppose that a driver of an EV absolutely must charge his or her car in order to be able to continue to their next destination and is denied the opportunity to do so due to the actions of a selfish person. That affected individual will complain to the store's management and the offending vehicle will be ticketed and towed away.

 

All of us bought the Prius because we like it.

Many of us also bought the Prius because we want to promote this technology for our country, planet and descendents.

So let's not act like a**holes when we go about our business. First, because it's not the right thing to do, and second, it can reflect poorly on the technology.

That said, I think it would be cool for Costco and everyone else to set up a few electric stations, and a few hybrid spots as well. And then maybe make the biggest SUVs park at the edges of the lot.

 

The Fried Electronics store that I frequent has two of these electric car only spots. I asked the manager specifically if that included hybrid cars. They told me that if I had a hybrid, that I was more than welcome to use the spot. Yes I do use them every time I go there.

It will be nice today, as I will be making my THIRD trip to the place to try to get my quasi-server back up and running, and this time, I'm bringing the damn machine in with me, as I'm sick of the 2.5 hour drives round trip to get there - not including the time spent in the store. It feels like it weighs a ton.

 

I've always been told that the police really don't get involved in parking lots since it is all private property. That even goes for the stop signs that malls put up. Legally they have tenuous standing in court to prosecute you for violations. However, if you plow right through them, the police can still charge you with reckless driving. Reckless driving should be and is illegal whether you are on private property or not.

I suspect that "handicapped" spots may have special legislation to allow enforcement, I suspect that EV only spots don't have that special legislation.

In any case, I think we should be courteous and not use those spots unless we check first. Plus, I'm with IsrAmeriPrius on how one might end up blocking access to electricity for an EV such that they can't get home again.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobA\";p=\"64064)</div>

Have you eever seen those plugs? They are HUGE. We would need to life the whole license plate to get it anywhere near looking right. :wink: 8)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Brian\";p=\"64173)</div>

Brian and all you POOR Californians..Tony and I ( I'm in a Red and he's in a Blue state) don't have half the laws you all do.. I know it keeps IsrAmeriPrius in business.. but I think we only have to watch that we don't park in handicaped parking and for the most part can smoke in restaurants if we choose.. I really miss the Golden State...NOT!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius04\";p=\"64159)</div>

In California, where the poster who asked the question that started this thread lives, we do have special legislation that regulates the use of those designated EV parking/charging spaces. I linked the relevant California Vehicle Code sections in my first post in this discussion.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobA\";p=\"64222)</div>

Hey, I make a living by defending those who think that they are smarter than or above the law.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobA\";p=\"64222)</div>

Clean indoor air is one of the things I miss the most each winter when I go skiing in Colorado.

 

I was just kidding... really NOT telling lawyer jokes

Clean indoor air is one of the things I miss the most each winter when I go skiing in Colorado.[/quote]

Colorado is trying to keep up.. you can't smoke in restaurants or bars in Denver and a lot of the surrounding counties... not sure about the ski areas.. I think the Tahoe area will have better skiing this year.. saw they have had best/most snow since early 1900's... we are 185% over normal.

I'm still a beach boy and hate snow, ain't NO SNOW in Buellton..

 

Aspen is smoke free indoors. Vail, where I like the skiing better, is not.

It is quality over quantity in my book. I much prefer the Champagne Powder in the Rockies to the Sierra Cement in my home state.