Fraudulent HOV Green sticker prius spotted

Car manufacturers should be able to paint a model in a non-standard color (for that model), at least if the manufacturer uses the color anywhere on their other models/years. I like the red color and considered requesting a PiP but in their red color usually used for the regular Prius line. The extent to which this happens at all with Priuses is probably quite rare though and probably costs extra, so seems pretty unlikely.

 

I saw a video on this. Cars are painted in the factory by robots. They load a particular color paint into the robot, and push through a bunch of cars that are coming off of the assembly line. Then they set up the painting robot for another color, and another bunch of cars. If a particular model is coming off the line, they are only set up for the specified paint colors. They really are not set up to handle a one-off case.

 

They are - let me introduce you to my Li'l friend . . . say cheese !! ;



This is the "HOV only exit", southbound i5, just before the El Toro 'Y' - 405 & 5 Junction.

That said, here's an odd duck, which I spotted when I was leaving work today. It's in our workplace charge stalls ... so, WHY aren't their stickers white?


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I always give that camera the middle finger every time I exit there (Barranca right?), is it actually operational?

And that is likely the BMW i3 REX with the gas range extender, which qualifies for the green sticker.

 

Talking to the Caltrans folk, its been operational for over 6 months now. I looked underneath the i3 for an exhaust pipe - nothing. Therein lies the mystery - I thought the point of having (only) a 2 gallon gas tank (if it would have had one) , was so the i3 would still be able to qualify for white stickers. Otherwise, if it had a larger tank, the BMW would only qualify for green stickers. The whole experience was inexplicable. I'm hoping I'll run into the owner and be able to get a better understanding of what's going on.

 

Well if it's the i3 BEV it would have white stickers, the i3 REX gets green stickers. That being said, I'm not familiar enough with the model to tell the exterior visual differences.

 

BMW i3 Forum • View topic - Where's the REx exhaust pipe?

However!

BMW i3 BEV has only a single inlet (cover) on the rear passenger side fender for the charging port inlet (J1772 + optional SAE Combo). Crappy location for common charging station locations in the US, if you ask me.

The REx version has TWO holes, the second is the gas hole on the passenger side front fender (3rd pic at BMW i3 REx: Road-Tripping With 72 Electric Miles, 1.9-Gallon Gas Tank) because its tiny gas tank is in the FRONT!

It's much more complicated than the gas tank size. See BMW i3 REx Gets Green HOV Sticker, TZEV Rating. It's been discussed a whole bunch on the BMW i3 Facebook group and other places. I think there was also some reporter the misinterpreted some requirements earlier, which then ended up spreading and becoming "common knowledge"/basis for rumors of white stickers on REx equipped i3s.

Frankly, I don't care much as I have no plans to get a BMW i3.

 

Here's a Persona I've been seeing parked around where I work.

The stickers looked like they were photographed then printed on glossy paper, perhaps laminated and then stuck on.

 

Wow, yet another Prius color the PiP isn't even available in...

 

This is common?
http://www.google.com/url?url=http://autos.aol.com/article/HOV-lane-scams/&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=S7E2VeHNG8m6ogSnxIDwBg&ved=0CCsQFjAB&sig2=gia5T0gehPter29uOEnjfw&usg=AFQjCNGE_OEISXR7f7hGr6GgynlcXWyVyg

And here's the FAQ as to whether or not the stickers should be there:
https://www.google.com/url?url=https://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/decal.htm&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=-rE2VZvNM9GzogTzoICwCQ&ved=0CBYQFjAA&sig2=_EIy2MN4ynmuIvpZRYljSg&usg=AFQjCNE_IjUACDTMzbzWfXCG_l6hqafzyg

 

As of as April 8, 2015, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has issued the 63,255 Green Clean Air Vehicle decals. The maximum number of decals available is 70,000.
California law allows single-occupant use of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOVs) lanes by certain qualifying clean alternative fuel vehicles. A list of qualifying vehicles and frequently asked questions are provided below. Use of these lanes with a single occupant requires a Clean Air Vehicle Sticker issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Currently, there are two types of stickers that are being distributed by the DMV.
White Clean Air Vehicle decals are available to an unlimited number of qualifying Federal Inherently Low Emission Vehicles (ILEVs). Cars that meet these requirements are typically certified pure zero emission vehicles (100% battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell) and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. Per AB 266, the expiration date for the white stickers has been extended to January 1, 2019.
Green Clean Air Vehicle decals were originally available to the first 40,000 applicants that purchased or leased cars meeting California's transitional zero emission vehicles (TZEV) requirement, also known as the enhanced advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle (AT PZEV)* requirement. Per SB 286, the expiration date for the green decals has been extended to January 1, 2019. Per budget trailer bill, SB 853 (Statutes 2014, chapter 27), the green decal limit was increased by 15,000 to 55,000 decals effective July 1, 2014. Now, per AB 2013, effective January 1, 2015, an additional 15,000 decals will be available for a new maximum of 70,000.

 

This article says nothing about fraudulent HOV Stickers, only scams of making it appear as if there were multiple passengers in the vehicles.

Correct, it must be a BEV, PHEV, FCV, or NGV, but the regular Prius is none of those, and would only qualify for the expired Yellow HOV Sticker which was for regular hybrids. I'm not quite sure what you are getting at.

 

This wouldn't be bad, other than the illegality of doing it, except that in CA we SHARE the roads with motorcyclists who glide down this double yellow during slower traffic times. I would hate to think of someone not checking their blind spot one more time and hurting someone...

 

It was in regards to the original post. But thanks for clarifying for others what each link was for. Yes, I have a hybrid and this is to help educate others on what cars are ok and which aren't. When I bought mine, I didn't know - a month later, I'm well-informed. Just trying to help others...It's really for those that don't know.

 

My apologies, I forget not everyone knows the difference between all these "holier-than-thou" vehicles, or California's HOV carpool lane policies.

EDIT: Just in case for those of you who didn't notice, the "holier-than-thou" part of this comment was meant to be a joke about those who are not familiar with the different types of alternative fuel vehicles.

 

It is actually rather difficult for ANYONE to know the CA HOV carpool lane policies. The applicability of the green decals may be different from that for the white decals (q.v. Golden Gate Bridge), applicability of the decals may depend on time of day (the decals may be disallowed at random times based on traffic), applicability may depend on the funding used to build a particular road (many of the HOV lanes in SoCal).

 

I would sincerely hope no one has that "holier than thou" kind of vehicle or an attitude to match it. Owning these vehicles doesn't make us any better than anyone else, we just have different tastes. I drive mine not because I think I'm above anyone, or that I'm trendy. I simply enjoy my car.

 

Thank you for expanding on this, CharlesH. For some, it's hard to stay up on which laws change.

 

Regardless of the carpool lane rules, these are cars with counterfeit photocopied stickers. The scam is working because it's hard for many people to distinguish a Plug-in from any other Prius.

 

Does to PIP come in with a elevated equine dismount option? It probably should, unless PIP owners are self reporting each of their speeding, parking or any vehicular infractions.