Utah House Bill 62

[Highmarker]

Also on the chopping block this go around is the amendment of the "clean fuel - clean vehicle" license plate. The Federal law (put out by the DOT) is that HOV Lane access is for dedicated vehicles only. However, when the state adopted this law for I-15 in Salt Lake, Questar made a push and got bi-fuel vehicles the same access. House Bill 62 will only allow dedicated vehicles HOV Lane access if passed. Below is a link to the bill.

http://le.utah.gov/~2008/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0062.htm

[freedml]

Re: House Bill 62

To everyone: If something is specific to one state, please put the state in the topic, et.g. UT House Bill 62

[John Mitton]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

Good point freedml. Even though, for example, this thread is in the Utah forum many subscribe to the chat board via RSS feed so a little more description would be useful. I have edited the thread titles relating to Utah legislation to reflect this.

[Luke]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

Great summary Highmarker.

As clarification, Questar does pay the 18 cent / gge federal road tax, this is why we don't get the full 50 cent tax credit at the pump, just the difference (32 cents). The state does not collect road taxes at CNG pumps, hence the more-expensive "clean fuel" license plates to try and offset the lost revenue.

When they look at impact to state revenue from the limiting the use of clean fuel plates, they neglected the additional clean vehicle registration fee. It looks like the bill passed unanimously in the house; it will likely pass the senate. I have a dedicated CNG and a bifuel CNG vehicle. If I need to replate the bifuel, then I would always drive the dedicated when I need to travel through SLC during busy hours.

Just out of curiosity, how much is the toll to use the HOV lane as a single driver (in any vehicle)? How does this compare to the additional annual registration fees we pa for a clean fuel plate?

[kirkbenge]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

I have read and re-read this bill. I cannot see how this bill will affect bi-fuel vehicles. The Bill has been substituted, but all it says is that it will leave it up to the Department of Transportation to determine if a car qualifies, instead of relying on the clean fuel tax certification... Is that right?
The Impact statement says:
Individual, Business and/or Local Impact:
Depending on the final rules adopted by the Department of Transportation, the number of individuals and businesses that may be eligible for the clean fuel special group license plate may increase. The details of the rules have yet to be adopted. Localities will likely be unaffected.

INCREASE? I cannot find any reference anywhere to exactly what Dept. of Trans. rules will regulate the issuance of clean fuel plates.

Can someone clarify this for me?

KIRK

[John Mitton]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

Just out of curiosity, how much is the toll to use the HOV lane as a single driver (in any vehicle)? How does this compare to the additional annual registration fees we pa for a clean fuel plate?

It is $50/month for the toll program. Your "C" plate is $82/yr.

[Highmarker]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

Kirk,

I spoke with Gordon Larsen of Questar about this bill and he told me that when the HOV lane was put in along I-15 in Salt Lake City, they were using the DOT standards for single occupant acccess for the HOV (this includes dedicated CNG vehicles and NOT bi-fuel vehicles). Questar made a push and got the state to accept bi-fuel vehicles. House Bill 62 would use DOT standards - essentially only allowing dedicated CNG vehicles HOV lane access.

[lshuster]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

The "rules" that I've heard "loosely" mentioned are the Fed's EPA HOV Guidelines, under SAFETEA-LU guidelines. Google that and you'll find a "draft list" dated, May 2007:

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/ld-hwy/hov/drafteligiblevehicles.pdf

Best guess is that's what Utah will use as a starting point. I've asked the sponsor of HB062 to clarify, but haven't heard back yet. Suspect they don't really know?

You might want to get a C plate this year, you might just get grandfathered in?

/Lee

[sansom]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

You might want to get a C plate this year, you might just get grandfathered in?

/Lee

Nice thought..... Hope noone took you up on it though. Grandfathering would apply to the fee's mentioned in the bill, but the signed bill contains language that specifically would exempt you from having to pay new license plate fee's when you go to renew and find you no longer qualify for a C Plate and have to get new 'non C Plates'


A person is exempt from the fee under Subsection (1) or (6) if the person

(a) was issued a clean fuel special group license plate in accordance with Section 41-1a-418 prior to the effective date of rules made by the Department of Transportation under Subsection 41-6a-702 (5)(b)

(b) beginning on the effective date of rules made by the Department of Transportation authorized under Subsection 41-6a-702 (5)(b), is no longer eligible for a clean fuel special group license plate under the rules made by the Department of Transportation; and

(c) upon renewal or reissuance, is required to replace the clean fuel special group license plate with a new license plate.

Chris

[mickey]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

HOV lanes are a disgusting, elitist idea anyway.

We all paid for those lanes. We should all get to use them. And the second you allow anything but "carpools" into those lanes you eliminate whatever weak reason there was for their existence in the first place.

I registered my GX and found out I'd have to fork out a nice, fat "rich guy's tax" to get a "clean" plate. Yeah, RIGHT. No thanks.

I saw a Prius with the blue plate the other day, enjoying his HOV lane. Last time I checked those things run on 100% gasoline.

You can also drive solo in your quarter million dollar, 10 mpg Ferrari if you fork out the cash. What does that have to do with "clean air"?

Nope, sorry....HOV lanes are a joke.

[Devo]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

@mickey

I just read through all the entries you posted today and obviously someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

[rtry9a]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

I wonder why our inspired legislators consider motorcycles high occupancy vehicles?

The dopes don't seem to understand that we chose to run natural gas whenever we can in our bifuelers. What is wrong with those to enter governmental service- they seem to leave any semblance of intelligence at home.

FWIW, in Utah, driving in the HOV lane is a PITA. The females/geezers still drive too slow and seem to migrate as far to the left as they can. The worst part, is that Utah restricts entrance and exit to/from the HOV lane; that alone really restricts traffic flows around the slow drivers (if we follow the law). Is the same true in CA?

[TheBundo]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

@mickey

I just read through all the entries you posted today and obviously someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

His own side?

As far as motorcycles, I think they are allowed because most of them are air-cooled, and sitting in stopped traffic isn't real good for them

[wardhome6821]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

So to clarify, will non-dedicated vehicles get their "C" plates revoked or ??? when will they lose them? It really agitates me to see a Toyota Highlander SUV or Camry with a "hybrid" technology plaque get a "C" plate. The state was too lienient on this.

[ch4]

Re: Utah House Bill 62

... It really agitates me to see a Toyota Highlander SUV or Camry with a "hybrid" technology plaque get a "C" plate. The state was too lienient on this.

Those are the special Hybrid's that use the clean gasoline.

Since the EPA test is not designed to correctly test Hybrids they get through the loophole.

EPA Pollution Score for a Lexus 400h is only 1 less than a Honda GX.
Right!

Wait until all manufactures MUST use the new EPA guidelines for pollution testing.
Nothing like designing for testing and not real world use.