Single drivers with Clean Air Vehicles will no longer be able to use carpool lanes in California.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced Tuesday that the federal government is barring states from issuing Clean Air Vehicle decals.
The big picture: The federal regulations that allowed states to issue Clean Air Vehicle decals will expire on Sep. 30.
- That means that even though Clean Air Vehicle decals were valid for up to four years, all of them will be invalid once the calendar flips to October.
- The DMV stopped processing new Clean Air Vehicle decals on Aug. 29.
- Drivers may be fined for not following posted vehicle occupancy requirements.
The backstory: The program was first authorized in 1999 and most recently reauthorized in 2017.
What we’re watching: Caltrans will post the following messaging on its electronic road signage: “CLEAN AIR DECALS NOT VALID STARTING OCT 1.”
What they’re saying: “This is a great program for climate-conscious Californians,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. “We have issued over one million decals since this program was approved, which has helped to foster a change in how we drive. Californians are committed to lowering their carbon footprint and these decals helped drivers be good stewards of our highways and environment. By taking away this program, hundreds of thousands of California’s drivers will pay the price. It’s a lose-lose and we urge the federal government to retain this program.”
