United States (Federal) Vehicle Driving Restrictions
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Exemption
States are allowed to exempt certified low emission and energy-efficient vehicles from HOV lane requirements within the state. Eligible vehicles must be certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and appropriately labeled for use in HOV lanes. The EPA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in May 2007 and a final rule is expected in September 2008. The Department of Transportation is responsible for planning and implementing HOV programs, including the exemption criteria established by EPA. States that choose to adopt these requirements will be responsible for enforcement and vehicle labeling. The HOV exemption for low emission and energy-efficient vehicle expires September 30, 2009. For more information, including a draft list of eligible vehicles based on the most recent certification data available to EPA, visit the HOV Exemption Web site. (Reference 23 U.S. Code 166)
