Two new HOV laws take effect July 1, according to the Virginia departments of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles and State Police. HOV violators risk heftier fines and drivers of hybrid vehicles not registered by July 1, 2006 will not be permitted on the I-95/395 HOV lanes.

The fine for driving in the HOV lanes without the required number of occupants during rush hours will cost $125 -- $75 more than the current fine for a first offense. The fine for a second offense will increase from the current $200 to $250, and, for the first time, second-time offenders will receive three demerits on their driving record.

The 2006 General Assembly approved the new fines. Fines for third and fourth-time offenses remain the same: $500 plus three demerit points for the third offense, and $1,000 plus three demerit points for the fourth offense.

“Every day, at least 50,000 commuters in Northern Virginia rely on properly functioning HOV lanes to get to work and home, Whether they carpool, vanpool, slug, take the bus, drive a hybrid or motorcycle, they count on the HOV lanes for a faster, more reliable commuter. Violators are contributing to the increased congestion on the HOV lanes, said Dennis Morrison VDOT District Administrator in Northern Virginia. “Tougher fines take aim at those HOV violators who are breaking the law and reducing the effectiveness of our HOV system.”

Hybrid Vehicles and HOV Lanes

Consumers need to be aware of changes to the law before purchasing hybrid and other clean fuel vehicles with the intention of using HOV lanes on I-95 and I-395.
Vehicles registered for clean fuel license plates on or after July 1, 2006 will not be exempt from the HOV-3 requirement on the I-95/395 HOV lanes from 6 to 9 a.m. or from 3:30 to 6 p.m. However, they will be permitted to use all other HOV lanes in Virginia during HOV hours, including I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road in Northern Virginia.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has created a new clean special fuel license plate for hybrid vehicles registered July 1, 2006 and after. The new plate will have a distinctly different design to help Virginia State Police enforce the HOV restrictions.

Applications received by DMV for clean special fuels license plates on or before June 30, 2006 will receive the current clean special fuel plate. Applications received on or after July 1, 2006 will be issued the new plate, regardless of the date the vehicle was purchased or special ordered. Vehicle owners with clean special fuel license plates registered before July 1, 2006 may renew or transfer their plates to a newly purchased qualifying vehicle after the new law takes effect and continue to be exempt from HOV requirements until July 1, 2007.

For a list of hybrid vehicles that qualify for a clean special fuel license plate, visit
The DMV Web site



HOV Fines Effective July 1, 2006:

1st offense: $125 (was $75)
2nd offense: $250 (was $200) plus three points
3rd offense: $500 plus three points
4th offense: 1,000 plus three points

HOV Rules:

I-95/395 from Route 234 to the 14th Street Bridge
HOV-3
6:00 to 9:00 a.m. northbound
3:30 to 6:00 p.m. southbound

I-66 from the Capital Beltway to the Roosevelt Bridge
HOV-2
6:30 to 9:00 a.m. eastbound
4:00 to 6:30 p.m. westbound

I-66 from Route 234 to I-495
HOV-2
5:30 to 9:30 a.m. eastbound
3:00 to 7:00 p.m. westbound

Dulles Toll Road from Route 28 to the Main Toll Plaza
HOV-2
6:30 to 9:00 a.m. eastbound
4:00 to 6:30 p.m. westbound

Northern Virginia HOV Web site



Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.

Page last modified: Oct. 10, 2006