Hybrid Cars - Park For Free If You Drive A Hybrid - Will Free Parking Incentives Pay Off Later? (Part 1)
There is a great trend in hybrid incentives in the United States. Some areas are offering more incentives than others, with California likely offering the most. Employers are giving employees cash toward the purchase of hybrids, while other businesses are offering parking incentives. The goal in promoting the purchase of a hybrid is to help the environment. In helping the environment however, consumers are able to save thousands on gas costs, insurance costs, taxes, and parking.
California is the leader in hybrid incentives, which is not surprising since they are also leaders in most environmental issues. The entire state is focusing on hybrid promotion, but several cities are going even further to offer free parking to hybrid drivers. San Jose offers free parking at downtown San Jose public parking facilities. This also includes on-street meters. In Los Angeles, hybrid cars can park at parking meters for free. Although the hybrids can park for free, they can still be ticketed for exceeding the time allotment for metered spaces. Albuquerque, New Mexico and New Haven, Connecticut has also adopted legislation allowing free parking within city limits.
Many of the cities that are offering free parking to their hybrid-owning citizens and visitors do require a few steps be taken before drivers can take advantage of the free parking. First, drivers of hybrids must contact the city transportation office. Upon contact, the driver will have to prove they own a hybrid and obtain a special decal for their car. This decal alerts police that the car should not be fined when parked for free. Many drivers never get around to getting a decal and therefore, never reap the benefits of free parking. In addition to the decals, cities are training their parking officers in hybrid vehicles. They are making the officers familiar with styles of acceptable hybrids so that the officers can be aware of anyone who is trying to park with a decal, but is not driving a hybrid.