I’ve started noticing some interlopers into the carpool lane on the way to work… Toyota Priuses with only one passenger.  What the hell?

The rules for the carpool lane as I understood them used to be:
   - The specified number of passengers (2 or 3, depending on the segment of road)
Or
   - Fewer than four wheels (2 or 3-wheeled vehicles allowed)
Or
   - Zero emissions (electric, natural gas, hydrogen, etc.)

Now, with a new bill signed into law last year, ultra-low emissions vehicles (ULEVs) are allowed into the carpool lane.  To be an ULEV the cars need to meet emissions requirements and get more than 45 miles to the gallon.  The means that now, in addition to Electric and Clean fuel vehicles, some hybrid vehicles are now allowed to use the carpool lane if they display the correct stickers. 

If you want to be able to use your green vehicle in the carpool lane in California first check to see if your car is on the approved vehicle list then complete the REG 1000 form to apply for your clean air vehicle stickers.

I have just one request... drive faster or get out of my way, it is after all my lane.