No, not for those corporate welfare types, but for those environmental welfare types that drive hybrids. Hey, I bought the car because of the commute, but INCENTIVES!!! And now folks are talking about free parking!!!!
From FOXNEWS (they really should call them Hobbit cars):
So, the federal government and a dozen states are offering some form of financial incentive or tax break to hybrid buyers, ranging from $300 in Maine to more than $4,500 in Colorado. The federal government offers hybrid buyers a $2,000 tax deduction this year and a $500 deduction next year. But that tax break gets phased out in 2007.
While some critics have questioned the need for financial incentives, others claim the hybrid incentives are necessary.
“We definitely need these hybrid incentives. If we are really serious about tackling global warming ? tackling our oil dependence ? we need better technology on the roads,” said David Friedman, a senior analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists (search).
Utah and Virginia agree that special incentives are needed. In those states, hybrids have access to high occupancy express lanes, or HOV (search) lanes, even if they don’t meet the carpool requirements.
But after hybrid traffic more than tripled last year on highways leading into Washington, the privileges for hybrid drivers could be reaching the end of the road. A transportation panel recommended hybrids get the boot from Virginia’s HOV lanes when the Legislature has the chance to renew the law next summer.
“Travel times for commuters are starting to break down. The lanes are simply getting too congested,” said Joan Morris, spokeswoman for Virginia Department of Transportation.
In the meantime, hybrid drivers have another perk available ? free parking at city meters in about a handful of places nationwide, including Los Angeles and Albuquerque.
