If you own a Zero
Emission Vehicle or Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle as defined by
the California Air Resources Board, you may purchase a California
Clean Air Vehicle Decal from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Once you have purchased and affixed the decal to your vehicle per
DMV instructions, you can park without depositing coins at on- and
off-street metered parking spaces throughout the City of Los Angeles
(however, you remain subject to the posted time limit restrictions
and other higher order parking restrictions like Tow Away and Street
Cleaning.)
On October 1, 2004, participation in this free metered parking program
was extended to four hybrid vehicle models: the Honda Insight, Honda
Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius, and the Ford Escape Hybrid. On June 21,
2006, the Los Angeles City Council directed the City Attorney to prepare
an ordinance limiting participation in the free parking program to
only those vehicles that have Clean Air Vehicle Decals issued by the
California Department of Motor Vehicles; in the mean time
City Council also voted to extend the current program providing free
parking at City parking meters for the four hybrid vehicles until
the new ordinance is in place. While the City Attorney is
drafting the new ordinance, the City will continue the current program
of allowing four hybrid vehicles (Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid,
Toyota Prius, and the Ford Escape Hybrid) to park for free at City
parking meters without being required to have a Clean Air Vehicle
Decal. Once the new ordinance has been adopted by the City Council
and goes into effect, only vehicles with the Clean Air Vehicle Decals
will be allowed to park for free.
To find out if your vehicle qualifies, click here: www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm
To find out how to
obtain a California Clean Air Vehicle Decal, click here: www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/decal.htm