City Council Extends Hybrid Parking Meter Program

Owners of hybrid and electric cars can go another year without having to feed the meter within the city of LA. Yesterday the city council extended the program that allows properly documented alternative-fueled vehicles to ignore parking meters. However, posted street signs must be obeyed, as must residential permit parking on certain streets.

A California DMV Clean Air Vehicle decal must be clearly displayed on the automobile or the meter maid has the right to ticket the vehicle, according to the blog of City Council President Eric Garcetti, who intiated the program in 2004.

More benefits await Bank of America employees of LA who buy hybrids. The giant bank announced earlier this month that they will give a $3,000 rebate to any of their employees who purchase the green machines, work at least 20 hours a week, and live within 90 miles of LA, Charlotte, or Boston.

The B of A incentive offsets the $2,500 - $3,000 difference in cost between traditional cars and their hybrid counterparts.