Ever run into this? (Overreaching govmint content)

Last week I had an occasion to visit the local IRS office. While parking, I noticed the entire front row had signs (each space!) saying," RESERVED FOR LOW EMISSION VEHICLES", so I backed up into the second row. Then I thought "Just what IS a 'low emission' vehicle?" There was no definition available and my '02 Windstar has a Certified Ultra Low Emission Vehicle sticker (supplied by Ford, of course). So I pulled back into the first row, went inside, and no one challenged me. No one else seemed to dare to park there. My comeback would have been that every car produced and sold in the US since 1968 and is legally operated and inspected IS a 'low emission' vehicle. That was one time I wish I had a Ferrari Daytona to park there!

Possibly overreaching, definitely vague.

being the IRS vague is a subjective.

wait if you are a Low Emission vehicle knowledge type person would you be a health nut and want to park at the end of the parking lot?

That means it has to meet the LEV standard or exceed it (as in ULEV, PZEV, ZEV), cars that meet it usually come with a "LEV" sticker on the glass somewhere. The standard was created in the mid-90s.

Seems like somebody wants see a conspiracy where there is none.

Assuming it isnt on fire, and the evap system is working, aren't ALL vehicles low emissions when parked? So just roll into the space with the engine off, problem solved.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Seems like somebody wants see a conspiracy where there is none.

No, only conspiracy I see is keeping a signmaker busy...each stall (approx 15) had its own sign!

One of the office buildings I visit is mostly occupied by GE. there are several spaces reserved for "high efficiency" vehicles. Right. Compared to what?

Basil Exposition wrote: One of the office buildings I visit is mostly occupied by GE. there are several spaces reserved for "high efficiency" vehicles. Right. Compared to what?

We have the same thing at our work. I parked my 96 civic there all the time. 40mpg highway isn't bad.

I work at a federal installation and they have a similar parking preference program. There is a listing of EPA approved cars and it is what you would expect, hybrids and a few diesels. They have to be very fuel-efficient also and hybrid SUV's, for example, don't qualify. Neither do just fuel efficient cars such as the CRX HF or Toyota Echo. Tickets will be given if your car is not on the list.

By that standard what if you have a true LEV vehicle with a sticker and your cat is removed. Do they have an improvised smog test on site?

Or a 1ton dually with a natural gas conversion... Clearly not LEV until you factor the Nat-Gas in.

So my '67 Opel Kadett that gets 52mpg would probably not be on the list? That makes sense...

They don't want the opel on the road: no traction control, stability control, tire pressure monitoring systems, airbags, etc. The belt line of the door is too low, and the door construction didn't include intrusion resistant door bars. (OK, the feds may not require the last thing YET, but you get my point.) It is too light, and thus not crashworthy in modern safety standards.

my buddy's college has a front row of spots for "fuel efficient vehicles"

i went to pick him up one night and the lot was full except for all those spots but one. i parked my suburban right next to a prius and waited. i think 17mpg from a big 4x4 monster while loaded with tools and a small trailer is incredibly fuel efficient. the girl with the prius shot me the dirtiest look.

patgizz wrote: my buddy's college has a front row of spots for "fuel efficient vehicles" i went to pick him up one night and the lot was full except for all those spots but one. i parked my suburban right next to a prius and waited. i think 17mpg from a big 4x4 monster while loaded with tools and a small trailer is incredibly fuel efficient. the girl with the prius shot me the dirtiest look.

Your in good company I park my viper in the hybrid parking at the office.

Anyone know of a site that lists which vehicles meet LEV standards?

Last time I drove the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I was having a bad intestinal day and had to stop at one of the rest stops. The only spots open were for these LEV vehicles. I parked my rusty 91 Saab there and nobody batted an eye

In answer to the OP, no, I have never run into such madness. But apparently it is not an isolated case.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Seems like somebody wants see a conspiracy where there is none.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QsogswrH6ck

Well, I wouldn't park my TDi there... Efficient? Yes. But I leave a small superfund site behind me wherever I go.

It's probably because the building is LEED Certified. That's an easy way to pick up a few "green" points toward certification.

No different from our license plates for hybrids here in Virginia that say "clean special fuel" that allows them to drive solo in HOV lanes.

So what is the "special fuel" that your Prius runs on, good sir? Oh, gasoline? You don't say.....

22track wrote: and hybrid SUV's, for example, don't qualify.

That is refreshing to hear.....hybrid SUVs....what a joke.

what are they going to do? call the police on you?