I would bet that the real culprits of crowding on HOV lanes are the single-occupant vehicles breaking the law, not the hybrid drivers.
As for those of you griping about the HOV lanes and the suggestion that they discriminate against you--is it not true that when the state sought federal funds to build those lanes, the state agreed to designate them HOV. Now that they are built, wouldn't it be going back on the bargain? You can argue against the policy behind federal support for HOV lanes all you want, but after the state has spent the money and you've built the lane, it's a little late to revise the deal.
What about HOV lanes on the Toll Road?
My understanding is that federal highway funding is contingent on including HOV lanes. Unless I'm mistaken, not ALL of the Federal Funds are designated for HOV lanes, but states that refuse to include HOV lanes will receive zero federal funding. In other words, the state seeks federal funding to improve highways, not to build HOV lanes -- it's the federal gov't that insists that state include HOV lanes as a condition of getting the funds. There's no "bargaining" involved, the "deal" stunk to begin with and "going back on it" would improve traffic for everyone. This has nothing to do with improving traffic or congestion and everything to do with Federal coercion and gratifying the egos of social engineers.