Grace period ends for EV drivers' carpool lane access; fines will now be issued

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The grace period for drivers of low-emission vehicles to have access to California carpool lanes is officially over.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles' Clean Air Vehicle Decal program ended in October, but the grace period ended Sunday.

The program was launched in 2001 as an incentive to get California drivers into hybrids and electric vehicles.

No tickets were issued thanks to the grace period, but now, drivers could face a fine of up to $500.

The change impacts about half a million people.