After months of being in limbo, California's new law allowing hybrid vehicles to use HOV lanes, without any passengers, is now going into effect.

The support for AB 2628, written by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), was pretty strong as the bill made its way through the Legislature and onto the governor's desk. But even after being signed, it was stalled... because the program required approval from the federal government.

That approval was included in the new federal energy bill signed by President Bush, and now the DMV is accepting applications for hybrid owners who want to participate. The catch: the program will be limited to 75,000 hybrid vehicles. There are also other requirements for hybrid owners in the Bay Area who want to drive solo in HOV lanes.