[jgessling]

It seems here in California hybrid car pool stickers have become valuable enough to steal. Since hitting the limit of 85,000 no more are being issued. I had wondered what cars with stickers would be worth, but never considered stickers getting stolen.

This article in USA today says a Prius with stickers can go for as much as $4,000 more than one without.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/200 ... htm?csp=34

This article from the San Jose Mercury is about the stealing.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_5639917

Yikes!

Regards, Jim
'01 #191

 

[SeanW]

I knew that $8 would be a good investment 8)

 

[james]

"If gasoline is $3 a gallon — it's been at least that much for about two weeks here — a used-Prius buyer could offset the carpool premium in 30,000 miles, Ibara calculates. That values the owner's time at $20 a hour..."

That writer should check into Silicon Valley pay scales

I can't help but wonder, though: a decent printing shop should be able to turn the stickers out pretty cheaply, so how long before someone starts counterfeiting them?

 

[SeanW]

... a decent printing shop should be able to turn the stickers out pretty cheaply, so how long before someone starts counterfeiting them?

Search eBay for "ca carpool stickers".

They may be a gag but who is going to get close enough to a 75mph+ Ford Escape to know?

 

[james]

(Sigh) It's a thought, but my Nevada plates would probably be a dead giveaway :-(

(Not that I'd really have a use for them anyway - I manage to do my California freeway driving outside of the main commuting hours.)

 

[dan]

As the article mentions, I would bet they are virtually impossible to remove intact and functional.

I can’t say that I’ve often used mine, now that I’ve moved from the Bay Area, but I thought they might be a good investment.