Q When hybrids like the Prius and Honda Civic were allowed to be driven in carpool lanes as long as those drivers had yellow carpool stickers, some diamond lanes were filling up. What is the case today, when only solo drivers in plug-in hybrids, electric cars and those running on compressed natural gas can get stickers?

Sal Matsui

San Jose

A The carpool lanes are filling up on some routes -- but not because of hybrids. As of Nov. 1, only 6,407 plug-in hybrids have gotten green carpool stickers. That compares with 85,000 under the old program. An additional 20,489 electric and CNG vehicles have white HOV stickers.

Q I bought a Prius plug-in and sent in paperwork for my carpool sticker Oct. 11. I am still waiting. A call to DMV resulted in the disappointing news that it may take four to six weeks for the sticker to arrive.

Can I take a chance and drive in the carpool lane with my documentation that my sticker application is in process?

I commute to a Mountain View office complex next to Google 22 miles one way, and it generally takes about one hour and 15 minutes if I leave between 7:45 and 8 a.m. I can cut my commute in half by using the carpool lane. I've been doing this drive for almost 14 years, and I think I have hit the wall on what I am willing to tolerate.

Marge Scheitrum

San Jose

A Without the green stickers, you run the risk of a hefty carpool ticket. Hang tough for a few more days. The DMV says you should be getting stickers within three weeks after sending your application if the application form is complete, the $8 payment is received and a vehicle record exists. For details, go to www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/decal.htm.

Q Please remind your readers that just because you have a carpool sticker on your electric Nissan Leaf, that does not give you the right to be a road boulder in the HOV lane. I presume Leaf drivers are attempting to conserve battery power and that is fine, but it is not fine to force cars, trucks and motorcycles to pass you on the right when going slower than traffic in the middle lanes on Highways 85 and 87. If Leaf drivers wish to go slower than traffic in that lane, then move out of the carpool lane.

This happened twice in one day on my way to work! First Prius road boulders with their drivers staring at their mpg display instead of driving, and now Leaf drivers going too slow.

George Leavell

San Jose

A Message delivered (and for once it's nice that not just Priuses are getting bashed).

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5335.