City Councilman Calls On Congress To Let Disabled Vets Use HOV Lanes

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- With Veterans Day right around the corner, Deputy Leader Councilman Vincent Gentile has introduced a resolution calling on Congress to allow disabled veterans use HOV lanes.

"I proposed that we allow disabled veterans, those who have the disabled veterans designation on their license plate, to use the HOV lanes regardless of the occupancy of the car," Gentile told 1010 WINS.

Gentile said he believes allowing disabled veterans access to HOV lanes is a nice way for New York City to show its appreciation to those who have sacrificed for the country.

"To allow them to get through the traffic a little bit easier -- from point A to point B through the HOV lane -- I think is not overly burdensome and something the City of New York can do as a show of respect for the service and sacrifice that these veterans have given up," Gentile said.

Gentile's resolution looks to Congress to pass and the president to sign legislation allowing states and localities, like New York City, to grant disabled veterans access to HOV lanes.

If the city changed the rules without Congress passing legislation, it could face penalties because HOV lanes are subsidized by federal government funding.

"We can't do this alone as a city because if we were to do this directly as a city and change the law, we risk losing federal transportation money," Gentile said.

The city councilman added that allowing disabled veterans to use HOV lanes would be a very simple courtesy to extend to these heroes.

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