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Social media can be a showcase of some of the worst driving etiquette there is. The internet is positively brimming with videos of road rage and poor parking jobs. One of those headscratching internet presences is videos of ICE car drivers parking in EV charging spots and jamming the charger in the wheel well or some other surface. However, parking in an EV charging spot with a less-than-green machine could cost you. 

Parking in an EV charging spot without an EV is more than a jerk move, it could cost you

You’ve seen them. Rows of electric vehicle (EV) chargers situated along vehicle-specific parking spots. They might be tempting for you in your conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle or non-plug-in hybrid. However, pulling into that spot without the need to charge could land you a fine from authorities.

 According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), parking in an EV-specific space without an EV can net you a tidy fine. The DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center says that non-EV vehicles are “not allowed to stop, stand, or park a motor vehicle within any parking space specifically designated for parking and charging EVs unless the motor vehicle is an EV and has been issued an alternative fuel vehicle special plate or sticker.

What’s more, the DOE states that civil penalties for violating the EV space rules start at $350. However, fines could be more than $350, especially for repeat offenders. Of course, fines and fees will depend on factors like location and length of time.

Like other traffic tickets and parking violations, things can get worse if you ignore a ticket for parking in a charging spot. Should a parking enforcement official write you a ticket, and you ignore it, you can expect follow-up fines and even legal issues. 

Still, that doesn’t stop some folks from shrugging off parking conventions and breaking the rules anyway. A cursory journey into Instagram will reveal pickup trucks and supercars alike with charging hardware tucked into wheel spokes. While it makes for some silly content, it could be a costly joke.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer, an admitted petrolhead, and an avid motorcyclist. Erik covers Tesla daily, including the Model Y and Cybertruck. Erik also covers Toyota, often discussing the Tundra, Tacoma, RAV4, 4Runner, and Camry. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and Humvees. Erik is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Austin.