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Can non-electric cars park at charging stations in California?

I live in San Diego, and sometimes the grocery I like to shop at runs out of parking—but there’s an electric car charging station next door. Is it illegal for me to leave my car there while I go inside? I don’t usually take too long.

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Jason Crosby · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Even if you’re a speedy shopper, you’re going to get a hefty ticket if you get caught parking in a charging station. The state of California charges $124 tickets to drivers who leave their car in a charging port while it’s not charging. There’s also the risk of your vehicle getting towed as well—it’s not like with a gas station, where you can park at the pump and go about your business.
With EVs and their charging ports becoming more widespread (and considering California’s strict environmental regulation), officials are trying to ensure that EV owners get as much of a chance as possible to use their vehicles. The penalty doesn’t stop with non-electric vehicles, either. Even if you drive an EV into a port, finish charging, and walk away, your vehicle could still get towed.
Hybrid vehicles aren’t exempt, either. Since they rely on gas as a secondary fuel source, some critics are pushing for hybrids to be banned from public charging stations in California. This would mean that hybrid vehicle owners would need to charge electrically at home, otherwise they’ll have to use gasoline instead.
While California’s new charging port laws make things a little more complicated for drivers,
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