Anti Prius Violence On The Upswing

Prius owners in the Los Angeles area are reporting an increase in violent attacks directed at their vehicles. At least seven vehicles were significantly damaged in Petaluma, CA earlier this year, and a series of attacks against the model were noted in Las Vegas in 2004.

In July, a Toyota Prius owner in Los Angeles reported that her car was completely destroyed by an arsonist, who was not apprehended in the attack. To date, all of the attacks on vehicles have been conducted at night, when the unoccupied vehicles were parked for the evening. One attack was conducted with another vehicle, used to ram the parked Prius, but most other vandalism has involved the use of bricks and rocks.

One owner noted that she was awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of banging and found someone had used a hammer to damage the windshield and body of her Prius. Another owner reported that her Prius was attacked twice and while her vehicle was in the shop for repairs, another Prius she'd rented was also vandalized.

The attacks are adding to the rising sentiment that Prius owners are so-called eco-snobs. An anti-Prius blog enttled "I Hate Prius Drivers" is devoted to reporting unflattering news about the Prius, including traffic fatalities that involve the car. A Toyota spokesman says that people upset by the environmental movement may feel justified in vandalizing the iconic Prius.

Sources: Edmund's Inside Line, Fox News.com, I Hate Prius Drivers