Don’t Confront Person Misusing Handicapped Space, CHP Says

Dear Street Smart: What should motorists do when they see what appears to be a physically fit person parking in a handicapped-only parking place using the placard placed in their dash? I was in the Pavilions parking lot in Fullerton recently and saw a man in a white Honda Accord LX put the blue placard on the dash and walk briskly into the store. A short time later, he came out pushing a shopping cart with his purchases. I know all handicaps are not readily visible, so is there anything a person can do in this situation?

I have also been puzzled by some old license plates I have seen on relatively new cars. The plates are blue background with gold letters and numbers. Some of the cars have been new enough to have an anti-collision light in the rear window. Can you explain?

Robert E. Huff, Fullerton

Regarding seemingly able-bodied drivers using reserved spaces, Steve Kohler, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, said the first thing to remember is . . . don’t confront them. “It’s not an individual’s duty to enforce the law,” he said, “but to bring it to the attention of those whose duty it is.” Citizen confrontations, he said, can sometime lead to violence. And certain legitimate disabilities, such as arthritis or heart conditions, might not be visible.

If you suspect someone of faking a handicap, jot down the license number and report it to the Department of Motor Vehicles or your local law enforcement agency, he said. They will check to see whether the placard or license plate designating a handicapped driver is being used legitimately and, if not, take appropriate action. Although law enforcement officers cannot cite someone for an infraction they didn’t witness, Kohler said, they can write letters to the registered owners of the vehicles in question informing them of the abuse and warning them to desist.

As for the old license plates on the new cars, Kohler said, these are often personalized plates that owners may legally transfer to succeeding cars.

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Dear Street Smart:

My question concerns the diamond lanes on the freeways. What, exactly, do the assorted lines separating these lanes from the general traffic mean? I have seen the following markings buffering me from the general traffic: broken white line, double yellow line and double double yellow line.

I can figure out the first one, except that some have signs indicating entry and some are noted for exiting. I assume I am allowed to perform either act without penalty, is this true?

Bob Bettwy, Newport Beach

You may cross a solid double line to move in or out of the lane, but not to pass another car, according to Caltrans. You may not cross a double double yellow line under any circumstances.

A broken white line, as anywhere else on the freeway, means you may cross when it’s safe. If signs also are posted, though, their instructions take precedence, CHP spokesman Kohler said. If a sign says to exit or enter, cross the line only for that purpose.

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Dear Street Smart:

Your reply to the inquiry about tinted windows in the Aug. 8 issue brings up another question. You stated that out-of-state cars may be cited if they violate California restrictions against tinting. Does this extend to the smog equipment also? That would mean that any out-of-state car could be cited. How is this resolved?

Also, several years ago California passed a law against pickup trucks that are raised to excessive heights. I notice quite a few on the road that the hood of my car would slide under in an accident. Why are they not cited when they are so obvious?

John L. Smith, Lake Forest

Out-of-state cars that do not meet California smog emission standards may be driven here as long as they meet federal emission standards, which are lower, and as long as the owner has not established legal residency in California.

In other words, people in California on vacation or business may drive their own cars without being cited.

Once they establish legal residency, however, they have 10 days in which to register their cars in the state, a process that includes bringing it up to California emission standards, Kohler said.

On the second question, drivers of jacked-up trucks are not always cited, Kohler said, for reasons of time and resources.

“You can’t be everywhere at once,” he said. “Law enforcement officers have many other things to do besides citing big pickups.”

According to the California Vehicle Code, the bottom of a passenger car cannot be more than 23 inches from ground and the back of a truck up to 4,500 pounds cannot be more than 27 inches from ground.

“If an officer sees a vehicle exceeding that,” Kohler said, “he can definitely stop and cite it.”

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Finally, a word regarding the county’s “smart street” program. The public is invited to a series of forums beginning Tuesday to learn about and comment on a plan to improve Imperial Highway. The plan includes widening the road, coordinating its traffic signals, raising its medians and adding sound walls and bus turnouts.

The first forum will be from 5 to 8 p.m. at Imperial Middle School, 1540 S. Schoolwood Drive, La Habra. A second is scheduled for the same time Wednesday at the Travis Ranch Activity Center, 5200 Via de la Escuala in Yorba Linda.