Questions and Answers About Your Commute : General Use of Diamond Lanes Can Raise Risks

Dear Traffic Talk:

Why aren’t diamond lanes open to everyone during off-peak times?

In Northern California there are signs posted: high occupancy, or two or more people in a vehicle, during peak driving hours. Any other time the lanes can be used by the general public.

In Southern California, there is a $271 fine if you use one of these lanes at 4 a.m.

It is ridiculous for people of Southern California to get fined for using the diamond lane.

Ralph J. O’Hara

Sylmar

Dear Ralph:

There are actually a few reasons--related to simplicity and safety--that make 24-hour carpool lanes logical on Southern California’s freeways.

A study commissioned by Cal Poly Pomona showed that freeway lanes that don’t switch from carpool to regular at specific times of the day suffer fewer accidents, according to Caltrans spokesman Rick Holland.

For drivers and law enforcement officials, having to consider what time it is while driving at high speeds is a confusing road hazard.

Furthermore, Southern Californians know that, unlike in other parts of the country, traffic congestion here can occur any time, anywhere.

On some freeways, every hour is a peak driving hour, Holland said.

Finally, he stressed that car-pooling is more than just a way to get somewhere faster. Ideally, it helps reduce air pollution as well.

“We basically want to encourage drivers to use carpool lanes at all hours,” he said. “Keeping the lanes 24 hours is one way to get people to travel together whenever possible.”

Dear Traffic Talk:

I could not believe the answer one reader got in January when he complained to you about a large, illegally parked advertising sign blocking visibility in North Hollywood.

A spokesman for Valley Parking Enforcement said there was nothing that could be done but repeatedly ticket the trailer. They said they could not tow it, so the people just keep bringing it back there with no increased penalties.

That sign is a traffic hazard.

It seems to me that Valley Parking Enforcement seized the situation as a money-maker and is disregarding the safety of drivers.

I think you owe the people more of a response as to why this can happen than just feedback on what some Valley Parking person says.

Alan Gilman

North Hollywood

Dear Alan,

You will be happy to note that, after the initial reader complaint about this large sign, Valley Parking looked into the issue further.

They discovered that, after two citations, parking enforcement workers may issue a warning--in the form of a 1-foot-square orange sticker--that the vehicle will be towed if not removed, according to Darryl Roberson, Valley Parking area captain.

Although the owner of the trailer would not be criminally prosecuted for this, the trailer would continually be impounded at a minimum of about $125 each time.

To avoid such penalties, some who park illegally take their license plates off the trailers, but that may result in immediate towing for lack of current registration, Roberson said.

Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers are invited to submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley. Please write to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311. Include your full name, address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted. To record your comments, call (818) 772-3303. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley@latimes.com.