Call City to Trim Oversize Trees on Curbs

Dear Traffic Talk:

What are the laws for trimming trees that overhang the streets and scrape vehicles either driving or parking at a curb?

Is there a height standard?

Who enforces it?

Is the city responsible for maintenance, or is it the adjacent property owner?

Roger Wing, Reseda

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Dear Roger:

Tree trimming is handled by the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Maintenance, service request section. To request tree trimming call (213) 485-5661.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

The intersection of Balboa and San Fernando Mission boulevards used to be a simple, uncrowded, easily traversed corner.

No one had to wait more than one light to make left turns in any direction and traffic moved easily to and from the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway, which is approximately one-half mile north of the intersection.

About a year ago after earthquake repairs were completed on the Vons Shopping Center on the southeast corner the timing was changed.

Now Balboa enjoys particularly long green lights and San Fernando Mission is shortchanged.

The problem is that the Balboa light lasts so long that during rush hours, too many cars stack up on San Fernando Mission and you have to wait two or three cycles to make a left turn onto Balboa.

In order to beat the signal, locals now turn into the shopping center parking lots and race around to bypass the signal.

Instead of installing a green arrow allowing turns on San Fernando Mission, they installed an arrow on Balboa instead.

What can be done?

David L. Burkhart, Granada Hills

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Dear David:

A request for a traffic light alteration or for the installation of a new traffic light needs to be made in writing to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. The request will be given to a department engineer who will look at the intersection and study whether or not it is a candidate for a new traffic signal, a department spokesperson said.

If the intersection is a candidate, a work order is made with the city’s design department. The process can take up to one year, the spokesman said.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

There is a ubiquitous problem on our busy Valley streets of motorists tailgating, and I do not see LAPD stopping vehicles for this particular violation.

Why not?

One is extremely fortunate if the motorist behind your car stays a few feet behind your car at any speed.

Aside from the issue of this discourteous driving, what does the vehicle code state, and what is actually enforced by the LAPD?

Don McLeod, Woodland Hills

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Dear Don:

The California Driver Handbook advises drivers to observe the “three second rule.” When the vehicle ahead passes a certain point, such as a sign, count “one thousand-one, one thousand-two.”

If you pass the same point before you are finished counting, you are following too closely.

If followed by a tailgater, allow extra room between your car and the car ahead, according to the guide.

That will allow for less sudden braking and decreased chance of being hit from behind.

Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers may submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your name, address and phone number. To record your comments, call (818) 772-3303. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley@latimes.com.