Callers Can Report Vehicles Spewing Smog

Dear Traffic Talk:

I want to know know how the Cut Smog program works.

Manuel R. Gutierrez

Studio City

Dear Manuel:

According to Claudia Keith of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the district’s 1-800-CUT-SMOG program receives 8,000 to 15,000 calls a month reporting vehicles with visible exhaust problems.

While the district does not have the power to revoke a license or issue a traffic citation, Keith said, it does send advisory letters to owners of reported vehicles.

She said the program alerts many drivers to problems they were unaware of and some respond with letters saying they have taken care of the problem.

Dear Traffic Talk:

I have a few questions about the left-turn signal at major intersections. Sometimes a sign is hanging by the turn signal stating “Left turn on signal only.”

Why doesn’t this sign appear at all left-turn arrow signals? If a sign does not state “left turn signal only,” is it legal to make a left turn when the light is green, but the turn arrow is red and no cars are approaching?

Anne Marie Cheney

West Hills

Dear Anne Marie:

According to California Highway Patrol and Department of Motor Vehicles officials, any red arrow is to be considered a red traffic light and a driver is supposed to stop until the arrow turns green. CHP Officer Randy Sheran said that even with a green light and no cars approaching in the opposing lane, no turns are permitted.

Evan Nossoff of the DMV added that the only turns on red allowed are those onto one-way streets into the flow of traffic or at intersections making a right into traffic, unless otherwise stated by a sign.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Every day when I drive to work, I have occasion to approach the intersection of Tujunga, Camarillo and Riverside drives. There are stoplights at this intersection that have a green arrow for left turns. I have observed several times that the green arrow does not always come on.

I am at this intersection about the same time each day, so I have ruled out that there is a timing device. Sometimes there are many cars waiting to make a left turn and other times I may be the only one, but the number of vehicles isn’t the answer either, because there still is the inconsistency in when the green arrow lights up.

What’s the reason for this on-again, off-again light change?

Muriel Michel

Arleta

Dear Muriel:

Brian Gallagher of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation said that the southbound left-turn signals for motorists on Tujunga Avenue are activated by vehicle detectors in the left-turn lane. If vehicles have to wait more than 20 seconds, the left-turn signal will come on with the start of the next green light.

However, when the left-turn arrow is not displayed, such as during hours of light traffic, motorists are permitted to make left turns on the green light after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

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. 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