Honestly, officer, I didn’t know that driving a stolen car is illegal!

On Imperial Highway, L.A. cops pulled over three guys in a car that was listed as stolen. One of the suspects said his involvement was all a mix-up. He had merely screwed up, he said, explaining, “I got into a stolen car.” It wasn’t quite as simple as that, however. He was the driver.

More street drama: In Pomona, Margaret Davis saw a (possibly altered) sign that alerted motorists of a stoppage -- in language usually not used by traffic reporters (see photo).

Turning to pedestrians: In China, John Gutierrez spotted a warning that had lost a bit in translation (see photo). Of course, the fact that it was on the railing of the Three Gorges Dam Visitors Center overlooking the Yangtze River probably got the message across.

Low finance: Lois Hirt wasn’t sure what to do with one coupon she received (see photo). She didn’t want to cash it all in at once but . . .

Cultural Learnings Dept.: Speaking of bookstores, Borders in Westwood announced that Borat Sagdiyev would be there Wednesday night to sign his book, “Borat: Touristic Guidings to Minor Nation of U.S. and A. and Touristic Guidings to Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.” (see photo)

Inasmuch as this event involved the maker of the “Borat” movie, I phoned Borders to see if this was another of his hoaxes. Would Sacha Baron Cohen really be there, or might it instead be Ken Davitian, his hefty companion in the film, or perhaps his female co-star, Pamela Anderson?

No, Borders assured me, it was on the level. Cohen will be there.

OK. But when I get to the head of the line, I’m not saying a word to him. I don’t want to be in his next movie.

Some people are never satisfied: Outside an L.A. fast-food eatery, an acquaintance of Henry White was approached by a man who asked for change so he could buy something to eat. The woman told the panhandler she suspected that if she gave him money, he would use it to buy a drink. So she took him inside and ordered him a two-piece chicken meal with French fries and a (soft) drink. The panhandler griped: “I eat more than that!”

miscelLAny: USC had its homecoming game against Oregon State on Saturday in the Coliseum and I attended, hoping to run into some Trojan classmates. At halftime I was standing near a gate in the concession area when I saw a guy motion to me. I didn’t recognize him but was flattered that he remembered me. He came up and asked, “If I go outside, can I get back in with my ticket?” I told him, sorry, I wasn’t an usher.

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012, and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com