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From: [e-mail] ("David L. Levine")
Newsgroups: ca.driving,news.answers
Subject: ca.driving FAQ
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Date: 15 Dec 92 00:13:44 GMT
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Archive-name: ca-driving-faq
Last-modified: $Date: 1992/12/15 00:12:22 $
Version: $Revision: 1.9 $


Below are some recurring questions about driving in California.  Some answers
are extracted from net postings.  Answers include the name and email address of
the author; unattributed responses might have been created out of thin air.
Please send any additions, corrections, or suggestions to the update address
listed in an answer, or to the Reply-To address in the header of this message.

Disclaimer:  any information contained herein may be incorrect and/or may
simply be an expression of opinion.  No guarantee of suitability for any
purpose is offered or implied.  No responsibility is assumed for any use, or
for any consequences resulting from any use, of information contained herein.

the questions:
 1.How do I get a copy of the California Vehicle Code?
 2.What are some noteworthy or peculiar California Vehicle Code laws?
 3.What is the grace period for getting a driver's license after establishing
   residency in California?  What is the grace period for vehicle registration?
 4.How much insurance must a driver carry?
 5.Do insurance companies have to be licensed in CA?  How can I tell if one is?
 6.What are some locations of speed and carpool lane enforcement traps?
 7.Are radar detectors illegal in CA, or just not popular for some reason?
 8.Do I have to have my driver's license with me when driving?
 9.Do I have to have any identification with me while not driving?
10.Am I entitled to a jury trial for my traffic ticket?  Can I have counsel
   appointed at public expense?  Can I be sent to prison if found guilty?
11.Can a local cop site you for speeding on an Interstate?
12.What information is in the driver license mag stripe?
13.How often can I be cited for expired vehicle registration?  And is it always
   or never a fix-it ticket?
14.Do out-of-state tickets appear on your California DMV printout, and
   can insurance companies can find this info out if they don't?
15.Do tickets dismissed by traffic school attendance appear on my DMV record?
16.When you see a sign "Litter removal next two miles by organization XXX",
   what exactly does XXX do?
17.What are some recommended readings?
18.What are the phone numbers of some public agencies?
19.Is window tinting legal?
20.Do I need chains in the mountains if I have snow tires?  If so, what kind?
21.What's the net.recommendation for motorcycle insurance?
22.What is a "CHiPs detector"?  What's the complete story on CHP radios?
23.But aren't most citizens prohibited from using mobile radio scanners?

and the answers:
 1.How do I get a copy of the California Vehicle Code?

   Go to any DMV office and pay $3.00.  Many libraries carry it or a privately
   pulished version with interpretations and case references, such as West's
   Annotated California Codes and Deering's California Codes.


 2.What are some noteworthy or peculiar California Vehicle Code laws?

   Disclaimer:  these are paraphrased, and therefore may be wrong.  If
   you need to know exactly what the law says, please look it up!

   -- both license plates issued for a vehicle must be displayed [CVC 5200]
   -- an accident must be reported within 10 days to the DMV in Sacramento if
      there is death, bodily injury, or property damage > $500 [CVC 16000]
   -- U-turns are permitted on any green light unless signs prohibit[CVC 21451]
   -- a driver may not stop IN the crosswalk for a red light [CVC 21453(a)]
   -- right turn on circular red (not a red arrow!), and left turn on circular
      red from a one-way street onto a one-way street, are permitted after
      stopping and unless otherwise posted [CVC 21453(b)]
   -- a driver may not turn against a red arrow for the indicated turn
      regardless of signals shown for other movements [CVC 21453(c)]
   -- curb markings [CVC 21458}:
      red:  no stopping, standing, or parking
      yellow:  stopping only for loading or unloading passengers or freight
      white:  loading/unloading passengers, or depositing mail in adjacent box
      green:  time limit parking specified by local ordinance
      blue:  handicap parking
   -- a double parallel solid line may be crossed to make a left or U-turn,
      or turn into or out of a driveway or private road [CVC 21460]
   -- a two-way left-turn lane may only be used to prepare for and make a left
      turn or permitted U-turn from or into a highway; a vehicle shall not be
      driven in that lane for more than 200 feet [CVC 21460.5(c)]
   -- a _pair_ of double parallel solid lines may not be crossed [CVC 21651(a)]
   -- a U-turn can be made wherever a left turn can be made on a divided
      highway [CVC 21651(a)(2)], although see references to 22102-3 below
   -- notwithstanding speed limits, a vehicle driven less than the normal
      speed of traffic must be driven in the right-hand lane except when
      passing or preparing for a left turn [CVC 21654]
   -- Motorcycles can make use of high occupancy lanes unless explicitly
      prohibited by traffic control devices [CVC 21655.5]
   -- the descending vehicle shall yield to the ascending vehicle on a grade if
      the roadway is of insufficient width for both [CVC 21661]
   -- when preparing to turn, you must drive into a bicycle lane, if one, no
      more than 200 feet from the intersection [CVC 21717]
   -- pedestrians have right-of-way in crosswalks, but pedestrians shall not
      walk or run into the path of a vehicle [CVC 21950]
   -- right turns must be made into the rightmost lane except when turning from
      a terminating highway with three or more lanes or from a one-way highway
      at an intersection [CVC 22100(a)]
   -- left turns may be made into any available lane [CVC 22100(b)]
   -- U-turns must be made from the two-way left turn lane, if one, or
      leftmost lane otherwise [CVC 22100.5, 22102]
   -- U-turns are prohibited in a business district except at intersections or
      through openings in a divided roadway [CVC 22102]
   -- U-turns are permitted in a residential district only if no vehicle
      approaching is closer than 200 feet or where protected by sign or
      signal [CVC 22103]
   -- turn signals are required for turns and lane changes which may affect any
      other vehicle [CVC 22107]
   -- signals are required during the last 100 feet before turning [CVC 22018]
   -- vehicles shall be stopped or parked, where permitted, with the right-hand
      wheels within 18 inches of the right-hand curb; if no curbs, right-hand
      parallel parking is required unless otherwise indicated [CVC 22502(a)]
   -- it is unlawful to drive a vehicle while under the influence of an
      alcoholic beverage or any drug [CVC 23152(a)]
   -- it is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight,
      of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle [CVC 23152(b)]
   -- Lights shall not project glaring rays into the eyes of oncoming drivers
      when approaching within 500 feet.  The use of low beams shall be deemed
      to avoid glare regardless of road contour.  Low beam headlamps shall be
      used when following another vehicle within 300 feet.  In all cases,
      foglamps and/or auxiliary passing lamps may be used with low beams if
      they are aimed so as to avoid projecting glaring rays into the eyes of
      oncoming drivers.  [CVC 24403-9]
   -- The operator of a private motor vehicle is responsible for the use of
      seat belts by him/herself and all passengers 4 years of age or over
      [CVC 27315(d)]; in addition, passengers 16 years of age or over are
      responsible for their own seat belt use [CVC 27315(e)].  The fine for
      not wearing a seat belt is $20 for the first offense and $50 thereafter.

      From: Sharen A. Rund <[e-mail]>:
      Effective 1 Jan 1993, you can be stopped and ticketed for _not_ wearing
      your seat belt - currently, you can only be ticketed if the officer
      stopped you for another infraction, then noticed that you were not
      wearing your seatbelt.
   -- a passenger seat restraint must be used for children under 4 [CVC 27360]
   -- there doesn't appear to be a law giving right-of-way to either party in
      a merge onto a freeway, although the Spring 1991 DMV California Driver
      Handbook states "Freeway traffic has the right of way." [p. 48].
   -- there appears to be no maximum permitted number of lane changes per mile


 3.What is the grace period for getting a driver's license after establishing
   residency in California?  What is the grace period for vehicle registration?

   The grace period for a driver's licenses is 10 days unless you are employed
   for the purpose of driving, in which case there is no grace period [CVC
   12505].  Application for vehicle registration is required within 20 days
   [CVC 4152.5].


 4.How much insurance must a driver carry?

   from the Spring 1991 DMV California Driver Handbook:

   California's COMPULSORY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW requires every DRIVER
   and OWNER of a motor vehicle to maintain financial responsibility.  There
   are four forms of financial responsibility:

   o Coverage by a motor vehicle liability insurance policy [of at least
     $15,000/30,000/5,000].
   o A deposit of $35,000 with DMV.
   o A bond for the same amount (although generally bonds are unavailable).
   o DMV approved self-insurance.


 5.Do insurance companies have to be licensed in CA?  How can I tell if one is?

   From: [e-mail] (Otha Stubblefield III) on Oct 24 1992:

   Today's Los Angeles Times (10/23/92) carries an article on unlicensed
   insurers in its business section on page D1.  This article does not apply
   solely to car insurance.  Summary:

   The unlicensed insurance business is booming in California, with sales
   increasing by a factor of 30 since 1988.  However, complaints have also
   increased by a factor of 100.  Many consumers are finding that they have
   been paying claims to nothing more than a PO Box operation, and it is almost
   impossible to have a claim processed, especially if the company has
   surreptitiously folded.  Insurers using state-licensed agencies are
   protected from insolvency by a fund.  Also, the state has no power over
   unlicensed companies, that are often found to be based outside of the U.S.
   State law prohibits unlicensed insurers from selling in the state, unless
   the policyholder cannot find similar coverage from a licensed carrier.  Only
   certain brokers (surplus-line carriers) are authorized by the state to sell
   out-of-state policies, and that those brokers should be checking these
   companies solvency.  The State does acknowledge, though, that some people
   are not checking due to negligence or that they just don't care.  You can
   find out if a certain carrier is ok by calling the Ca Insurance Consumer
   line at 800-927-HELP.

   End Summary:

   The article does not mention the penalties for using one of these companies,
   namely suspension of your license if you are found to be using one for the
   financial responsibility requirement (liability insurance).  The state and
   DMV will consider you uninsured for the period that you were using them.
   They also do not mention that a companies' status (licensed to unlicensed)
   may change without notification to the consumer.


 6.What are some locations of speed and carpool lane enforcement traps?

entry format:  zone, city or area, road, posted speed, submitter

zones:

Bay area
Central Valley
LA metro
N CA rural
S CA rural
San Diego metro

Certain fields omitted where not applicable.  A ? indicates missing
data.  Direction before the road indicates submitter specified that
direction of travel as the speed trap.

If you would like to add to or correct the speed traps list, please
   (originally compiled by [e-mail])
   (if you would like to maintain this list, please Reply!)
send entries in the format you see here.  Please tell me
if you wish to remain anonymous.  If you don't tell me, I will list
you as a submitter.

Bay Area, Santa Clara, E Montague @ Lafayette, 45, woolsey
Bay area, Cor?elia, I-80 near where it meets I-680, 55, muir
Bay area, Fremont, Grimmer Blvd near Blacow Rd--no speed limit sign, 35, marcb
Bay area, Fremont, Mission Blvd and Nursery Ave, 50, marcb
Bay area, Fremont, Paseo Padre near Covington Dr, 30, marcb
Bay area, Fremont, Paseo Padre Pkwy near Darwin Dr, 30, marcb
Bay area, Fremont, 5 Corners area (Fremont/Washington/Union etc.), 25/35, marcb
Bay area, Los Gatos, N Hwy 17 Summit Rd to Hwy 9, 50, marcb
Bay area, Milpitas, Milpitas Blvd S of Jacklin Rd, ??, owen
Bay area, Mtn View, Easy St access ramp from Central Expwy to CA 85, 25, Anon.
Bay area, Mtn View, US 101 north at CA 85, 55 (CHP hides under bridge), Anon.
Bay area, Mtn View, US 101 north of Moffett Field/Castro overpass,
   55 (CHP hides way off road), jet
Bay area, Oakland, Mandela Pkwy (Cypress Blvd), 35, Anon.
Bay area, Oyster Point, US 101 between SF Airport & Candlestick, 55, lstowell
Bay area, Palo Alto or M. View?, San Antonio Rd by Sun PAL-1 building, 35, owen
Bay area, Palo Alto, Alma, 25/35 or 30?, owen
Bay area, Palo Alto, Page Mill Rd, 35, Anon.
Bay area, Pinole, I-80, 55, owen
Bay area, San Carlos/Belmont/San Mateo, I-280 @ Hwy 92, 55, lstowell
Bay area, San Jose, I-880 @ US 101 both directions, 55, Anon.
Bay area, Santa Clara, Lawrence Expressway, 50, Anon.
Bay area, Santa Clara, San Tomas Expressway, 45, Anon.
Bay area, Santa Clara, San Tomas Expressway, 45, Anon.
Bay area, Sausalito, US 101 over Waldo Grade, 55, Anon.
Bay area, Sunnyvale, Central Expressway--recessed portion, 50, dhepner
Bay area, Sunnyvale, Wolfe Road between Evelyn and I-280, 35, dhepner
Bay area, Vallejo, I-80 just NE of Vallejo at top of hill, 55, muir
Central Valley, Auburn area, I-80 between Auburn & Alta, 55, muir
Central Valley, Bakersfield, I-5 near Bakersfield, 65, lstowell
Central Valley, Davis, I-80 @ Davis I-80 business loop, 55, muir
Central Valley, Los Banos area, I-5 near CA 152, 65, lstowell
Central Valley, Sacramento, I-80 thru Davis-Sacramento moderately bad, 55, muir
LA metro, Corona, CA 91, 55, mcgillis
LA metro, Grapevine area, I-5, 55, lstowell
LA metro, W of LAX, Vista Del Mar--Rosecrans to Culver Blvd, 35/40/45, stevea
N CA Rural, , I-80 between Sacramento & Tahoe, 55, lstowell
N CA rural, El Dorado Co., US 50 from Placerville to Sac. Co. line, 55, Anon.
S CA Rural, Solvang, US 101, 55, lstowell
S CA rural, King City, US 101 in King City, 55, raveling

CARPOOL LANE ENFORCEMENT

Bay area, Santa Clara Co, I-280 from Guadalupe Pwky to Foothill Expwy, , marcb
Bay area, Menlo Park, 101-S btwn Marsh & Willow @ Rlrd. Overpass, , gary.cook
Bay area, San Jose/Milpitas, Hwy 237 near Hwy 880, , owen & marcb

Submitters:

[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]


 7.Are radar detectors illegal in CA, or just not popular for some reason?

   From: [e-mail] (Chuck Fry) on 30 Jul 92:

   They're perfectly legal.  I think it's a combination of factors that
   keeps their popularity down.

   First, there seems to be a mistaken impression that the CHP is not
   permitted to use radar.  This is false; although for years the
   Legislature shot down funding for radar equipment, local jurisdictions
   have always been free to provide gear to the CHP for local trouble
   spots, and I believe the CHP now has funding to buy a limited number
   of radar units of their own.  And remember that local police and
   sheriff's deputies have never been reluctant to use radar.

   Second is the fact that radar is essentially useless in heavy freeway
   traffic, because there's no way to pinpoint one violator.  And at rush
   hour, much of this traffic doesn't ever see the speed limit anyway.

   Third, I just don't think Californians have as much of an adversarial
   relationship with police as residents of other states do.  The CHP by
   and large plays fair, and as a result most drivers here seem to feel
   they deserved a ticket if they got caught.

   I carry a radar detector and make frequent use of it, especially in
   known radar speed traps (e.g. most of Palo Alto especially Alma St.
   and Charleston, highway 17 through the mountains).  I highly recommend
   a good radar detector to anyone who drives, whether your foot is made
   of lead or feathers, since most urban speed limits in California are
   set well below the 85th percentile speed and are thus de facto speed
   traps.


 8.Do I have to have my driver's license with me when driving?

   If you get hauled in for a traffic violation, yes.  A licensee must display
   it to a magistrate or judge upon request if brought before them for any
   traffic violation [CVC 12952].  A charge of failure to have your license in
   possession while driving is automatically dismissed if you produce it in
   court [CVC 12951(a)], as long as it was valid, etc.  After two such
   dismissals, the court has the option not to dismiss.  So, you shouldn't
   make a habit of not carrying it while driving.


 9.Do I have to have any identification with me while not driving?

   Not if you don't break any laws.  If you do break the law and don't want to
   sit in jail, it helps to have positive identification:  "Whenever any person
   is arrested by a peace officer for a misdemeanor, that person shall be
   released [...] unless [...] [t]he person could not provide satisfactory
   evidence of personal identification" [Penal Code 853.6(i)(5)].  Note that
   most traffic tickets are not for misdemeanors but infractions, and "all
   provisions of law relative to misdemeanors shall apply to infractions"
   [Penal Code 19d].


10.Am I entitled to a jury trial for my traffic ticket?  Can I have counsel
   appointed at public expense?  Can I be sent to prison if found guilty?

   No, no, and no [Penal Code 19c].  This only applies to infractions, of
   course.  You get the book thrown at you, and all resulting rights and
   privileges, for misdemeanors and felonies whether or not committed behind
   the wheel.


11.Can a local cop site you for speeding on an Interstate?

   Yes.  For felonies and public offenses (which include infractions and
   misdemeanors) in the presence of the officer, or actions that could cause
   great bodily harm or death, the sworn POST (Peace Officers Standard
   Training) certified officer is empowered in the entire state [see Penal
   Code 830, 832, 1523].  Furthermore, the authority of sheriffs, police
   officers, etc., extends to any place in the state as to any public offense
   committed (or believed to have been committed) within the political
   subdivision which employs him or her [Penal Code 830.1].


12.What information is in the driver license mag stripe?

   (RISKS appears on Usenet as comp.risks.  See any issue for information
    on accessing RISKS DIGEST archives.)

   In RISKS DIGEST 11.03, [e-mail] (Chris Hibbert) wrote:

   There will be a magnetic stripe on the back with three tracks encoded on it.
   The middle track will be encoded in the same format as your credit cards,
   and will therefore be readable with ordinary commercial readers.  This track
   will only contain 40 bytes of information, and will only contain the name,
   driver's license number, and expiration date.  The other two tracks will be
   in a format that is incompatible with current commercial readers, and will
   contain the rest of the information that is printed on the front: birth
   date, eye color, hair color, height, weight etc.

   The picture on the front will be an ordinary photo [color], with a hologram
   of the state and DMV seals to make counterfeiting harder.  There will
   apparently be a different version for people under the legal drinking age:
   the picture will be on the right instead of the left.

   In RISKS DIGEST 11.63, [e-mail] (Alan Nishioka) wrote:

   Just for fun, I thought I'd try to read it.  I had previously been able to
   read bank cards (with help from sci.electronics).

   Bank Cards -- conform to ANSI/ISO 7810-1985 ($10)
   Track 1:    6 bit word with 1 bit parity.  LSB first.
               code offset 32 below ASCII code.
   Track 2:    4 bit word with 1 bit parity.  LSB first.  Numbers only.

   Driver's License --
   Track 1:    6 bit word with no parity.  Otherwise same as Bank Card.
   Track 2:    Same as Bank Card.
   Track 3:    ?

   California Driver's License:
   Track 2:    (low density)
      8 unidentified digits   License Number   Separator
      Expiration Date (YYMM)   Separator   Date of Birth (YYYYMMDD)
   Track 1:    (High density)
      Name   Address   City
   Track 3:    (High density.  Can't reposition read head. )

   It looks like there is space for a 58 character name [...], a 29 character
   address and a 13 character city.  I suspect the third track contains the
   rest of the information from the front of the license.


13.How often can I be cited for expired vehicle registration?  And is it always
   or never a fix-it ticket?

   From: [e-mail] on 3 mar 1992:

   If I had gotten a ticket for an expired registration, I would have gotten it
   taken care of very quickly.  Here is an explanation I got from a police
   officer whom I asked about expired registration:

   He usually allows 1-2 months of padding before he pulls someone over.  He
   will write the ticket "ALMOST" all of the time because the first time is
   usually a fix-it.  If he pulls someone over, and they already received a
   ticket for the expired registration within 5-7 days of the current day, he
   will usually let it go.  If it is longer than 5-7 days, he will always write
   the ticket and not make it a fix-it.  Fix-it tickets are always at the
   discretion of the officer.

   As for the officer stating that you had 6 weeks, there is nothing in the CVC
   that states that.  Once your registration expires, you should expect
   receiving a ticket.  Your registration is due the day the one from the
   previous year expires.


14.Do out-of-state tickets appear on your California DMV printout, and
   can insurance companies can find this info out if they don't?

   From: [e-mail] (Gordon C. Zaft) on 15 Nov 1991:

   Well, it happened to me!  I had two tickets from Texas and one from New
   Mexico show up on DMV record last year (they were from almost 3 years ago!
   I don't know why the delay) and my insurance went up $200!

   From: [e-mail] (Rezal Adzly Abdul Rahman) on 19 Nov 1991:

   I friend of mine got a speeding ticket in Texas, two years ago, and when he
   recently went to get a DMV printout for the insurance company, it was there!

   From: [e-mail] (Bill Baker) on 23 Nov 1991:

   This is called "reciprocity".  Basically what it means is that if you don't
   pay an out of state ticket, the DMV of the state issuing your license agrees
   to put it on your record and charge you for it when you go to renew your
   license, the idea being that the other state will do the same for tickets
   issued to their drivers in your home state.  I've had a lot of experience
   with this.

   Most states do not have reciprocity with every other state.  Most states
   usually have reciprocity with neighbor states.  However, home states can be
   pretty lax about applying out of state penalties.  I had my Washington
   license "revoked" by California, Oregon, and North Dakota, but the Wash. DMV
   renewed my license without complaint (as long as I paid those in state
   tickets).  I also once tried to skip out on a bunch of Wash. tickets by
   applying for a new license in Oregon.  I told the clerk I'd never had a
   license, but when he ran my ID on the computer he came back with a list of
   my many outstanding Washington tickets.  Then he gave me a copy of the
   written test and told me to return it to him when I was done.  I mean, he
   *knew* I was lying but apparently that didn't bar you from getting an Oregon
   license.  Sometimes state rivalries can have weird fallout.

   You can probably find out from DMV what states California has reciprocity
   agreements with.  Nevada is almost certainly one of them.  I'm not familiar
   enough with CA DMV to know how seriously they enforce reciprocity.  However,
   whether or not your home state cares about out of state tickets, the state
   issuing the ticket never forgets.  If you get stopped in that state again,
   they will almost certainly haul you to the local hoosegow and keep you there
   until you pay the massive fine.

   Insurance companies are a much bigger menace.  They get data from
   everywhere.  It's very hard to hide tickets from them.  However, most states
   can't release a record of a ticket until the ticket is actually paid,
   because you aren't officially guilty until you've paid the ticket or had a
   "trial".  My insurance company never knew about my out of state tickets as
   long as I didn't pay them.  Of course, had I been caught a second time in
   one of those states and been "convicted" of driving on a "revoked" license
   with unpaid tickets, my insurance rating would have become terminal
   immediately.

   The bottom line is, if you're caught speeding next door, you'd better pay it
   because there's a good chance you'll get stopped again in that state, which
   would be a disaster.  If you're caught out in Podunk State (say North
   Dakota) and you don't expect to be back more than once or twice in your
   lifetime, you can take a chance on skipping out on the ticket.  Remember,
   though, that the rural states are wise to this.  They usually direct you to
   drive to the next state patrol office and pay the ticket immediately.  They
   may follow you to make sure you do.

   From: Mark Walsh <optilink![e-mail]> on 16 Dec 91:

   I got screwed by the city of Berkeley early last year.  The police officer
   was very polite, and he said that the ticket was merely a fine like a
   parking ticket, and it would not go on my DMV record.  Guess what?  My
   insurance went up!  When I talked to my agent, he said that their (Farmer's)
   computers talk to many local computers, and everybody shares info with
   everybody else, and that the DMV was probably the only bureaucracy that did
   not know about the ticket.


15.Do tickets dismissed by traffic school attendance appear on my DMV record?

   From: [e-mail] (Jordan Hayes) on 29 oct 1991:

   Here's the scoop.  Note: this changed recently, and I'll note the
   differences between what's in effect now and what was before Jan 1, 1991.
   There are two versions of your DMV record, what I'll call the private one
   and the public one.  The private one has all of your transactions, since the
   establishment of your bits in their computer.  This is a "write-only" type
   of record.  Nothing ever gets removed (except for incorrect information :-).

   The public record is the one that you can get for a fee, and the one that
   your insurance company can get.  This has things dropped off after certain
   time limits that vary with the charge (for instance, DWI events stay
   longer).  In addition, if you go to traffic school, moving violations do not
   get transferred to your "public" record, and you don't get the "points"
   involved added to your record -- get a certain number of points in a certain
   amount of time (4 in a year, 6 in 2 years, 8 in 3 years [CVC 12810.5]) and
   you can lose your license; you may have to check up on DMV to make sure that
   they received your of certificate of traffic school completion.  The right
   time to do this is *before* your insurance comes up for renewal ...

   Starting January 1, 1991, if you get another moving violation within the
   first year after going to traffic school, the *original* violation gets
   moved from your private record to your public record (so that insurance
   companies can see it), but you don't get charged points for it.  In
   addition, you are ineligible for traffic school, so you'll now have two
   convictions on your record.

   From: [e-mail] (Ed Evans) on 1 nov 1991:

   I've been told that if you go to traffic school, and if you get another
   moving violation within 18 months, then your original citation will appear
   on your DMV printout.  This information has been denied by DMV personnel.
   However, Gov. Dukemajen signed a bill to this effect before he left office.
   Before he signed the bill, the policy was for the citation to reappear if
   the violator violated within 12 months.

   Going to traffic school is an admission of guilt.  The violator's citation
   is not "forgiven" and it does not "disappear."  It is "masked."  This means
   that it is kept in an informal holding area (of a computer) forever.  To
   wit: a violation within 18 months of attending traffic school causes the
   citation to become "unmasked" and it remains unmasked until it has been
   presented to the world for its 36 month tour of DMV abstract access.  After
   36 months, all citations are masked and do not reappear, except for PD's on
   request, courts, and the National Security Agency on request.  This is
   important to know if you want to become a cop or need a top secret
   clearance.  Otherwise, it'll probably never matter, once the citation is
   masked.

   There's a lot of folk wisdom passed out by traffic violator school
   instructors.  I know, I'm one of them.

   From: Mark Walsh <optilink![e-mail]> on 16 Dec 91:

   Lesson:  make sure that your traffic school paperwork gets all of the way
   through the system.  I went through the traffic school, and sent the
   paperwork in via certified mail, etc.  A few months later, I was at the DMV,
   and found out that I had a warrant out for my arrest!  My paperwork had
   fallen through the cracks.


16.When you see a sign "Litter removal next two miles by organization XXX",
   what exactly does XXX do?

   From: [e-mail] (Roger Taranto) on 18 Jul 1992:

   They are required by CalTrans to clean up their section of the highway at
   least quarterly.  They are told to park near the highway (on some side
   street or something, not on the side of the highway), and they have to give
   CalTrans and the CHP notice a certain amount of time before they go out
   there.  They are given safety instructions before they go.  Finally, there
   are two types of people you see picking up litter along the side of the
   road:  those with *white* hats are part of some group doing litter removal;
   those with *orange* hats are doing "community service", e.g., someone who
   got sentenced to do community service.  Alternatively, sponsors can hire
   cleanup crews.



17.What are some recommended readings?

   (originally compiled by [e-mail];
    some updates from a post by [e-mail] (Peter V. Mason) on 2
    Oct 92)
   (if you would like to maintain this list, please Reply!)

   Beating the Radar Rap, Dale Smith & John Tomerlin, Bonus Books, Chicago,
   1990, $15.
   How to fight a radar-clocked speeding ticket in court.  (Annotation
   summarized from Car & Driver, 2/91.)  (stevea)

   Don't Get Taken Every Time, Remar Sutton, Penguin, city?, 1991?, ~$8?.
   This book pulls no punches in its expose' of car dealers' tactics on car
   buyers.  Fictional examples offer lessons.  Also a step by step guide for
   buying cars.  (stevea)

   Fight Your Ticket, David W. Brown, Nolo Press, Berkeley, 1991, $21.95,
   800-992-6656.
   I found it under "traffic violations" on the library index computer.  Dewey
   number is 345.0247 BRO 1991, ISBN 0-87337-132-1.  It's obviously specialized
   to California, but there are some pretty good general topics on how to act
   when stopped (polite, non-committal, don't make the cop's job easy by
   admitting anything). Check out all the facts you can and write down the
   entire incident for use in court.  One of his claims is that the cop is
   trained to decide whether to give you a ticket before he gets out of his
   car, so fawning or apologizing will get you nowhere. Another point is to
   read the vehicle code very carefully, because each code section requires
   that several elements be established to convict you.  Brown also discusses
   out-of-state tickets and lists the states that are in the Driver's License
   Compact and cross report-violations.  Incidentally, Brown verifies that you
   can't be convicted of a speed violation using radar measurement unless there
   has been a survey within 5 years. (pvmason)

   The Safe Motorist's Guide to Speedtraps, John Tomerlin & Dru Whitledge,
   Bonus Books, Chicago, 1991, $24 "RADAR" members, $31 nonmembers,
   800-448-5170, also available in some bookstores.
   For the 50 states: Hwy Patrol radio frequencies, fines, ticket info
   exchanges with other states, speed traps, more.  (Annotation summarized
   from Car & Driver, 3/92.)  (stevea)

   A Speeder's Guide to Avoiding Tickets, Sgt. James M. Eagan, Avon Books, New
   York, 1990, $5.
   How to avoid getting caught; what to do before, during, and after being
   pulled over.  Mildly amusing and worth the price.  (stevea)

   From: [e-mail] (Bill Campbell) on 28 Sep 1992:
   The Ticket Book, Rod Dornsife, ISBN 0-9601950-1-7, published by
   The Ticket Book, Inc., PO Box 1087, La Jolla, Ca 92038
   I don't know whether this is still available.  I got mine when it was handed
   out to all the participants in the 1979 Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea
   Memorial Trophy Dash (the last real Cannonball).

   Traffic Court - How to Win, by Atty. James Glass, Allenby Press, Arcadia,
   CA, 1988.  Claims to be nationwide in application. (pvmason)

   How to Win in Traffic Court:  The Non-Lawyers Guide to Successfully
   Defending Traffic Violations, by Phil Bello, J.D., Major Market Books,
   Gibbsboro, NJ, 1989.  Also claims to be nationwide. (pvmason)


18.What are the phone numbers of some public agencies?

   (Some of these apply only to particular areas of the state.  The purpose of
   this information is to show the kinds of services that are available;
   consult your phone directory for the local corresponding agency.  Additions
   to this list are welcome, of course.)

   800-427-7623  CalTrans' highway information number:  Call from a touch-tone
      phone, punch in the highway number, and a recording will tell you about
      current and scheduled closures, chain requirements, and traffic
      restrictions.  As far as I can tell, it gets updated as whenever
      conditions change.  Drive safely!  --from Alan Hu
      <[e-mail]> on 10 Dec 92
   800-CUT-SMOG  South Coast Air Quality Management District:  to report smoke-
      emitting (for longer than 10 seconds) vehicle (note license number, make,
      model, place, and time)
   714-724-2000  CalTrans, Orange County:  to report potholes
   714-754-5334  Costa Mesa Transportation Services:  to report malfunctioning
      traffic signals (note place, time, and situation)


19.Is window tinting legal?

   From: [e-mail] (John Hunley) on 14 Dec 1992:

   The applicable paragraph in the CVC is 26708.  It's too long to quote here
   in full, but basically what it says (disclaimer: this is my own personal
   interpretation, I'm not a lawyer, don't come running to me if you get
   nailed) is that you may not operate with "any object or material placed,
   displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or
   rear windows."  Side windows to the rear of the driver are exempted
   (26708b4), as is the rear window IF you have mirrors on both left- and
   right-hand sides (26708b8).  Tinted safety glass is permitted by 26708.5b.
   Therefore, the basic distinction is whether you have tinted glass or tinting
   that is stuck onto the glass.  There's no mention of "factory" vs. "third
   party."  A third-party tint job would be legal if it was done by replacing
   the windshield and front windows with tinted safety glass, rather than by
   sticking or painting something onto the existing glass.

   An interesting side note is that 26708a3 specifically includes snow and ice
   as an obstruction covered under 26708.  So you can get a ticket for 26708
   for having snow or ice on your windshield or front windows, as well as
   stick-on tinting.  Same violation.


20.Do I need chains in the mountains if I have snow tires?  If so, what kind?

   From: Alan Hu <[e-mail]> on 10 Dec 1992:

   According to my memory according to a pamphlet put out by CalTrans a
   few years ago, chain requirements come in three varieties:
    1.  Chains required.  Four-wheel drive or snow tires OK.
    2.  Chains required.  Four-wheel drive with snow tires OK.
    3.  Chains required on all vehicles, including four-wheel drive.
   Usually you'll see #2, although I've seen #1 before.  The pamphlet
   said they'll usually close the road instead of doing a #3.  Tires
   marked M/S or M+S qualify as snow tires [CVC 27459].

   The chain requirements used to surprise my non-CA friends.  If you
   haven't seen them enforced yet:
    You'll see the Chains Required sign.  Lots of people will be
    pulled off the side of the road putting on chains.  Various
    people wander from car to car offering to put your chains on
    for a fee (but they're not allowed to sell chains).  Farther
    down the road, a checkpoint checks EVERY car that tries to continue.
    If you don't meet the chain requirement, they turn you back.
   In short, if you're driving in the Sierra, they're very good to have.
   Also, there's a toll-free CalTrans road condition number [see the
   phone numbers question in this FAQ].

   From: Dan Hepner <[e-mail]> on 9 Dec 1992:

   Most people could indeed drive the passes when snow covered without
   chains, IF the road were more or less clear of other cars.  But in
   stop-n-go driving, common in the Sierra during a snow storm, required
   chains are what prevents total chaos.

   -- And, if so, what would y'all recommend??

   For infrequent usage, such as having the bad luck to hit snow on a
   Sierra pass during a drought, consider the cable type.  For frequent
   usage, or maximum effect, use the real thing.

   Watch out for oversized tires, or even maximally sized tires on front
   wheel drive.  The chains can extend wide enough to hit other front-end
   components.  Cables mitigate this problem.


21.What's the net.recommendation for motorcycle insurance?

   George Wu <[e-mail]> received the following replies to this request
   of 30 sep 1991:
   Having just purchased my first bike (Yamaha SRX 250), I now need to get
   insurance.  Since it's not worth that much, I'm just going to get liability.
   CSAA (California AAA) must think motorcycles are dangerous or something,
   since they won't insure it.

   From: Andy Philips <[e-mail]>
   McGraw Hill Insurance Services: 415-780-4841
   Call Melody x3021 and tell her I sent you, she may or may not remember me.

   From: [e-mail] (George Barbary)
   The best deal I got on insurance was from Mcgraw-Hill.  There is a startup
   fee of approximately $40. Then the premium was $86 for six months. I had
   minimum coverage.  This rate is for Fresno. It may vary in the Bay area.

   From: [e-mail] (Ken chaney)
   State Farm is reputed to have "best" rates for single males under 30.  I
   heard this from a AAA agent, who gave me a quote.  Don't know why they won't
   give you one.  Perhaps I'm mistaken and the quote was for my car.  At any
   rate, it was higher than the premium I pay State Farm (single male age 25).

   From: [e-mail] (Karen Black)
   I've insured my SR250 (and GB500) through State Farm.  When I started, I was
   paying about $250 for 100/50/100, uninsured motorist, comp and collision.
   Now I'm in State Farm Mutual and paying $160 for liability and uninsured
   motorist.  I've been very happy with State Farm.

   From: [e-mail] (Walter Dryfoos)
   I'd suggest that you give Coupin Insurance on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland a
   call.  They always found me the best deal on my bikes.  They're an
   independent agent, so they have lots of options.

   From: Kevin Tiene <[e-mail]>
   I am about to buy a bike (Honda Hawk GT 650) and got the same response from
   CSAA.  They recommended getting insurance through the dealer.

   From: brad (Brad Whitaker)
   Marketing Direct        (800)   729-2537        MotorCycle Insurance

   From: George Buzsaki <[e-mail]>
   Mike Felder Insurance (1-800-7-CYCLES) He specializes in motorcycle
   liability insurance and is a good guy to boot.

   From: Donald Ng <[e-mail]>
   I got the lowest quotes for insurance from Mike Felder in Concord.  He's at
   1-800-7-CYCLES, and gives discounts for taking the MSF courses.

   From: George Wu <[e-mail]>
   Based on what the net recommended, I called Mike Felder and McGraw
   Insurance.  For just liability, Felder quoted $157.  McGraw quoted $87.  I
   went with McGraw, naturally.  Personally, I think the $157 is an error.  I
   definitely stated I wanted liability only, but I bet that's not what he
   quoted.

   After I passed the MSF course, I called McGraw Insurance back to try and get
   a discount.  They don't offer one for the MSF course.  The only safety
   discount they offer is for "good drivers."  One is a "good driver" if one
   has held an M1 license for at least three years and has zero or one points
   on his or her license.


22.What is a "CHiPs detector"?  What's the complete story on CHP radios?

   from [e-mail] (Chuck Fry):

   That's right.  Many CHP cars are equipped with repeaters so that when the
   officers get out of their cars, their walkie-talkies need only reach the car
   instead of the base station.  The CHiPs Detector (tm) takes advantage of the
   fact that the CHiPpies rarely turn off the repeater when they're IN the car.
   Note that the CHP may change this frequency at any time, although they're
   not likely to.

   The disadvantages are that you just know at least one CHiPpie is in the
   area, not how close, what they're doing, or whether they're after you; and
   there's no signal transmitted from the repeater when the base station is
   silent.  So it's hardly foolproof.

   [e-mail] (Mike Morris) posted on 12 oct 1991:

   The following info was compiled from several sources, none of which have
   1st-hand knowledge of the new CHP radios, but what I have been able to put
   together seems to agree.  So with that caveat, ...

   The older Motorola Micor mobile radios had "mobile extenders" by GE.  These
   extenders were 1/4 watt transmitting units that repeated the audio from the
   42mhz CHP mobile radio to 154.905mhz.  The mobile extender time-sliced the
   channel to transmit for roughly 9/10 second and receive for 1/10 of a second
   to see if the officer was replying.  Hence the "yakyakyak-chuff-yakyakyak-
   chuff-yakyakyak-chuff-..." sound of the repeated traffic on the 154mhz
   channel.  There was a writeup of the single-channel time-slicing technique
   in a ham radio magazine back in the early 70s, and the technique has taken
   off tremendously.  It has mostly been used to allow single-channel
   radio-to-telephone interconnects called simplex autopatches (because they
   use one channel - a "simplex" channel.)

   Anyway the mobile extender technique works very well, and allows the officer
   to use a relatively low power high-band hand-held to communicate with the
   dispatcher via the > 100w low-band mobile radio in his/her patrol car with
   very little trouble.

   A low-band hand-held would have to use a 6' antenna to be resonant, or a
   "rubber duckie" over a foot long.  And the hand-held couldn't have enough RF
   power to reach the dispatch center in 99% of the state.  Hence a 150mhz
   handheld (where a 18" antenna is the norm, and a "rubber duck" is < 9") and
   a mobile extender.

   A bit of history:
   The bid for mobile radios was won by Motorola around 10 years ago.  The
   mobile extenders were an afterthought, and that bid/contract was won by GE.
   The user interface was a simple on/off switch, and the state radio shop
   people mounted it in the Motorola control head.  It was a toggle switch
   labeled with a Dymo tape "repeat enable/disable" (or "extender on/off" or
   "portable on/off").

   The average officer soon discovered that leaving the extender switch in the
   "on" position worked just fine.  They turned off the hand-held to shut off
   the "repeater", not realizing that the mobile side of the extender was still
   on.  Probably 99% of the CHP officers left it on for the entire shift.  With
   the almost constant activity on the CHP dispatch channels, this 154.905mhz
   vehicle transmitter behaved like a 1/4w beacon, providing between 1/4 to 1
   mile notification of the location of a patrol car.

   Now the spoiler: The CHP is replacing (has replaced here in my area) _all_
   of their Motorola Micor/GE extender radio packages.  The new radios are all
   GE, with CHP-designed control groups.  (The state Red Cross got 90% of the
   radios for the 47.42 - 47.62 freqs.  A few of them went to other state
   agencies, like the Office of Emergency Services).  The 1991 Southern
   California edition of the "Police Call" frequency listing has a nice writeup
   on the CHP-designed control groups, as I remember.  They even got 90% of it
   right.

   The new design forces the officers to disable the extender when they are in
   the patrol car.  Listening to 154.905 while mobile now just tells you where
   a CHP car is _stopped_, with the officer out of the car, as opposed to
   before when it would tell you where a stopped or a moving one was...

   Here is the frequency map of the CHP hand-helds as I have it.

   F1: 154.905  with the primary tone.  (NOTE 1)
   F2:  same         1st alternate tone
   F3:  same         2nd alternate tone
   F4: 154.920 (CLEMARS 1) - Base side of CLEMARS
   F5: 154.935 (CLEMARS 2) - Mobile/Portable CLEMARS
   F6: 156.075 (CALCORD) (NOTE 2)
   F7: 155.475 (CLEMARS 3 / NALEMARS) (NOTE 3)

   Abbreviations: CLEMARS: California Law Enforcement Mutual Radio System.
                  CALCORD: California Coordination - a statewide "on-scene"
                           channel
                  NALEMARS: National Law Enforcement.... A federal version
                            of CLEMARS.

   Note 1: With the old hand-helds (2 freqs - 154.905 and 154.920) there was no
   way that two units from different areas (i.e. different dispatch
   frequencies) could have their extenders operational at an out-of-vehicle
   scene -- when an officer transmitted, both mobiles would be brought up.

   the remainder of Note 1 explanation is from the post of [e-mail]
   (Scott O'Connell) on 14 oct 1991:

   The receiver of the extender has an attenuator making a low wattage HT
   usable for only a short distance (typically less than 50yds).  To make sure
   there is only one extender being used within close proximity each vehicle
   extender sends a short burst tone to see if others are active.  If it is
   within range of another active extender it doesn't turn on at all.  The HT
   is then using the other vehicle radio (the one that was already turned on).

   Now for the PL explanation.  There are three channels on CHP HT's that
   relate directly to the extender.  Channel 1 (also called PP or Person to
   Person) does not transmit any tone nor does it decode.  It is meant for HT
   to HT use.  Channel 2 has a subaudible tone on transmit allowing the officer
   to talk to dispatch. (ie, transmits on the input freq of the lowband radio)
   Channel 3 has a different subaudible tone on transmit allowing the officer
   to talk to other officers. (ie, transmits on the output of the lowband
   radio) All channels are carrier squelch on the receive so that PP can be
   heard regardless of other traffic.

   I hope this clears up why there are three 154.905 channels on the HT's.

   Note 2: 156.075 is also the Ship TX side of Marine channel 61 (paired with
   160.675 Ship RX).  I understand some re-thinking of the use of this
   frequency is going on.  It seems to be pretty useless in coastal areas.

   Note 3: 155.475 I have been told that this channel has multiple PL tones.  I
   have also been told that the CHP handheld is 10 freq - capable.  Maybe this
   channel has multiple appearances like F1-F2-F3.  More info is needed.

   Another rehash of the low band channels is in the works since LA County
   Sheriffs is moving to 800 or 900 mhz.  The CHP has acquired all of the 39mhz
   LASO channels and is slowly moving to change all of the low band dispatch
   operation to full repeat.  My sources do not know if the mobiles will be
   transmitting on 39mhz and listening on 42mhz or vice versa.  It does not
   make much difference to the GE mobiles since they cover the full 30-50 mhz
   just fine (as opposed to the old Micors that covered 42mhz to 50mhz only.
   Does anybody have any info?


23.But aren't most citizens prohibited from using mobile radio scanners?

   from Bob Parnass, AJ9S <[e-mail]> on 4 nov 91:

   Anyone interested in US state and federal laws relating to radio monitoring
   should check out Frank Terranella's "Listener's Lawbook."  It is available
   for $9.95 (plus $2 UPS) from Grove Enterprises, 140 Dog Branch Road,
   Brasstown, NC 28902.

   I am not an attorney, but I have a 1989 issue of Frank's earlier work,
   "ANARC Guide to US Monitoring Laws," and will summarize from that book.
   California monitoring laws may have changed, but here are the laws of
   interest to Californians as they were in 1989:

   - Penal Code s 632.5 makes it a crime to maliciously monitor cellular radio
     telephone calls.

   - Penal Code s 635 outlaws the manufacture, sale, and possession of devices
     primarily or exclusively designed or intended for eavesdropping on
     cellular phones.

   - Penal Code s 636.5 makes it illegal to divulge any police radio service
     communication you hear on your radio to a criminal or to assist in the
     commission of a crime or help a criminal evade the law.

   In addition, Californians are subject to the same federal monitoring laws as
   other Americans.  The most important one to remember is the Electronic
   Communication Privacy Act of 1986 which makes it a crime to listen to
   cellular or mobile radio telephones or common carrier paging, and outlaws
   descramblers.

   Section 705 of the Communications Act of 1934 makes it illegal to divulge
   the contents of what you hear on your radio to others unless the
   conversation was on ham radio or the citizens' band.