Question: My cousin has this warped idea that if he puts a copper penny in his mouth when he is pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence, it will cause a chemical reaction so that his blood alcohol content will not show up on a Breathalyzer. Is this true? - Lowana Rogers, San Bernardino
Answer: If your cousin decides to drink and drive, Lowana, he can shove as many coins in his mouth as he likes. All that will happen is that he will be going to jail with a mouth full of change. All the copper in the world will do nothing to alter the outcome of a Breathalyzer test.
Question: In your column about new driving laws for 2007, why didn't you mention the bizarre law that would allow everybody and their brother to [be] issued a disabled placard? - James Samsel, Riverside
Answer: A new law extends the list of those able to sign and certify the application for a disabled parking placard or disabled person license plate, James. While previously this application could only be filled out by a physician, the new law allows physician assistants, nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwifes to certify an applicant's disability.
Question: Can you really ignite into a ball of flame if you talk on a cell phone while pumping gas? My car manual actually has a printed warning about this. - Nicholas Bradley, Ontario
Answer: While there are many rumors circulating on the Internet - and even posted at gas stations - about the hazards of using a cell phone while pumping fuel, there are no documented cases of a cell phone ever causing a fire or explosion at a gas station, Nicholas. Nor has anyone scientifically demonstrated that such a thing is even possible.
While some fuel station fires were initially attributed to cell phone use in the press, further investigation always turned up another cause.
Cool reader contribution No. 1: I would like to send a special thank-you out to the anonymous reader who took the time to record and document in such fantastic detail the exact time, date, cross streets, city, registration tag date, vehicle make, and license plate number of nearly 60 vehicles spotted driving with expired registration tags over a two-month period. That really took some serious dedication!
While I cannot publish your list, I can appreciate your frustration. I can assure you, however, that should the authorities spot any of the vehicles you so diligently listed, the vehicle's owners will be cited.
Cool reader contribution No. 2: Another anonymous reader sent me a picture of an Oregon license plate that I'm betting a few drivers out there might be able to relate to. Emblazoned in front of a lovely covered wagon license plate design representing the Oregon Trail was the following fair warning: PMS24-7.
Michelle Groh-Gordy is the owner of InterActive! Traffic School Online at www.trafficinteractive.com , and writes a syndicated weekly column on driving for the publications of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group.
