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Diamond lane still a no-no

Question: When an accident has been reported on the freeway, is it OK to use the high-occupancy vehicle lane until you pass the crash - even if you're the sole occupant? - Shawn

Answer: I'm sorry, Shawn, but unless you are directed by the authorities to drive in the diamond lane, you'd better stick to the lanes to the right of the car pool lane if you are driving solo, crash or no crash.

Spotted this bumper sticker that made me chuckle: BEER - Now cheaper than gas. Drink. Don't Drive.

Q: I've intended to write ever since your "Sig Alert" column. Those of us who've been around awhile and listened to KMPC back in the early 1960s know very well about Lloyd Sigmund.

My question is, do you know what happened to the traffic cameras in Rancho Cucamonga? Too many contested citations? Or did they move them to other locations? I will be embarrassed if this is old news and somehow I missed it. If so, please cut me some slack. After all, I'm old enough to remember Sigmund. - Kevin Lavelle, Rancho Cucamonga

A: You are right, Kevin. The red-light cameras in Rancho Cucamonga are gone - but only temporarily.

When the contract with the old vendor for the cameras ran out, the city found a new vendor that they felt offered a product that was technologically superior at a lower price.

This good news for the city will be bad news for lead foots. The new system is expected to create a significantly higher quantity of quality enforceable photos, meaning there will be fewer people getting off the hook because of poor quality images.

Scary vanity plate: Saw this plate on a burgundy Toyota FJ Cruiser: DOMN8RX (dominatrix). I believe no further explanation is required.

Q: I frequently see joggers and skateboarders using bike lanes. Is this legal? - Dianne Allen

A: It depends. Joggers and skateboarders are considered pedestrians, and pedestrians are not allowed in bike lanes if sidewalks are available.

Ran out of room in the paper for this great vanity plate last week, but I believe that it is truly print-worthy. Saw this very meaningful personalized plate on a blue Toyota Prius: OPECF8 (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Fate).

Kudos to the clever Prius owner.

Michelle Pearl is a longtime traffic-school instructor and the owner of InterActive Traffic School Online, www.trafficinteractive.com. Send questions to drivetime@dailybulletin.com or write to DriveTime, c/o the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, PO Box 4000, Ontario, CA 91761. Some reader questions will be answered in print.