Question: My 22-year-old son recently received a traffic ticket for driving alone in the car-pool lane. He is trying to tell me that he doesn't have to go to traffic school for this offense. I am concerned that his (already extremely expensive) car insurance is going to go up. Can you please tell me what the law is?
- Leisa Gabbard, Redlands
Answer: I hesitate to answer this, Leisa, because as the designated sports/school chauffeur for my teenage sons, I am a frequent car-pool lane traveler, and I don't want people who are driving solo to perceive this information as a thumbs up to drive in the car-pool lane. However, for those who have nothing better to do with their hard-earned money, here's the skinny – driving alone in the car-pool lane does not give you a point on your driving record. Yet, while not acquiring that point might save you a few obligatory hours participating in traffic school, it will not save you cold, hard cash. The citation for this offense will come with a whopping $350 minimum price tag in most California counties.
It is also important to note that regardless of the number of people in your vehicle, if you get caught crossing the double yellow lines to exit or enter the car pool lane, not only can you can receive a citation that IS worth a point, you will also receive a $350 minimum fine as an added bonus.
Question: Do you know if there are any plans in the San Bernardino area for an
ethanol fuel or biodiesel fuel plant?
- Bill Irwin, San Bernardino
Answer: When it comes to getting San Bernardino County on board the eco-fuel bandwagon, Bill, I am reminded of the saying from the movie "Field of Dreams" – "If you build it, they will come." While Northern and Central California can boast of rapidly emerging ethanol and biodiesel industries, San Bernardino County has not seen the same enthusiastic growth in the areas of production and distribution facilities for these cleaner burning, renewable fuel sources. An exception, however, can be found in Rancho Cucamonga at a company called Parallel Products. This forward-thinking company has been transforming food and beverage industry residuals into ethanol for mass transit and other civic uses for decades. In addition, there is a biodiesel distributor in Bloomington called Merit Oil.
As for the California consumer, currently the only place that a private party can purchase E85 ethanol is at Pearson Ford Fuels in San Diego. And if you want to fill your diesel vehicle with biodiesel, you will have to drive to one of an extremely limited number of retail outlets; the closest of which are currently in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. You can find a full list of retailers at: www.biodiesel.org ( http://www.biodiesel.org).
Question: While commuting at night, I have seen several cars with what appears to be neon lights glowing from underneath them. I find this very distracting. Aren't neon lights on a car illegal?
- Charles Byrne, Ontario
Answer: Actually, that otherworldly glow that these vehicles are emitting is most likely legal, Charles. According to California Vehicle Code 25400, as long as the only thing that you can see is a soft, diffused glow and you cannot view any actual neon tube, and the light is not red, the glow-mobile is legal.
