Don’t want a ticket? Drive slow
Dear Mahatma: Can you explain the new laws concerning cameras and tickets for speeding in work zones? I’m for safety for our highway workers and this law CAN be a good thing. But will tickets be sent to us at any point of the work zones, even the 14 miles of barrels with no one working that area? —Dont wanna get caught
Dear Don’t: Those who don’t want to get caught speeding in a work zone shouldn’t speed in a work zone. To paraphrase Lorrie Morgan, what part of no speeding don’t you understand?
When should a driver reduce his speed? Right at the point of the temporary speed zone sign. When should he resume speed? When signage indicates.
Tickets will not be sent. The law requires law enforcement to be present while the cameras are in use. Miscreants get their ticket on the spot.
Signs will alert drivers when they are entering a work zone that may have automated speed enforcement devices in use. Data from these devices won’t be kept except when it is used to issue a warning or citation.
Vanity plate seen around town: FOR HER.
Dear Mahatma: On Father Tribou Street there is sometimes a traffic jam since cars headed east have to wait for oncoming traffic to make a left turn at University Avenue. Since there is a high-rise office building, residences, small businesses and Catholic High School with 700 families making the two-lane street heavy with traffic, how do we get a green arrow light? — Concerned Driver
Dear Driver: We have personally been stuck at this intersection over the course of two generations of boys. We always told those boys to SLOW DOWN ON LEE STREET!
Bill Henry, the city’s traffic engineering manager, has an answer.
He points out there are no left-turn lanes on Father Tribou or Lee Street. And so the requested signal can’t be added.
But, he said, the city has modified timings to move traffic better in the peak periods.
Vanity plate on a Tesla: GASX.
Dear Mahatma: I recall long-expired temporary tags being highlighted in your column, and I saw this one which expired almost 1.5 years ago. I doubt it’s a record setter, but thought I’d share. How can folks be so irresponsible? How can such folks get by for so long? — Frustrated
Dear Frustrated: Thanks for sending the photo of a gray or silver Nissan Rogue with a temp plate that expired on July 6, 2022.
When the Legislature changed the time to get a newly purchased vehicle license from 30 to 60 days, effective Aug. 1, people asked us if the change would eliminate or ameliorate the bunches of expired temp plates.
Our answer, oh so eloquent: No.
In fact, a few days ago we saw a temp plate which expired Oct. 31. It was issued, presumably, on Sept. 2 of this year, right in the wheelhouse of the new and improved 60day period.
Vanity plate on a Mercedes: LAWYERS. More than one?