State legislators, their staffs getting special DMV perks
Q If you want to start a Roadshow Riot, post the stories about the secret DMV office in Sacramento. — John Hamblin, Walnut Creek
A Let the rioting begin. The Sacramento Bee and KCRA-TV report that if you enter the Legislative Office Building in downtown Sacramento and pass through security, you’ll find an unmarked door with a peephole. Inside you will find the Capitol office of the Department of Motor Vehicles, an unlisted branch where elected officials can register their cars, renew their driver’s licenses or apply for Real ID cards, which has been driving up wait times at DMV offices across the state.
Who gets this perk? Current and retired members of the Legislature and Congress, employees of the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Legislative Counsel and the Legislative Data Center and elected and appointed officials. About 10,000 transactions a year.
The timing of this unveiling is at the least very embarrassing for the DMV, where waits of several hours for the public have been common since April. But it’s a special privilege sure to rightly draw anger.
Q If anyone wanted evidence of the effectiveness of metering lights, they should have come up to the Mowry Avenue ramp to Interstate 880 in Fremont a couple of years ago. Thieves ripped out the wiring, and the lights were off for several months. The effect was stunning. It brought I-880 to a complete stop for a couple of miles from around 7:30 a.m. until past 9 a.m. and cars backed up on Mowry for over a mile.
What madness. Everyone in Fremont was praying, “Please bring our metering lights back.” — Derell Licht, Fremont
A I hear this frequently when meters go dark — at 280 to 85 in Cupertino, at De Anza Boulevard to 85 and 87 to 101. Anywhere else?
Q Given the time waiting at metering lights, that gives a distinct advantage to people who live far enough away that they don’t have metering lights, thus encouraging long commutes. Long-distance commuters get all the advantages of metering lights and none of the disadvantages. — Kim Mosher, Santa Cruz
A The reason many endure long commutes is housing costs.
Q I suspect the reason that there is no carpool access from the Paseo Padre onramp to Highway 84 west is because of its close proximity to the Dumbarton Bridge toll plaza. If carpool lane access was allowed from Paseo Padre, you would have HOV lane users frantically trying to cut across all lanes of traffic to get into the carpool lane before reaching the toll plaza. This obviously wouldn’t be desirable for keeping traffic moving as this area is frequently already backed up with cars during rush hour. — Scott McRay, Hayward
A You are so right.