Cameras will ensure that flex pass scam’s days are numbered
Q You’ve probably been asked this many times recently. What prevents drivers from switching their flex passes to 2 or 3 when they are solo in an express lane? If pulled over they could quickly switch back to 1. — Kristen Valperga A This is a problem in the toll lane system. If a solo driver sets the flex transponder to 2 or 3, the only way now they can be caught is if a CHP unit spots them.
That will change when cameras are installed, but there are kinks to work out before that happens.
For now, there are beacons in the median that alert the CHP that a vehicle has self-identified as a qualifying carpool, motorcycle or clean air vehicle.
If the beacon shows two lights and CHP sees just one occupant, the driver can be pulled over.
Tolls will help pay for extra CHP patrols, but officers cannot be everywhere and I suspect that some (many?) drivers will try this. Q I saw the letter asking about parking in empty bank parking lots in Los Gatos after hours. “As a public service, banks should allow this,” Michael Rashkin said.
When I saw that question, I thought of all those banks in downtown Walnut Creek where you can’t park at night. I got ticketed in one of those lots once, but what could I say? It was my own fault.
It was explained to me that the lot is bank property.
If they allow you to park in their lots after dark and it’s not really lit well enough to support nighttime business … then you get mugged and sue them because the lot wasn’t well lit. But they were trying to be nice and let you park there at night.
That’s why they ticket and tow people parked in those lots after dark. — Robin Shahan, San Ramon A Robin’s ticket was around $25. Remember that the next time you consider parking in an empty bank lot, near Target on Coleman Avenue in San Jose for a Sharks game or at the Great Mall in Milpitas to ride BART or light rail. Q I agree that metering lights are not needed on the Mission Boulevard ramp, as Interstate 680 is generally running at full speed south of Mission.
However, the reason for slow timing is also due to impatient drivers. People in a hurry often stop past the stop line, which brings the metering light to a red.
One day I happened to be in the lane that was operating normally, while the other lane was at a standstill.
After 2-3 minutes the lead person took off on a red light and then things returned to normal. — Ravinder Singh, Fremont A Good advice from a guy who takes Mission Boulevard to the freeway a lot.
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