Q: Bil Seymour of Calimesa asked about freeway off-ramps which are wider than one lane but narrower than two lanes. “These off-ramps typically have a solid white stripe at the right edge of the traffic lane, leaving a clear area of pavement between the stripe and the curb on the extreme right edge. This white stripe usually curves right as the off-ramp ends and intersects the surface street. This area of open roadway is clearly not designated as a traffic lane. Yet a line of cars constantly uses it to queue up with the intention of making a right turn at the intersection.” An example he cites is the California Street off-ramp of the eastbound 10 Freeway in Redlands. Seymour asked what law these drivers are breaking and if the California Highway Patrol enforces this.

A: The area our reader described is considered a shoulder, which can be used in case of an emergency but is not supposed to be used as a regular driving lane. When that space is used in the manner our reader described, California Highway Patrol Officer Juan Quintero said, it’s a violation of California Vehicle Code section 21755(a). This is a citable offense (an infraction) and it’s considered a moving violation, Quintero said. CVC 21755 (a) says, “The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting that movement in safety. In no event shall that movement be made by driving off the paved or main-traveled portion of the roadway.” You can bet that if a CHP officer were to witness a motorist using a freeway shoulder as a driving lane, that driver would get a ticket. The officer has to witness the violation to cite the driver.

Q: Rocky Brady said he has a friend who received two parking tickets for blocking the sidewalk while her car was parked in the driveway at her home. Brady said she always parks as close as she can to the garage door, within a couple of inches from the door, but the driveway is just too short. He asked if there is anything his friend can do.

A: A few things came to mind here. One, does our reader’s friend have access to the garage, and if so, could she park her car in there. (A lot of people use their garages for storage.) Or, she could park on the street in front of her residence if that’s allowed instead of in the driveway that’s too short. Our reader said his friend lives in San Diego but this problem can occur in any city, and the universal rule is that cars can’t block the sidewalk.

The law is pretty clear in the California Vehicle Code on this issue. CVC section 22500 says, in part, “A person shall not stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control device, in any of the following places: (f) On a portion of a sidewalk, or with the body of the vehicle extending over a portion of a sidewalk, except electric carts when authorized by local ordinance.” Our reader’s friend is going to have to park her car elsewhere or face the possibility of receiving more tickets.

New DMV option

Finally, here’s some good news for drivers in the Fontana area: there’s a new Department of Motor Vehicles office in town that opened on Feb. 1. The DMV on Feb. 1 expanded its service in the Inland Empire by opening a new Driver’s License Processing Center at 16499 Merrill Ave. in Fontana. This office will only handle driver’s license and identification card transactions. The office has 42 staffers to help people at 15 service windows when an office visit is required. (Note that this is the same location as the DMV office in Fontana that closed in July 2014.) If you go, the DMV requires everyone to wear a face covering, physically distance, respond to health screening questions, and have their temperature checked; the number of people allowed in the office is being limited as well so there might be a wait.


Editor’s note: This column has been updated to correctly spell the name of Calimesa resident Bil Seymour.

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