EGN NEWS DESK
Q. Hello Honk: For years I’ve questioned why in Anaheim on one avenue we have now train-track crossings used to haul freight items, and the slow-moving trains use loud horns once they strategy that crossing, which I’ll generally hear very early within the morning. A number of miles away, there’s one other set of prepare tracks solely utilized by Amtrak and Metrolink. But right here we have now indicators that say, “NO HORNS.” Why is that? I believe when you’ve a Metrolink or an Amtrak going loads quicker you need to have a horn to warn the site visitors.
– Mario Luna, Anaheim
A. Under federal regulation, trains should sound their horns earlier than coming to a public crossing – until the crossing is in what the feds name a quiet zone.
Cities and counties can set up security units to fulfill the requirement of making a quiet zone. Then, trains don’t have to sound their horns regularly – after all, they’d if somebody is close to the tracks.
The security measures may embrace medians to maintain motorists from dishonest across the crossing arms, additional indicators, a extra refined crossing-gate system, and particular arm-crossing gates for pedestrians.
Orange County’s first quiet zone went into impact in 2007 in Placentia.
The purpose of quiet zones, after all, is to scale back the sound of horns – that are romantic throughout America’s Great Plains, however not a lot to these residing close by.
Q. Honk! It looks like simply a few years in the past they made it unlawful to position a transparent, plastic protecting cowl over your license plate. I think about that was to make it tough or in all probability inconceivable for it to be machine-read. Is this nonetheless the rule? I see that possibly 40% of all automobiles now have these on their again plates. Is it not being enforced? If you had been to get cited for one thing else, will the officer embrace this?
– Stan Strom, West Hills
A. There are small, clear anti-theft units that may cowl the registration tag.
Otherwise, no plastic, no glass, nothing can cowl the entire license plate.
“The plate needs to be as issued,” stated Casey Ramstead, an officer and spokesman for the California Highway Patrol out of the station home in Woodland Hills that patrols your turf, Stan. “Nothing can cowl or alter the plate in any respect.”
Violators can get a fix-it ticket – or a quotation that goes on one’s driver’s document, with intent or observe document possible taking part in into an officer’s choice. Has the motorist been pulled over for this earlier than?
Ramstead sees his fair proportion of tinted license-plate coverings. Also, generally the clear ones age and switch right into a dark-yellow tint.
Will he pull you over for having one, if he isn’t pursuing a speeder or road-rage suspect?
“Yes, if I can’t learn the plate,” he stated. “That’s like not having a license plate, in my ebook. I’ve stopped loads of individuals for that.”
HONKIN’ FACT: According to AAA, the value for a gallon of normal fuel was $4.77 in California on Thursday, Sept. 19, in comparison with a nationwide common of $3.22. A yr earlier than, it was $5.76 within the Golden State. The worst ever right here? That was on June 14, 2022, AAA says, at $6.44. To see such fuel information: gasprices.aaa.com.
To ask Honk questions, attain him at [email protected]. He solely solutions these which might be revealed. To see Honk on-line: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk
