Tag: Honk

There is a blueprint of sorts by San Diego County transportation officials calling for managed lanes on the 5 over the U.S. Marines’ base.

Originally Published: September 13, 2024 at 6:16 a.m.

Q. I was traveling north in the slow lane of the 605 Freeway and had just passed Del Amo Boulevard in the Cerritos-Lakewood area when I heard a loud pop. A rear tire had blown out. The tow truck driver arrived quickly and changed my tire. The pickup truck parked in front of me also had a blown rear tire and was being serviced by another AAA tow truck driver. I filed a claim with Caltrans for the damage to my car: $1,652.94. I received a letter from Caltrans denying my claim, stating, “The California Department of Transportation cannot be held liable for damages without prior notice of a dangerous condition and sufficient time to have taken measure(s) to protect against the dangerous condition, per California Government Code.” I requested an appeal and a review by a supervisor. Will Caltrans grant me an appeal, and reimburse me for my damages?

– Joanne Rumpler, San Dimas

A. Decades ago, Young Honk walked into his family home, fuming. He had run over a pothole that damaged a rim – the young whippersnapper wanted justice and, more importantly, some cash.

But Pops Honk, an attorney, told him the law was how Caltrans put it in your letter, Joanne.

Honk isn’t suggesting you give up – no, ma’am.

You can file a California Public Records Act request, asking for documents saying when that pothole was discovered and how the agency responded to it, to determine if Caltrans indeed was told about the problem well before you came across it.

So you don’t have to bounce around the internet, Honk will send you a link so you can file one, if you like, Joanne. If anyone else wants that link, he is more than happy to share it.

Q. This may be outside your realm of expertise, but I’m hoping you have a suggestion. Cars speed on our residential street with no regard to residents (or pets). We have neighbors with young children and pets. Who do I contact to see about putting in speed bumps? The City Council?

– Mrs. Antonella Bennett, Pasadena

A. You came to the right place, Mrs. Bennett, Honk is all knowing – or at least he knows who to call for the goods.

Nader Asmar, Pasadena’s principal traffic engineer, told Honk residents can go to the city’s online City Service Center and put in requests. Just Google it. Even if the form isn’t filled out exactly right, he said it will end up with the proper official.

“We will … contact them and go through the process with them,” Asmar said. “The city does have humps, and there are many around town.”

Pasadena, as you can see, calls them “humps,” not “bumps,” and now deploys a version called “speed cushions.”

To get them installed, there are some regulations in the city’s policy. In general, the street must experience 1,000 to 4,000 vehicles a day, at least 15% of them have to significantly speed (33 mph or more on a 25-mph street), and a petition must be circulated with 67% or more of the block residents giving the project a thumbs-up. There are some other considerations, too.

The City Council approved the policy so city staffers can make the call.

Now for the fun, nerdy stuff:

Speed cushions look like rectangular pads. On asphalt streets in Pasadena, asphalt itself is used to make them. On concrete streets, rubber ones are bolted on.

They are wide enough so at least one side of a car must go over them. But they are skinny enough so a fire truck can straddle them and not lose speed on the way to an emergency.

For those outside of Pasadena who want speed humps, bumps or cushions, call your city hall and ask to be transferred to the department in charge of them.

Q. Honk: Who paints the address number on the curb? We keep getting pamphlets asking for $20 to repaint a fading street-address number for our home. Is this a city-sponsored program?

– Mauricio B. Edberg, West Hills

A. Honk would bet his editor’s paycheck it is a person or two just trying to make a few bucks or toiling for a charity.

In fact, he was out walking his dog this week and saw two young people sitting in the street, next to the curb, painting away. He admired how they had an orange pylon next to them so drivers saw them.

Years ago, a co-worker of Honk supplemented his income by painting the address numbers.

In your city, Los Angeles, to do such work legally takes a specific permit that requires, among other things, a $100,000 insurance policy. The annual permit costs $211.

The painter must give the homeowner sufficient advance notice of the work, so he or she can object if desired. If you don’t ask for the work, you don’t have to pay, and the city does not determine the cost. The painter must be able to show residents the permit.

L.A. does regulate how the painting is done.

Other cities and unincorporated areas likely have similar laws. For info, once again, call your city hall or the appropriate local government.