Flashing lights at police may work in Germany, but gets a ticket in U.S.

Q: I worked for an engineer at National Semi. He lives in Europe. I don’t remember how it came up, but he asked why he got a ticket while driving here when he flashed his lights at a Highway Patrol car on the freeway in the fast lane. I told him no, no, no, you don’t flash your lights at Highway Patrol on the freeway because he was going a little slower than you were going. I told him that if the Highway Patrol had pulled over and he passed the Highway Patrol car, he would likely have gotten a ticket anyway.

Rich

A: He’s lucky he wasn’t charged with multiple violations.

Q: Was it a typo when Doug McKenzie said he drove 140 “mph” on Interstate 880. Perhaps he meant “miles?” If indeed he was speeding like that, a rebuke for that kind of driving would have been appropriate? What do you think?

John LaLonde

A: It definitely was “miles,” not “mph.”

Q: I tried to get a response from the VTA customer service department regarding increased graffiti on the wall of the light rail facing the Hamilton exit off of northbound Highway 17. I contacted them on 6/9, 6/29 and 7/27, with no action or response. The second time I called, I was told that the information had initially been sent to a distribution list of 20 people for a response, and the second time they sent out another e-mail to the distribution list. Both times there was no response to the customer service department. When I called on 7/27, I was told that a supervisor would call me back within 48 hours.

It would be helpful to know to whom it can be escalated further, but I am not sure who to contact. The increasing graffiti and blight to the neighborhood, is really shameful, and invites more of the same. If you could help by escalating it again, I would appreciate it.

Ann Segovia

A: I escalated it, and graffiti cleanup is scheduled for the week of August 20-24. VTA left a voicemail for you at the beginning of August.