Tag Archives: driving

Rearview Issues

Kevin took my van to the cleaner’s yesterday (and got the oil changed…what a sweetheart!), and while the guys were cleaning it, my parking permit hang tag broke. He said it was brittle, probably from being in the sun so long.

So when I was thinking of posting this old picture I took last year of the permit and my “spirit beads” from GWHS Homecoming a year or two ago, I decided to finally look up what Kevin keeps telling me is law: that we’re not supposed to have anything hanging from the rearview mirror, anyway.

Here’s what the Virginia code says about it:

§ 46.2-1054. Suspension of objects or alteration of vehicle so as to obstruct driver’s view.

It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in the Commonwealth with any object or objects, other than a rear view mirror, sun visor, or other equipment of the motor vehicle approved by the Superintendent, suspended from any part of the motor vehicle in such a manner as to obstruct the driver’s clear view of the highway through the windshield, the front side windows, or the rear window, or to alter a passenger-carrying vehicle in such a manner as to obstruct the driver’s view through the windshield. However, this section shall not apply (i) when the driver’s clear view of the highway through the rear window is obstructed if such motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side, so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle, (ii) to safety devices installed on the windshields of vehicles owned by private waste haulers or local governments and used to transport solid waste, or (iii) to bicycle racks installed on the front of any bus operated by any city, county, transit authority, or transit or transportation district.

(1960, c. 122, § 46.1-291.1; 1972, cc. 8, 844; 1987, c. 135; 1989, c. 727; 2003, c. 273.)

Sounds like a bunch of loopholes to me! The permit and beads certainly don’t “obstruct” my “clear view of the highway through the windshield” at all. But I suppose if someone wanted to make a case for it, they may be able to.

Oh, and this reminds me…I forgot to ask Mrs. B for another permit today!

Um, Hello? Right on Red?!

Um, hello? Right on red?!

Unless you’re in New York, where the right-on-red allowance is against the law. I found this out only after turning right after stopping at a red light in Manhattan. Check out the dubious Wikipedia article: “All 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico (except in New York City) have allowed right turns on red since January 1, 1980, unless a sign otherwise prohibits this.”

But I’m in Danville, so … um, hello? Right on red?!

He or she had his or her right turn-signal on and was stopped right on the white line, patiently awaiting the light change.

And speaking of gender wonder, did you notice there’s no head in view? It makes me wonder if he or she is even tall enough to drive his or her car. Is there a height requirement? I’ve never seen one of those “You have to be THIS tall to drive” posters at the DMV, but it seems to me that height would be more of an issue in driving a car than in riding a roller coaster.

Anyway, while he or she was evidently sitting patiently, I, on the other hand, was very much displeased with having to wait and almost wished I’d turned and driven through the bank parking lot instead, except that it would’ve been illegal and therefore wrong.

And speaking of wrong, this particular spot of this Franklin Turnpike/Piney Forest Road intersection is wrong. Really wrong.

Look through that car’s windshield. See the curve of the curb on the right? That gives you some idea of how far it is between the white line that should mark the stopping point, as today’s driver so nicely displays, to the actual intersection.

In order to implement my right to right, I have to venture out many feet (not a good mental measurer) to the edge of the heaviest-trafficked street in the city.

Who thought this one up? It looks like someone along the way would’ve realized this was a bad plan.

But since Kevin just informed me that the bank parking lot alterna-plan was a no-go not only because it was wrong but also because the building is no longer a bank and a chain blocks the lot on both ends, I guess I shouldn’t be blaming anyone else for not thinking something all the way through, huh?