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tem of law that is used in Mexico, South America, and some European
countries!
3. In the "administrative review", the issuing officer does not have
to appear to testify or to be questioned.
4. The owner of the vehicle is jointly liable with the driver for the
parking ticket; although, an exemption is given to bona fide leasing
or rental companies. This means that the owner of the vehicle is
going to have to pay the fine in order to renew his registration, and
his only recourse may be to file a legal action against the operator
of the vehicle. This is not an equal application of the law when pri-
vate owners are held responsible for another person's actions, yet
rental companies are exempt.
5. The issuing agencies can get an automatic civil judgment against
the owner of the vehicle merely by paying the court filing fee ($182
which of course is added to the amount the owner has to pay). The is-
suing agency doesn't have to present any evidence to get this judg-
ment. The agency can then seize a Citizen's property, garnish wages,
or use any other civil method to collect.
6. The procedure for the "administrative review" is not clearly
specified in the bill. The bill provides that the initial request to
contest the parking ticket can be made by telephone, mail, or in per-
son. This results in an internal investigation the results of which
must be mailed to the person who contested the ticket. Next is the
"administrative review", where the accused must state in writing his
or her reasons why the ticket was in error. The bill gives the person
the option of having the actual review conducted in person before the
examiner or by mail.
The administrative review procedure is going to be different in each
jurisdiction, and from what I have found out so far in San Diego
County many of the jurisdictions are not even planning to follow the
statute. They are going to require people to go to some office in
person during business hours to request the initial investigation, or
they are not going to allow in person administrative reviews before
the examiner.
7. If the accused does not like the results of the administrative
review, then with a $25 filing fee, a new trial or so called "trial de
novo" can be heard in municipal court. The municipal court is sup-
posed to use the same revised civil procedure as in the administrative
review, and the entire record from the issuing agency can be admitted
as evidence. This is not a "new trial." The admittance into evidence
of the issuing agencies file means that the accused is having to
sacrifice his 5th amendment rights against self-incrimination. Also
since the issuing officer will not have to be in court, there still is
no way to rebut the issuing agency's case. This is no trial.
8. The examiners for the administrative reviews are not even required
to be lawyers, let alone judges, and so do not have the ability to in-
terpret issues of law. The accused will have to take the additional
time and expense to appeal any case that require a legal determination
to the municipal court. But the person must be very careful not to
incriminate his or herself in the administrative hearing.
9. The City of Oceanside is acting as the processing agency for vir-
tually all north county cities. The San Diego Mediation Center has
been hired to provide the administrative hearings. A Citizen who
wants to contest a parking ticket must a pay in addition to the fine a
$22.50 fee to get an administrative hearing! Of course there is
precedent for this: It was customary in England for the condemned to
tip the executioner.
Insurance
29.How much insurance must a driver carry?
from the Spring 1991 DMV California Driver Handbook:
California's COMPULSORY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW requires every DRIVER
and OWNER of a motor vehicle to maintain financial responsibility. There
are four forms of financial responsibility:
o Coverage by a motor vehicle liability insurance policy [of at least
$15,000/30,000/5,000].
o A deposit of $35,000 with DMV.
o A bond for the same amount (although generally bonds are unavailable).
o DMV approved self-insurance.
30.Do insurance companies have to be licensed in CA? How can I tell if one is?
from ostubble@agsm.ucla.edu (Otha Stubblefield III) on Oct 24 1992:
Today's Los Angeles Times (10/23/92) carries an article on unlicensed
insurers in its business section on page D1. This article does not apply
solely to car insurance. Summary:
The unlicensed insurance business is booming in California, with sales
increasing by a factor of 30 since 1988. However, complaints have also
increased by a factor of 100. Many consumers are finding that they have
been paying claims to nothing more than a PO Box operation, and it is almost
impossible to have a claim processed, especially if the company has
surreptitiously folded. Insurers using state-licensed agencies are
protected from insolvency by a fund. Also, the state has no power over
unlicensed companies, that are often found to be based outside of the U.S.
State law prohibits unlicensed insurers from selling in the state, unless
the policyholder cannot find similar coverage from a licensed carrier. Only
certain brokers (surplus-line carriers) are authorized by the state to sell
out-of-state policies, and that those brokers should be checking these
companies solvency. The State does acknowledge, though, that some people
are not checking due to negligence or that they just don't care. You can
find out if a certain carrier is ok by calling the Ca Insurance Consumer
line at 800-927-HELP.
End Summary:
The article does not mention the penalties for using one of these companies,
namely suspension of your license if you are found to be using one for the
financial responsibility requirement (liability insurance). The state and
DMV will consider you uninsured for the period that you were using them.
They also do not mention that a companies' status (licensed to unlicensed)
may change without notification to the consumer.
31.Can my insurer legally ask me for my roommates' names and license numbers?
from billk@cats.ucsc.edu (Bill Karwin) on 18 Mar 1993:
I called 1-800-927-HELP and the answer is yes, the insurance company does
have a right to ask for the id's of the housemates if they are to be
occasional drivers. The only alternative is to exclude these housemates
from coverage, by providing their names (not their driver's license #).
32.What's the net.recommendation for motorcycle insurance?
gwu@esl.com (George Wu) received the following replies to this request
of 30 sep 1991:
Having just purchased my first bike (Yamaha SRX 250), I now need to get
insurance. Since it's not worth that much, I'm just going to get liability.
CSAA (California AAA) must think motorcycles are dangerous or something,
since they won't insure it.
from abp@goedel.arc.nasa.gov (Andy Philips):
McGraw Hill Insurance Services: 415-780-4841
Call Melody x3021 and tell her I sent you, she may or may not remember me.
from georgeb@zimmer.CSUFresno.EDU (George Barbary):
The best deal I got on insurance was from Mcgraw-Hill. There is a startup
fee of approximately $40. Then the premium was $86 for six months. I had
minimum coverage. This rate is for Fresno. It may vary in the Bay area.
from chaney@leland.stanford.edu (Ken chaney):
State Farm is reputed to have "best" rates for single males under 30. I
heard this from a AAA agent, who gave me a quote. Don't know why they won't
give you one. Perhaps I'm mistaken and the quote was for my car. At any
rate, it was higher than the premium I pay State Farm (single male age 25).
from karen@brahms.AMD.COM (Karen Black):
I've insured my SR250 (and GB500) through State Farm. When I started, I was
paying about $250 for 100/50/100, uninsured motorist, comp and collision.
Now I'm in State Farm Mutual and paying $160 for liability and uninsured
motorist. I've been very happy with State Farm.
from tamecat@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu (Walter Dryfoos):
I'd suggest that you give Coupin Insurance on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland a
call. They always found me the best deal on my bikes. They're an
independent agent, so they have lots of options.
from tiene@apple.com (Kevin Tiene):
I am about to buy a bike (Honda Hawk GT 650) and got the same response from
CSAA. They recommended getting insurance through the dealer.
from brad (Brad Whitaker):
Marketing Direct (800) 729-2537 MotorCycle Insurance
from gbuzsaki@us.oracle.com (George Buzsaki):
Mike Felder Insurance (1-800-7-CYCLES) He specializes in motorcycle
liability insurance and is a good guy to boot.
from doning@ocf.Berkeley.EDU (Donald Ng):
I got the lowest quotes for insurance from Mike Felder in Concord. He's at
1-800-7-CYCLES, and gives discounts for taking the MSF courses.
from gwu@esl.com (George Wu):
Based on what the net recommended, I called Mike Felder and McGraw
Insurance. For just liability, Felder quoted $157. McGraw quoted $87. I
went with McGraw, naturally. Personally, I think the $157 is an error. I
definitely stated I wanted liability only, but I bet that's not what he
quoted.
After I passed the MSF course, I called McGraw Insurance back to try and get
a discount. They don't offer one for the MSF course. The only safety
discount they offer is for "good drivers." One is a "good driver" if one
has held an M1 license for at least three years and has zero or one points
on his or her license.
Highways
33.What's the state of Los Angeles' freeways after the Northridge earthquake?
If I'm driving down from Northern California, should I take I-5 as usual,
or is there now a faster route?
from gwu@esl.com (George J Wu) on 7 March 1994:
The best source of current highway information is CalTrans' touchtone
hotline. From a touchtone telephone, call them at 1-800-GAS-ROAD. Then
punch in the number of the highway in which you are interested, followed
by a '#' key.
34.When you see a sign "Litter removal next two miles by organization XXX",
what exactly does XXX do?
from rog@Ingres.COM (Roger Taranto) on 18 Jul 1992:
They are required by CalTrans to clean up their section of the highway at
least quarterly. They are told to park near the highway (on some side
street or something, not on the side of the highway), and they have to give
CalTrans and the CHP notice a certain amount of time before they go out
there. They are given safety instructions before they go. Finally, there
are two types of people you see picking up litter along the side of the
road: those with *white* hats are part of some group doing litter removal;
those with *orange* hats are doing "community service", e.g., someone who
got sentenced to do community service. Alternatively, sponsors can hire
cleanup crews.
Taxes
35.How much are the gasoline taxes in CA?
14.1 cents Federal tax + 17.0 cents State tax + sales tax (up to 7.75
percent)
Bicycles
36.Can I get a ticket for a traffic violation while I'm riding a bicycle?
from walsh@optilink.COM (Mark Walsh) 24 May 93:
Yes. Go read CVC 21200 through 21211. Section 21200 basically states that
cyclists have all of the same privileges and responsibilities that other
vehicles have.
from cortesi@netcom.com (David Cortesi) on 22 Jun 93:
There is not a lot of enforcement of cycling violations, which is one of the
reasons you see a lot of bicyclists breaking rules. However, in a few towns
there is strict enforcement of traffic laws on bicyclists, among them
Woodside, CA, where cyclists are regularly ticketed for failure to stop at
stop signs.
37.Will such bicycle traffic convictions go on my DMV driving record?
from walsh@optilink.COM (Mark Walsh) 24 May 93:
Contrary to myth, these offenses can and will go on your California DMV
record. I know a fellow who suffered a dramatic increase in his insurance
rates after having been cited for running stop signs on his bike twice
within a year.
In rec.bicycles.soc, Bob Becker writes:
Even with a driver's license, a bicycle violation shouldn't appear on your
record. From the CVC section 1803 (b):
The following violations are not required to be reported under subdivision
(a) of this section:
[....]
(7) Violations for which a person was cited as a pedestrian or while
operating a bicycle
If they do show up on your record, contact the DMV and get them removed. I
know you can, I have done this.
38.I had to slow down because of a bicyclist and then cross the center line to
pass. Aren't those damn fool lycra-butts supposed to ride on the
sidewalk/in the gutter/in the bike lane/etc?
from cortesi@netcom.com (David Cortesi) on 15 Jun 93:
Bicyclists are "vehicle operators" in almost every sense under the vehicle
code. They are not restricted to particular lanes or parts of the road,
except that when passing another vehicle, preparing for a left turn, or to
avoid unsafe conditions, they should ride as far to the right "as
practicable" [CVC 21202(a)]. On a section of highway that carries traffic
in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, bicyclists
may ride as near to the left as practicable [CVC 21202(b)]. They are also
subject to the law on two-lane highways that slow traffic must pull over,
wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, when 5 or more vehicles
are behind it and where passing is unsafe [CVC 21656].
So if the cyclist was riding as far to the right as practicable for the road
surface conditions and holding up less than 5 vehicles, he or she is within
the law, and motorists are responsible for passing the cyclist in a way that
is safe for all.
39.Oh? So what are these bike lanes for, then?
from cortesi@netcom.com (David Cortesi) on 22 Jun 93:
Primarily for cars not to drive in. The law says cars cannot drive in bike
lanes, except to park where permitted, to enter or leave a roadway, or to
prepare for a turn within 200 feet of an intersection [CVC 21309].
Cyclists are supposed to use bike lanes but they are not locked into them.
CVC 21208 says:
Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway pursuant to
Section 21207, any person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed
less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction shall
ride within the bicycle lane, except that such person may move out of the
lane under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian
within the lane or about to enter the lane if such overtaking and
passing cannot be done safely within the lane.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private
road or driveway.
(3) When reasonable necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris
or other hazardous conditions.
A lot of cyclists prefer to stay in the traffic lanes because traffic keeps
them swept clear of glass, tree litter, kids on skateboards... Seriously,
cycling activists like John Forrester (author of Effective Cycling) argue
that bike lanes are a unsafe and ineffective, and that governments would do
better trying to teach cyclists and drivers how better to share the roads.
From Jym Dyer (jym@remarque.berkeley.edu) on 1 Nov 1993:
Forrester's argument about bike lanes is based on statistical
data showing lots of bike/auto collisions when autos running
parallel with a bike lane make a right turn at an intersection.
California's law about merging into the bicycle lane before
making a right turn would appear to be an attempt to address
this problem. Unfortunately this isn't made at all clear.
40.One of those gangs of a dozen neon-shirted lycra-butts was taking up a whole
lane the other day, don't they have to ride single file?
There's no CVC section requiring it (see FAQ on lane sharing). On the other
hand, some people (including police officers, acting in their official
capacities) interpret the requirement to keep as far to the right "as
practicable" of CVC 21202(a) to require bicycles to ride single file. Under
this interpretation, unless passing, turning, avoiding road debris, etc.
(see quote of CVC 21208 above), the cyclist on the left is not as far right
as practicable.
41.Okay, so what do I do to get around a bicyclist and be on my way?
from geoff@FICUS.CS.UCLA.EDU (Geoff Kuenning) on Thu, 2 Dec 93:
If the cyclist is not traveling in the same direction as you, treat
him or her as you would any other vehicle. Be careful about
estimating speeds. Many experienced cyclists (see below) travel much
faster than you might expect. More than once, I have had drivers turn
in front of me because they thought they had plenty of time, but did
not. When in doubt, wait (assuming, of course, that the cyclist is
the one with the right-of-way). This is especially important if you
are traveling in the same direction and making a right turn soon; you
don't want to turn right in front of the cyclist because you misjudged
her speed.
If you're traveling in the same direction, things are a bit more
complex. I almost hate to say it, but the first thing you should
probably do is to decide whether the cyclist is an expert.
Experienced cyclists should be treated a bit differently. The best
clue to experience is riding style, of course, though this can be hard
to observe quickly. Experienced cyclists are smoother and ride a
straighter line. Inexperienced cyclists tend to weave and make
unpredictable moves.
A quicker, though somewhat less reliable, way to judge experience is
to look at the rider's clothes. If they're not a "lycra-butt," it's
doubtful that they're an expert. If they have Lycra shorts, but are
wearing a T-shirt, they're less likely to be experienced. Gloves,
shoes, and helmet are other less-reliable clues. If the cyclist is in
full regalia and riding in a straight line, they are probably
experienced. But all of these are only guidelines, of course.
Once you've judged experience, decide how and when to pass. If the
cyclist is an expert, let him or her guide you. If he's out in the
middle of your lane, it's probably because he doesn't want you to pass
at that point. I frequently move out into the traffic lane in
high-speed sections where I know some bad road is coming up, so that I
won't be forced to swerve into traffic suddenly. A polite cyclist
will also use hand signals to indicate that you should stay back in
dangerous situations. By the same token, polite (and careful)
cyclists will also use hand signals to let you know when it's safe to
overtake them.
For inexperienced riders, use your own judgment to select a safe spot,
waiting if necessary. A safe spot means that there is enough room to
give a wide berth, there are no obvious hazards that might cause the
cyclist to swerve suddenly, and there is no cross traffic. Of these,
the wide berth is the most important: you want to have enough room
that you won't run over the rider if he suddenly falls over (which
actually does happen from time to time). I consider half a car width
minimal for an unrequested pass (this does not apply if an expert
cyclist explicitly motions you to come by).
Finally, when you do pass, PASS QUICKLY. I cannot overemphasize the
importance of this latter point. It is not safe (for you insurance
bill as well as for the cyclist) to drive next to a bicycle. Don't
come barrelling up at 60 mph and surprise the poor fellow at a
distance of 6 inches, but don't pass at a differential of 2 or even 5
mph either. Use your superior power and acceleration to get around
him and on your way. This is especially important if you have been
signalled to pass, since there is often only a very short section
where it is safe, and the cyclist is trying to help you out by
getting you on your way quickly.
42.I'm a slow, occasional cyclist and I feel a lot safer riding the way I walk,
against the traffic. Is that OK?
from cortesi@netcom.com (David Cortesi) on 22 Jun 93:
Absolutely not, because as a vehicle operator you should ride with the other
vehicles, on the right. Besides being legal, you are safer on the right.
Two of many reasons: A driver entering from a side street or driveway
always looks to the left before pulling out. If you are riding on the wrong
side, you approach toward the back of the driver's head and he or she is
likely to pull out into you. Plus, when you meet a cyclist riding 20 mph
toward you in the bike lane, which way do you dodge? Should you pass on the
right or the left? It's a sticky situation all too likely to end with a
head-on crash.
From Jym Dyer (jym@remarque.berkeley.edu) on 1 Nov 1993:
Statistically speaking, it is much safer to ride with auto traffic than
against it. I myself feel a lot safer (and have managed to avoid being
hit) by using a rear-view mirror. My favorite type is a small wide-angle
mirror, the type that attaches to eyeglasses or a helmet.
From
For further information . . .
43.What are some useful phone numbers and/or addresses?
(Some of these apply only to particular areas of the state. The purpose of
this information is to show the kinds of services that are available;
consult your phone directory for the local corresponding agency. Additions
to this list are welcome, of course.)
800-427-ROAD (try 415-557-3755 from out-of-state) CalTrans' highway
information number: Call from a touch-tone phone, punch in the highway
number, and a recording will tell you about current and scheduled
closures, chain requirements, and traffic restrictions. As far as I
can tell, it gets updated as whenever conditions change. Drive safely!
--from ajh@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Alan Hu) on 10 dec 92
714-665-6970 Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Hotline, recording
714-744-0516
for information on sites that accept waste motor oil, antifreeze, etc.,
from households of Orange County residents
800-EXHAUST Bay Area Air Quality Management District smoking vehicle
program complaint line
800-CUT-SMOG South Coast Air Quality Management District
to report smoke-emitting (for longer than 10 seconds) vehicle (note
license number, make, model, date, time, and location). The AQMD doesn't
ask for your name. They mail the vehicle owner a letter stating that
their vehicle was observed smoking and explaining the CA exhaust
emissions laws. They are asked to repond to the letter. The Street
Smart column of the LA times on 15 March, 1993, reports that according
to AQMD spokesperson Paula Levy, there is a 25 percent of letter
recipients reply that they have repaired their vehicle.
800-745-SAFE "Safety Belt Safe USA", Inglewood, CA, a non-profit group
To report a driver having children in the vehicle who were not retrained
by seat belts or within a car seat, call the 800 number. They will give
you a form to fill out to report the offending motorist. Send the form
back to them and they will get it to the Highway Patrol, who will then
send the registered owner a very stern letter of warning.
-- from nancy@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov (Nancy Feagans) on 18 may 1993
800-927-HELP CA Insurance Consumer Line (see question about insurers
having to be licensed in CA)
714-724-2000 CalTrans, Orange County: to report potholes
714-754-5334 Costa Mesa Transportation Services: to report malfunctioning
traffic signals (note place, time, and situation)
213-623-6533 for info on handling LA City parking ticket by mail
DMV Revenue Services, Mail Station D148, 2415 1st Ave., Sacramento, CA 95818
to report expired tags, or out-of-state plates that have overstayed their
welcome
800-952-5210 California Bureau of Automotive Repair
44.What are some recommended readings?
(originally compiled by stevea@locus.com;
some updates from a post by pvmason@cco.caltech.edu (Peter V. Mason) on 2
Oct 92)
(if you would like to maintain this list, please Reply!)
Beating the Radar Rap, Dale Smith & John Tomerlin, Bonus Books, Chicago,
1990, $15.
How to fight a radar-clocked speeding ticket in court. (Annotation
summarized from Car & Driver, 2/91.) (stevea)
Don't Get Taken Every Time, Remar Sutton, Penguin, city?, 1991?, ~$8?.
This book pulls no punches in its expose' of car dealers' tactics on car
buyers. Fictional examples offer lessons. Also a step by step guide for
buying cars. (stevea)
Fight Your Ticket, David W. Brown, Nolo Press, Berkeley, 1991, $21.95,
800-992-6656.
I found it under "traffic violations" on the library index computer. Dewey
number is 345.0247 BRO 1991, ISBN 0-87337-132-1. It's obviously specialized
to California, but there are some pretty good general topics on how to act
when stopped (polite, non-committal, don't make the cop's job easy by
admitting anything). Check out all the facts you can and write down the
entire incident for use in court. One of his claims is that the cop is
trained to decide whether to give you a ticket before he gets out of his
car, so fawning or apologizing will get you nowhere. Another point is to
read the vehicle code very carefully, because each code section requires
that several elements be established to convict you. Brown also discusses
out-of-state tickets and lists the states that are in the Driver's License
Compact and cross report-violations. Incidentally, Brown verifies that you
can't be convicted of a speed violation using radar measurement unless there
has been a survey within 5 years. (pvmason)
Nolo is a major self-help legal publisher in California and Fight Your
Ticket is considered by many to be *the* bible to contesting traffic
tickets. (georgewu)
The Safe Motorist's Guide to Speedtraps, John Tomerlin & Dru Whitledge,
Bonus Books, Chicago, 1991, $24 "RADAR" members, $31 nonmembers,
800-448-5170, also available in some bookstores.
For the 50 states: Hwy Patrol radio frequencies, fines, ticket info
exchanges with other states, speed traps, more. (Annotation summarized
from Car & Driver, 3/92.) (stevea)
A Speeder's Guide to Avoiding Tickets, Sgt. James M. Eagan, Avon Books, New
York, 1990, $5.
How to avoid getting caught; what to do before, during, and after being
pulled over. Mildly amusing and worth the price. (stevea)
from bill@Celestial.COM (Bill Campbell) on 28 Sep 1992:
The Ticket Book, Rod Dornsife, ISBN 0-9601950-1-7, published by
The Ticket Book, Inc., PO Box 1087, La Jolla, Ca 92038
I don't know whether this is still available. I got mine when it was handed
out to all the participants in the 1979 Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea
Memorial Trophy Dash (the last real Cannonball).
Traffic Court - How to Win, by Atty. James Glass, Allenby Press, Arcadia,
CA, 1988. Claims to be nationwide in application. (pvmason)
How to Win in Traffic Court: The Non-Lawyers Guide to Successfully
Defending Traffic Violations, by Phil Bello, J.D., Major Market Books,
Gibbsboro, NJ, 1989. Also claims to be nationwide. (pvmason)
The book may be ordered from the publisher, Major
Market Books, 883 Cooper Landing Rd., Ste.-211, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002,
for $16.00, postpaid.
from duehara@yosemite.atmos.ucla.edu (Dana Uehara) on 16 Feb 93:
_Talk Your Way Out Of A Traffic Ticket_. (Not sure who the author is --
something [Jim?] Kelley). Unfortunately I don't have the book with me, so I
have no other information, but I do know it's available in paperback. It
should be useful since the person who wrote it is (was?) a CHP patrol
officer. Synopsis: Highlights what to and what *not* to do/say if you get
pulled over. Also outlines what types of recourse you have if you do get
ticketed, under what conditions you can request Traffic School, and also
gives some guidelines as to testing yourself as to whether or not you can
(or *should*) be driving, particularly if you've had too much to drink.
45. Can I actually get traffic conditions over the Internet?
from karl@kraz.usc.edu (Karl Geiger) on 17 Jun 1994:
Way cool...realtime traffic information for the San Diego freeway net
is available from
http://www.scubed.com:8001/caltrans/transnet.html
Clickable maps aren't complete. Text/data tables work and show
traffic (vehicles per hour) and lane speed.
CHP radios and scanners
46.What is a "CHiPs detector"? What's the complete story on CHP radios?
from Chucko@charon.arc.nasa.gov (Chuck Fry):
That's right. Many CHP cars are equipped with repeaters so that when the
officers get out of their cars, their walkie-talkies need only reach the car
instead of the base station. The CHiPs Detector (tm) takes advantage of the
fact that the CHiPpies rarely turn off the repeater when they're IN the car.
Note that the CHP may change this frequency at any time, although they're
not likely to.
The disadvantages are that you just know at least one CHiPpie is in the
area, not how close, what they're doing, or whether they're after you; and
there's no signal transmitted from the repeater when the base station is
silent. So it's hardly foolproof.
morris@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us (Mike Morris) posted on 12 oct 1991:
The following info was compiled from several sources, none of which have
1st-hand knowledge of the new CHP radios, but what I have been able to put
together seems to agree. So with that caveat, ...
The older Motorola Micor mobile radios had "mobile extenders" by GE. These
extenders were 1/4 watt transmitting units that repeated the audio from the
42mhz CHP mobile radio to 154.905mhz. The mobile extender time-sliced the
channel to transmit for roughly 9/10 second and receive for 1/10 of a second
to see if the officer was replying. Hence the "yakyakyak-chuff-yakyakyak-
chuff-yakyakyak-chuff-..." sound of the repeated traffic on the 154mhz
channel. There was a writeup of the single-channel time-slicing technique
in a ham radio magazine back in the early 70s, and the technique has taken
off tremendously. It has mostly been used to allow single-channel
radio-to-telephone interconnects called simplex autopatches (because they
use one channel - a "simplex" channel.)
Anyway the mobile extender technique works very well, and allows the officer
to use a relatively low power high-band hand-held to communicate with the
dispatcher via the > 100w low-band mobile radio in his/her patrol car with
very little trouble.
A low-band hand-held would have to use a 6' antenna to be resonant, or a
"rubber duckie" over a foot long. And the hand-held couldn't have enough RF
power to reach the dispatch center in 99% of the state. Hence a 150mhz
handheld (where a 18" antenna is the norm, and a "rubber duck" is < 9") and
a mobile extender.
A bit of history:
The bid for mobile radios was won by Motorola around 10 years ago. The
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