Column: Traffic Jammin' with Janis Mara – Every Monday at 2pm on Claycord.com - San Francisco Chronicle (blog)

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Traffic Jammin’ with Janis Mara â€" Every Monday at 2pm on Claycord.com

TRAFFIC JAMMER: Greetings, all! This Claycord.com column is for everyone who negotiates the highways and public transit of the Bay Area. It runs every Monday at 2 p.m. and answers your commuting and transportation questions.

Email your questions to trafficjammin@claycord.com.

COMMUTER: I am a law-abiding driver and do not text or talk on the phone. I saw an ad the other day for a mount that will cradle an iPhone (or other mobile device) on the windshield via a suction cup.

Would it be legal to use such a device to activate the speaker phone function or change music on the ol’ iPod? As it stands now I don’t use my iPod at all for fear of being pulled over as using my phone. But it would be nice to use my GPS, iPod or speaker phone will driving.

â€"Legal Beagle

TRAFFIC JAMMER: Well, guess what, my dear Ms. Beagle? The Jammer checked with California Highway Patrol Officer Hector Baiza and the answer is yes.

“You can use those kinds of devices. They do need to be positioned in the lower left corner or lower right corner, so they don’t obstruct the driver’s view,” Officer Baiza said. “Other than that, it is legal. It’s not going to be in their hand, so it is a hands-free device. Drivers are allowed to make a phone calls on such devices. If they have Siri on their phone, for example, and just press one button to call, that’s fine, if it’s on the speaker.”

While it is legal to use a hands-free device, “drivers should try to eliminate any distractions when driving,” Baiza said. “Using the phone, even if hands-free, listening to the radio or eating â€" they’re all distractions and could cause a collision. We tell people, ‘The safe speed for any distraction is zero miles per hour.”

So, Claycordians, if you are going to eat, get off the road and have a picnic. Or if you’re going to listen to music, drive to a concert. If you are going to have a heart-to-heart conversation with someone, pull off the road and text them. (Kidding!)

Now, speaking of listening to music, here’s a related, and awesome, question from another Claycordian:

COMMUTER: Does the noise pollution rule that governs loud stereos also apply to Harleys and other loud motorcycles?

â€"Dude

TRAFFIC JAMMER: First of all, just so we know what we’re talking about here, if music blasting from someone’s car stereo can be heard 50 feet from the vehicle, it is considered loud and excessive under the law. Just as a unit of measure, a traffic lane is generally around 12 feet wide, so if you can hear someone’s music four lanes away, it’s probably too loud.

When it comes to loud motorcycles, however (and unfortunately, in many peoples’ eyes, or rather ears) there is no law against excessively loud engines. As a bit of comfort, however, there are emission standards governing motorcycles that dictate that they must have proper mufflers. The criteria are dictated by the California Air Resources Board. A muffler that meets this board’s standards is not going to be as loud. However, it still may be too loud for some people.

The Jammer herself is glad when motorcycle riders rev their engines before lanesplitting because it helps her to avoid changing lanes at the wrong time and possibly colliding with a motorcyclist.

COMMUTER: Regarding “speed traps.” Are there any rules the officer has to follow, such as they can’t be completely hidden from motorists? Sounds like a silly question, but I am nonetheless curious.

â€"Dude II

TRAFFIC JAMMER: This has to be one of the all-time great questions the Jammer has ever been asked. Doubtless everyone in the world has wondered about this at one time or another. The Jammer asked CHP Officer Elon Steers about this and he said the answer is no. “There is no requirement for the officer to be seen by the speeding individual. We use airplanes for speed limit enforcement and those drivers are not going to see us. There is absolutely no, ‘Hey, I didn’t see you, you can’t write that ticket.’”

Officer Steers added, “Our preference is to be seen,” which is called an in-view patrol. “We would rather do it that way because just by us driving down the roadway or being stopped on the side of the road, the majority of the population will do what’s right just because we are there.” In many areas, however, there are roadways where it is not safe to stop on the side of the road, maybe a curve or a narrow shoulder, and for safety’s sake, the officers will stop at, for example, a bridge abutment because it lessens their chance of getting clipped, Steers said.

TRAFFIC JAMMER: Speaking of tickets, beloved Claycordians, something occurred to the Jammer. Isn’t it a shame that the word for “punitive device that will cost the unfortunate offender a huge horrible amount of money and even threaten his or her ability to drive,” is the very same word for “token of money paid that will entitle the fortunate bearer admission to a fun event?”

That’s it for this week â€" see you next Monday. Be sure to cruise by Claycord.com at 2pm for more traffic intelligence. Remember, whether you drive, walk, bike or hop Amtrak, BART or AC Transit, Traffic Jammer Janis Mara is here to answer your questions.

Send your questions to trafficjammin@claycord.com.

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