It’s not illegal to park backwards in a lot — most of the time
Q. Hey Honk: When I was growing up, my dad told me it was illegal to park backwards in parking lots. I’m guessing that’s not the case anymore, as I’ve seen it done a lot for decades. Because vehicles don’t align up when someone backs in, your door can hit their side mirror. If that law is still in effect, I’ve never heard about or seen one person ticketed for this. Can you please clarify whether the law changed, and the reasoning? I hope and pray you will provide me an answer. This is my fourth attempt over about 10 years.
– Colleen M. Campbell, Fountain Valley
A. Honk will honor your loyalty and patience with an answer, Colleen.
He isn’t sure what the law was way back when, but he can tell you what it is now.
State law does not prohibit drivers from backing into parking-lot stalls, said Duane Graham, a California Highway Patrol officer and spokesman.
But beware – and keep an eye on posted signs.
Cities can enact their own laws, and some have made it worthy of a citation to park backwards in city-owned lots. Municipalities likely could choose to deploy the same law for parking lots owned by businesses.
In the past, city officials have said that backing into parking stalls isn’t as safe, or that officers can more easily see license-plate numbers if vehicles are parked nose first. Of course, cars and trucks are supposed to have front plates, as well as those in the rear, but many don’t.
Q. Hi Honk: Last year my wife received in the mail her renewal notice for her driver’s license. I went online right away to book her appointment because of the news reports of how backed up the lines were at the Department of Motor Vehicles offices. I checked with various local DMV offices. The earliest available appointment was too late. We were going to a wedding in San Luis Obispo – so we got an appointment there and took in a handful of documents. Now my wife has received that notice you talked about last week that many must sign and return for her REAL ID. What happens next year should we simply move across the street? I know I’ll need to fill out a change-of-address form with the DMV. Will that be the end of it – or will we have to go back to the DMV with a bunch of documents? I’m sure this is way too long for your column. I look forward to Friday’s paper for Honk. They should give you half a page!
– John Baker, San Clemente
A. With words of praise like that, John, ol’ Honk will buy extra space if needed to shoehorn your Q and A in here.
Thankfully, that change-of-address will be enough. Jaime Garza, a DMV spokesman up in Sacramento, said. That is because your wife will already have provided all of the other documents needed for the REAL ID.
Honkin’ fact: Tom Seaver, who pitched for USC before becoming a Major League Baseball legend, had a street named after him on Thursday in front of Citi Field, where another one of his teams plays, the New York Mets. The team’s address is now 41 Seaver Way, a nod to his uniform number. A statue of Seaver is coming for outside the stadium, the team announced. (Source: ESPN.com)
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk.