Police departments can decide if their black-and-whites are really black and white
Q. Dear Honk: When and how was it decided that all city and county police departments surrounding Los Angeles would paint their squad cars with the same black-and-white combination? I am originally from Chicago, where all of the suburban and state police cars have painted their cars with their own color combination with none matching the big city’s blue and white. I would think it would be easier to determine who is who during car chases or multi-city emergencies if each city and county had their own color combination. Just curious.
Scott Wolf, Irvine
A. Police agencies can do their own thing, to a point.
Your city’s finest’s squad cars, for example, are white with blue writing on them. Irvine had a different design in the past, but the base color has always been white, said Cmdr. Mike Hallinan.
A spokeswoman for the department, Kim Mohr, said guidelines on what police cruisers can look like are spelled out in the California Vehicle Code, although colors are not covered.
Honk grew up in Orange and always got a kick out of that city’s cop cars – white with, of course, orange lettering.
Sadly, these days Orange’s squad cars are black and white.
As to keeping it all straight as to which agency is which during a chase to nab the bad guys, Mohr said police chat via radio and ID themselves. Also, police cars often have numbers on their backs and roofs.
Q. For many, many moons now the Mystic Warriors of the Traffic Signals have told us that they have synched the signals so that we will spend much less time idling at red lights, wasting fuel and messing up the ozone layer. But I have driven north and south on Euclid Street at almost every hour of the day and night. I have gone below, above and at the posted speed limit. I have never been able to make it through more than one major intersection without having to stop for a red signal. I assume personnel have some control over the timing of the traffic signals. They do not seem to be doing a good job. When can we expect to have some relief?
Manny Levine, Anaheim
A. Manny, Honk dialed up Anaheim City Hall, and city spokeswoman Lauren Gold provided us some info:
“In Anaheim, our Traffic Management Team works hard to ensure that signals across the city are coordinated as much as possible to make life easier for commuters and reduce environmental impacts,” she said in an email. “On Euclid, we do coordinate the signals as best we can, but there are some other factors at play.
“Whenever Euclid intersects with a major street like Katella (Avenue), Ball (Road) or Lincoln (Avenue), the lights are coordinated for that major street instead. Since more people drive on those roads, it makes more sense to ensure those signals are coordinated first.
“Also, if an emergency vehicle goes through an intersection or a pedestrian uses the crosswalk, it may throw off the synchronization for a cycle or two, but eventually it does get back on track.
“All that being said, we’re always monitoring signal coordination throughout Anaheim and making changes as needed.”
Honkin’ fact: A 1956 Ford Thunderbird, said to have been owned by Marilyn Monroe for six years ending just before her death in 1962, will be sold by Julien’s Auctions in November. The auction house pegs the value of the pristine ride at $300,000 to $500,000. It is quite eye-catching (note to Mrs. Honk: Honk is talking about the car, not Ms. Monroe).
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.