Drivers of White pick up trucks take the cake when it comes to aggressive idiot drivers. Its been my experience and that of my friends, that you can typically count on a white truck, lifted, lowered or stock, to cut you off, not let you in, or do something else that endangers the lives of others around them.
Take last night for example. I was trying to merge onto the 15 South from the 91. There was a modified, lowered white truck to my right. I was signaling and his lane turned into 2 lanes, placing him in the far right lane and opening up a lane for me to get into. Seeing my signal he speeds up. As the lane splits and opens he merges into the open lane to block me.
I dropped it into 4th and hit the gas. As my lane disappeared into the split between 15N and 15S I merged between him and the car in front of him. It was a perfect fit. He wanted to make life hard one me, so he got to see my tail lights, freakin’ jerk. Then I merged around the small car and left him boxed in by the traffic coming up on his right. Serves him right. And I did that with 100 horsepower, not the 300 I have on tap in the evo.
So just be aware, White Trucks, Mercedes and BMWs will drive like they have special privileges. Make sure to politely let them know they’re wrong. I’m speaking Generally as usual. I know some good drivers who own Mercedes and BMWs.
Nearly everyday I see a new car or truck pulled over by CHP on the toll roads. Some may wonder why, did they do something wrong? Most likely, no. They’re pulled over because they have paper plates.
The first question the officer will ask is why you have no plates. Because its a new car apparently isn’t the answer. Next he’ll write you up for Toll evasion. Did you bring your transponder? If not, you get 23302.5(a) Vehicular crossing or toll highway: evading toll charge. Not a cheap ticket. If you did, was it displayed? Because thats the next thing he’ll write you up for. No Transponder Displayed. 23302(b) Failure to display transponder at specified vehicular crossing or toll highway. Also not a cheap fine.
If you have your transponder, fight the ticket. Don’t assume you have to waste hours in a court room losing money from missing work etc. Use a Trial By Declaration, pay the bail and write your defense down on paper. Sure you’ll have to front the bail, but thats cheaper than missing a days worth or income and paying bail right?
If you brought your transponder, it was most likely charged. Attach the statement to the TBD (Trial by Declaration) and show that you lawfully paid the toll. When you win, you’ll be out $10 for the processing fee, but thats less than nearly $200 in fines when all you were trying to do was get to work in the first place.
Here is the path to the California Trial by Declaration form:
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/fillable/tr205.pdf
Fill it out and send it in before the court date and then wait to get your winning results and your money back.
And if your driving the toll roads without plates, make sure you have that transponder with you, or you go through the paid gates. If you don’t, you’ll be experiencing the joy that so many of us have gone through.