9 things Californians should know about driving and the DMV

The Orange County Register columnist known as Honk is thankful for his readers, not least because of what he learns from them. Among the insights of the past year: 

There are no plans to redesign the standard-issue California license plate, which became the norm in 2011, a Department of Motor Vehicles spokesperson said.

If you have 1984 Olympic license plates, you can keep renewing them, but they haven’t been available to get for decades and even replacement plates are long gone.

In fact, once any style of specialized plate has been discontinued, such plates cannot be replaced but can continue to be used.

Once a car or truck rolls off of a dealership’s lot, the new owner can get cited for not having two plates. Even for Teslas that often don’t sport front license plates.

Under state law, drivers can prove to police officers they have insurance via a cellphone app.

To retain Real ID when renewing your license, choose the Real ID option on the application even if you already have it — or the privilege goes away. Some drivers have been confused by this.

To get a Real ID, the process can start online but must conclude with a trip to a DMV office. Once you have it, you don’t have to provide the needed paperwork again except for proof-of-residence documents if you move.

Exterior lights on civilian motorcycles, cars and trucks cannot be blue under the law. Blue lights are reserved for first responders. Owners of vehicles in violation can get a fix-it ticket, a citation or — if the officer determines the offender is impersonating a cop — even arrested.

When you see — or don’t see — non-working streetlights on highways it is often because of copper thefts.