Q: Good morning, Mr. Honk: How and where does one report a loud exhaust noise coming from a car in town?
– John A. Dau, Azusa
A: Which law is in play depends on where the car sits, John.
If on private property, say a driveway, then it could be a noise violation.
An officer would come out and you would file a Private Person’s Arrest form, says Sgt. Justin Beaver of your town’s finest, and a judge or commissioner would determine if a violation took place.
It wouldn’t be the officer’s call, he said: “We do our best in law enforcement to not put opinion in a report.”
Now, generally, if that car is on a roadway the focus will be on whether the exhaust system was improperly modified since the vehicle rolled off of the assembly line.
Officers don’t tend to pack a decibel reader to see if a vehicle meets standards.
But by looking at the exhaust system, or hearing it, the officer determines if a modification occurred. If so, under state law, the owner can get hit with a fix-it ticket or a full-blown citation, depending on the circumstances.
Sgt. Beaver invites the public to call Azusa PD for this, on a non-emergency line, or for any other concern in town. The public shouldn’t worry about “bothering” officers, he stressed.
“You pay taxes for our service,” he said. “Call us. We’re going to show up and investigate.”
Hopefully, his brethren in other jurisdictions feel the same way.
Q: Hello Honk: Perhaps you no longer run a column in The Orange County Register, which I used to read as a subscriber of 30 years. Is there a form or a procedure for obtaining a refund from the Department of Motor Vehicles when it wrongfully overcharged me on my registration? I have written a letter, with no response, so I could use some advice.
– Wayne Hetman, Foothill Ranch
A: Less hair, more wrinkles and girth — but the ol’ Honkster is still the Dear Abby of transportation, Wayne, albeit more focused on facts than opinion.
Geovana Herrera, a DMV spokesperson, says the public can certainly request a refund for such things as vehicle registration, a driver’s license, ID cards and other fees or penalties.
She suggested taking a spin on the agency’s website, dmv.ca.gov, to see if you qualify. If you think so, type “Application for Refund” into the search bar and a form will pop up.
“The completed application, along with the supporting documentation, can be submitted at the nearest DMV office or mailed to the appropriate office, depending on the type of refund,” Herrera said.
The DMV is supposed to reach out and tell you the fate of your request.
HONKIN’ UPDATE: Should the stickers allowing solo drivers in carpool lanes become invalid on Oct. 1, which Honk mentioned last week will occur unless the U.S. Congress unexpectedly steps in, don’t plan on a grace period from the California Highway Patrol. Treat the stickers — immediately — as worthless.
“If the program is terminated, enforcement action can be taken,” said Lt. Matt Gutierrez, out of the CHP’s Sacramento headquarters. “We just follow the legislation. It is pretty clear. …
“If the DMV says they aren’t valid, they aren’t valid,” he said. “We don’t make that call.”
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. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk