Q: Hello Mr. Honk: Ever since the Orange County Transportation Authority completed the 405 Freeway-widening project, I have noticed something strange just north of the Beach Boulevard exit. When I cross this area, my car’s Bluetooth connection invariably fails and sometimes I need to manually reset it; other times the Bluetooth will reattach after I drive through the area. Any idea what was done at this spot on the 405 to cause electromagnetic interference?
– James Nissenberg, Villa Park
A: No.
Honk reached out to Joel Zlotnik, a spokesperson for that Orange County agency, with your query, James. An OCTA official then reached out to Kapsch TrafficCom, which installed and maintains the setup on the adjacent 405 Express Lanes that helps ensure drivers are paying their fair share on that tollway.
There are gantries along the way, which hold overhead high-resolution cameras and transponder readers.
A Kapsch representative told the OCTA that the equipment shouldn’t be causing any interference.
“No one else has raised this issue with us,” Zlotnik said.
Something else could certainly be causing the interference. If anyone else in Honkland has had such a problem, caused by outside-the-vehicle interference, please pass along the when and the where to Honk.
Honk’s radio gets messed up, too, but it can happen on any roadway and he knows the problem: When Mrs. Honk chooses to fiddle with stuff on her cellphone, the Bluetooth can momentarily interrupt Honk’s 1980s tunes. Sometimes, a sideways scowl stops the interference — but usually not.
Q: Hey Honk: I’m a 72-year-old man born and raised in California, first licensed in 1968. This time the Department of Motor Vehicles wants me to go in for a vision test for my renewal. The problem is that my license expires on Nov. 7, but when I went online to make an appointment, the first one available was Dec. 23. What am I supposed to do? If I carry my appointment card with me, will that do? I haven’t been pulled over in 30 years; with no accidents.
– Stephen Campbell, Lake Forest
A: You have a couple of choices:
• Keep going online to see if a cancellation opens up an appointment that works for you. The website is updated.
• Or you can walk into a DMV office and endure the wait.
Remember, you can go to any DMV office in the state. Maybe you are visiting a friend or family member near one where appointments aren’t locked up?
Without a current license, you could get cited.
“You have to have a valid license to drive,” said Brian Kinsey, an officer and spokesman for the California Highway Patrol based in San Juan Capistrano. “He could be cited. … It depends on the officer.”
And, of course, what you got pulled over for in the first place could play into whether there is a driver’s license citation.
HONKIN’ FACT: A skateboard on which legend Tony Hawk accomplished the 900, a two-and-a-half turn trick, during the 1999 San Francisco X Games recently sold for $1.152 million, according to Julien’s Auctions. Honk doesn’t know what that youthful mode of transportation originally cost, but it wasn’t that.
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