Q: Hi Honk: My understanding is a solid white line should be treated the same as a solid yellow line — no crossing. However, after the northbound 215 Freeway and the 60 merge before hitting the westbound 91 Freeway, there are long stretches in Riverside of single solid white lines. You can’t get to the off-ramps if you follow the law. What’s up? I don’t want a ticket!
– Roxane Bakerjian, Palos Verdes
A: You can legally cross the single solid white lines there, Roxane.
Javier Navarro, an officer and spokesman for the California Highway Patrol based in Riverside, knows that stretch well.
Those solid lines are to discourage lane-changing — but not outlaw it.
“There’s been a (lot of) construction in the area — things are constantly changing there,” Navarro said. “That’s why they put them in, to discourage lane changing.”
Navarro said he thinks a fair number of drivers do believe you can’t cross there.
Remember, you definitely can’t cross double solid lines, white or yellow.
Also, if you come across a freeway with a posted black-and-white sign saying you can’t cross single solid lines, that would be the law there.
Brian Kinsey, another CHP officer and spokesman, pointed out that drivers are prohibited from crossing over the single solid line on the shoulder to pass other vehicles.
HONKIN’ REMEMBRANCE: For years, Honk updated readers on Chris Guenzler‘s travels on the rails. In 1980, the longtime Santa Ana resident began logging his miles on passenger trains across America and elsewhere and kept driving up an impressive total.
He worked for the Santa Ana Unified School District for 39 years. He taught, was an athletic coach and worked with special-needs children at one point.
Chris used to update Honk on his total mileage now and then, but hadn’t in years. He had more important stuff on his mind. He got married to Elizabeth, who he had met on the Mount Hood Railroad in Oregon years before, and they went on all of their train journeys together for the last six years. Three years ago, they got a home in Columbia, Missouri.
“Centrally located in the country, to make travel to the conferences and conventions of the railway groups (we) belong to easier,” is how Elizabeth put it in his obituary.
He died on July 3 at age 68.
Chris partially credited riding the rails for his sobriety; he had been so since 1995, overcoming a severe addiction. He logged the sober days as well.
His final numbers:
Rail mileage: 1,777,261.93.
Days sober: 11,489.
HONKIN’ FACT: The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department says it has begun enforcing the so-called Daylighting Law in areas it provides traffic enforcement. The law went on the state’s books on Jan. 1, 2025, and is intended to make it easier for drivers and pedestrians to see one another at intersections.
It is against the law to park within 20 feet of the cross street in the approaching lane. If there is a curb extension, the limit is 15 feet.
Winners of a citation get a $63 fine.
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