Q I was on the Benicia Bridge when I entered a tollbooth with the green light on. When I stopped, I realized there was no toll-taker there, so I decided to back up and enter another booth. But there were five cars lined up behind me, and I could not back up. I instead drove through. I know a ticket is coming, but what should I have done and how can I challenge this ticket?
A When a ticket arrives in the mail, write a check for the $5 toll and send a letter along explaining what happened, and the fine most likely will be waived. While we're on the subject: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER back up at a tollbooth. That is so dangerous and could result in you being smashed by another car. Just drive through and wait for the citation in the mail.
Q I had an "awww" moment on the freeway recently that I wanted to share. My family (husband, three kids and two dogs) were squeezed into our minivan like a bad episode of "Hoarders" en route to Tahoe on Interstate 680 approaching the Benicia Bridge. When we got to the tollbooth, the toll-taker smiled and told us that a "nice lady in front of you paid your toll." It was completely random, and we were shocked that a stranger would be so kind. So to the woman in the blue Saturn SUV, thank you. Your gesture was a wonderful reminder of the inherent goodness and kindness in (most)
people, and that we are all neighbors.
A The story gets better. The McGuires then paid the toll for the person behind them. I traveled across this same bridge this past Saturday, and when I told the toll-taker I wanted pay the $5 toll for the driver behind me, the attendant smiled and so did I.
Q I've seen some form of construction going on near the Walnut Creek BART station. It appears that they are excavating many footings and drilling rebar into them. As a former engineer, I'm very curious what they are doing.
A This is part of BART's earthquake retrofit program to upgrade its aerial support structures throughout the system. You can learn more about it at www.bart.gov/about/projects/eqs/index.aspx . The transit agency also began retrofit work in Albany last week, and that will lead to blocks-long closures along Ohlone Greenway into next year.
Q I really enjoyed the Queen of the Road column that ran in the East Bay papers of the Bay Area News Group -- until you killed it.
A I did what?
Q I'm not very happy with your column because it concentrates primarily on the South Bay. Being in Contra Costa County, I don't know anything about most of the things you write. Just thought you should know.
A I didn't kill the Queen -- trust me!
Q We've seen your new column in the Contra Costa Times that is replacing the late Queen, and the jury finds it irrelevant. After all, it is the Contra Costa Times, not the Santa Clara or San Mateo or Alameda Times. I want Walnut Creek, Concord, Martinez and Pleasant Hill news, not something coming from over 60 miles away.
A Janis Mara, who wrote the twice-a-week Queen column, left Bay Area News Group for another job. My Roadshow column now appears every Wednesday and Sunday in our East Bay publications, in addition to Sunday through Friday in the Mercury News.
I have been writing Roadshow for 20 years and now field 600 to 700 emails, calls and letters each week -- sometimes 1,000, if I write about drivers not using their blinkers or the clueless texting away on cellphones.
I strive for a geographical balance in the questions I print, and the columns that appear in the East Bay papers almost always will have a question or two from your area.
Given the number of questions I receive, I forward many to the proper agency without printing them. Or I inform readers how they can contact the agency themselves. I also get a number of questions from East Bay readers who commute to the South Bay or the Peninsula.
Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat noon Wednesday at www.mercurynews.com/live-chats . Look for Gary at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow . Contact him at mrroadshow@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5335.
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