When Real ID kicks in, a passport will do the trick, too

Q. My licence was expiring successful April 2020 and, similar many, I had nary tendency to sojourn a Department of Motor Vehicles bureau to renew. I phoned the DMV and was told that due to the fact that I had a passport, I did not request a Real ID and I was capable to renew my licence online. I tin usage the passport to committee home flights erstwhile the national instrumentality kicks in. So wherefore should I fuss with the hassle with the DMV oregon the Automobile Club? Just different mode for authorities to instrumentality our money? Seems to maine the passport has much applicable uses and is universal. Please wide this up for maine and others.

— Judi Strickland, Huntington Beach

A. It is each astir convenience, Judi.

Lorie Dankers, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, told Honk your program volition work.

“When the enforcement of Real ID begins May 3, 2023, this idiosyncratic could usage their passport to corroborate their identity,” she said successful an email. “The passport is 1 of respective IDs that TSA (will accept) astatine the information checkpoint. …

“That being said, I similar to punctual radical that determination are risks to traveling with your passport for home travel,” Dankers said. “It could get mislaid oregon damaged and request to beryllium replaced. That process takes clip and determination is simply a cost.

“A operator licence is much durable, fits conveniently successful a wallet and is thing radical transportation each the time. I urge opting for the convenience of the operator licence (or state-issued photograph ID card) owed to the simplicity of it.

“If the scholar inactive prefers to usage the passport during the (boarding) process, proceed with getting the passport paper issued by the State Department. It is the size of a operator licence and is an acceptable signifier of photograph ID.”

Q. Hello there! Grumpy aged dude alert! No uncertainty everyone’s noticed that phone-using drivers are remaining stopped astatine greenish lights and past driving dilatory until a beep dislodges their ft and they yet go. Also, I’ve noticed that determination are nary cops ticketing anyone for this – but possibly aft these drivers origin an accident. What the heck is going connected astir here?

— Casey Flanagan, Anaheim

A. Honk gave a jingle to the California Highway Patrol’s office successful Sacramento and talked with Officer Ian Hoey, a spokesperson who provided that agency’s perspective.

First, helium tickled his computer’s keys and pulled up immoderate stats:

Last year, during the pandemic, the CHP unsocial cited motorists 48,502 times for compartment telephone violations, which included utilizing a handheld instrumentality without a hands-free mode, texting oregon looking up a representation oregon utilizing an app connected one, oregon a insignificant utilizing a compartment telephone astatine each portion driving. The erstwhile year, earlier the pandemic slammed america all, determination were 97,438 citations issued.

This year, truthful far, determination person been much than 52,000.

“Clearly, the compartment telephone usurpation information says that citations are being issued by officers,” Hoey told Honk successful an email aft they chatted.

“CHP officers volition marque each effort to person vehicles exit the freeway erstwhile making a traffic-enforcement stop,” Hoey said. “Off-freeway postulation conditions thin to beryllium safer for some the violator and the officer. These stops whitethorn not beryllium disposable to freeway traffic.

“Rest assured, the CHP volition proceed to look for hazardous conditions, including immoderate benignant of distracted driving, successful our effort to supply the highest level of safety, work and security,” helium said.

To inquire Honk questions, scope him astatine honk@ocregister.com. He lone answers those that are published. To spot Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk