Is it legal for cars to block a residential driveway?
Q: Maritza Arreguin of Colton asked if its legal for cars to block a residential driveway. Shes been having an issue with this lately and having trouble getting her car out of her driveway. A: Its illegal with very few exceptions for a vehicle to block someones driveway. California Vehicle Code section 22500 says drivers cant stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control device. This section spells out where its illegal to block a driveway or leave a vehicle, and included in this list is within an intersection, in a crosswalk, within 15 feet of the driveway entrance to a fire station, and in front of a public or private driveway (with exceptions made for buses, school buses or taxis stopped to load or unload passengers.) Our reader could try talking to her neighbor (if thats whose vehicle is blocking her driveway) or call the local police department for enforcement help when her driveway is blocked. Q: June Ramsey of Moreno Valley asked who is responsible for all the glass and car parts left behind on the freeway after an accident. A: If the incident happens in the Riverside County California Highway Patrol jurisdiction, said local CHP Officers Juan Quintero and Dan Olivas, the CHP officers at the scene normally ask the tow truck drivers to clean up as much as they can, then Caltrans cleans it up. This is typically what happens on Inland Empire freeways: Whatever is left over, we ask Caltrans to collect it at their earliest convenience. Normally they conduct weekly sweeping details to collect debris from the shoulders and center medians, Quintero said. Olivas added, Nothing big is ever left out there intentionally. Generally, Olivos noted, tow truck drivers, CHP officers and others at the scene of an accident will move leftover debris to the side of the road for the Caltrans sweepers. Q: Nancy Clarke of Corona asked about the lanes on East Ontario Avenue between Compton Avenue and the west side of the 15 Freeway in Corona, where there are on-ramps to the 15. Our reader said there are two lanes for left turning and one lane to go straight and turn right to go south. She said there are no signs as to which lane goes where, and traffic there is jammed. There are many drivers in the wrong lane darting in front of other cars trying to get in the lane they need, she said, adding that its unsafe. Clarke suggested that lane direction signs go up by the side of the freeway before drivers drive under the 15 at this location. She also suggested the lanes be marked differently to allow more drivers to go straight from one of the lanes. A: Caltrans Traffic Operations unit sent a team out to the area to take a look at our readers request and the entire area, according to spokeswoman Terri Kasinga. They determined that the eastbound Ontario Avenue to southbound and northbound 15 has adequate signage and associated pavement markings for people to know which lanes to be in to enter the freeway, and the areas signs and lanes meet the standards under the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Therefore, no additional signs or pavement markings are warranted or will be installed at this time. The two left-turn lanes to enter the northbound on-ramp to the 15 Freeway from eastbound Ontario Avenue were assigned due to peak hours traffic volumes entering the freeway and cant be changed because it may cause safety issues to drivers, Kasinga said. Caltrans will continue to monitor this location through the Caltrans Monitoring Program, and the agency will take corrective measures to improve safety if and when needed, she said. If so, write or call On the Road and well try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write ontheroad@pe.com or call 951-368-9670.