LITTLE ROCK — Dear Mahatma: I am often on Cumberland Street and get blocked by drivers on President Clinton Avenue who stop in the middle of the intersection as their light turns red. It mostly happens late at night.
Is this legal? Why is it nobody in authority does something about it? - J.D.
Dear J.D. - Once in a while, The Mahatma will stay up way past his bedtime and pass through the River Market around midnight. This frightens the young people, but not enough for them to cease blocking intersections as they cruise up and down President Clinton.
Arkansas Code 27-51-1302, “Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places,” says that no one may “stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device ... within an intersection.”
As for the police, Little Rock residents may call 311, the city’s nonemergency number, and request enhanced enforcement.
Feeling especially riled?
Stuart Thomas is the police chief of Little Rock. His address is 700 W. Markham St., 72201-1329.
Oh Great Mahatma: When one removes the doors from one’s Jeep for the summer, is it required to mount the side mirrors on an accessory mount?
- Nick.
Dear Nick: An assiduous search of Title 27 of the Arkansas legal code turns up no mention of side mirrors. But Arkansas Code 27-37-305 addresses rearview mirrors. It says every motor vehicle “shall be equipped with a rearview mirror.”
It also says that a vehicle “which is so constructed or loaded as to obstruct the driver’s view to the rear ... shall be equipped with a mirror located so as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet.”
If you have a rearview mirror on the windshield through which the world behind you is properly visible, never mind the doors or the side mirrors.
Footnote: Failure to wear a seat belt is now a primary offense - a driver can be stopped and ticketed for not being belted. Why mention this? Because if you’re taking off the doors, you really should be securely belted. Lest you fall out on a wild turn.
Dear Sir: On the handicapped hanger there is printed: “Hanger must be removed before vehicle is in motion.” If it is not removed, is it against the law? If so, why aren’t drivers stopped and ticketed?
- Just Curious.
Dear Curious: Roger Duren, administrator of the state Office of Motor Vehicle, cites a requirement of the federal government.
The concern is that the placard, hanging from the rearview mirror, might obstruct the driver’s vision.
Why don’t police stop people who are driving with this perilous placard dangling dangerously from their rearview mirror?
The Mahatma declines to ask any policeman such a question.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 07/31/2010