Dear Mahatma: My newly licensed granddaughter tells me that we can no longer “ask” an oncoming driver to lower his high beams by quickly flashing our own lights. Is this a new law, or is she incorrect, in which case could you be the one to set her right, if you get my drift? - Ann
Dear Ann: The Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, which pictures actual teenagers on the cover, addresses this matter on page 30. We now quote with absolute precision.
“Dudes, if a vehicle comes toward you with high beams on, flash your headlights quickly a couple of times. If the driver fails to dim the lights, look toward the right side of the road.
This will keep you from being blinded by the other vehicle’s headlights. You should also be able to see enough of the edge of the road to remain on course.
“OMG, girlfriend!!! Do not try to get back at the other driver by keeping your headlights turned to the high-beam setting. If you do, both of you may be blinded. Because remember that Twain guy they made us read in English lit? He said to always do right. It will gratify some people and, like, astonish the rest.”
Dear Mahatma: In a recent column, you said you’d been unable to find any law governing loud exhaust on vehicles. I suggest 27-37-601. - Bill
Dear Bill: You mean Arkansas Code Annotated 26-37-601, “Noise or smoke producing devices prohibited.”
It says that all vehicles must have a factory-installed muffler or one that meets factory specifications “to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.” Also, thou shalt not have “any cutout, bypass, or similar device which produces excessive or unusual noise or smoke.”
Consider us further educated. We learn something in this job all the time.
Dear Mahatma: I would swear, if I weren’t a lady, that you answered this question before. I parked in the River Market on a side street with my car facing the wrong direction. I thought if you were in the parking spot it didn’t matter which direction you were parked. Luckily I was still in my car when the downtown officers made me turn around, otherwise my car would have been ticketed or towed. What say you?
- Penny
Dear Penny: This reminds us of Mark Twain’s admonition that “When angry, count four; when very angry, swear.”
Little Rock Code 32-304, Manner of Parking, says vehicles “shall be stopped or parked with the righthand wheels of the vehicle parallel to and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb.”
Exceptions are made for one-way streets or diagonal parking.
Dear Mahatma: Stop splitting infinitives. Last week’s example was “It was a good day to not be Scott Bennett.” There was one in the previous week’s column, too.
I plan to check every Saturday. - Frances
Dear Frances: Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. So said Samuel Langhorne Clemens.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 03/22/2014