Dear Mahatma: I see a car weekdays on Cumberland Street, LaHarpe Boulevard, Cantrell Road and Riverfront Drive. The temporary dealer tag is several months expired. I resent this deadbeat. The state and local police aren't interested when I call or offer this recent photo as evidence. -- Disgusted
Dear Disgusted: Thanks for the photo. Whoa -- Nov. 1, 2014. That's a long time for a small, yellow car like this to be unlicensed.
You have done your duty. Maybe one of our state troopers or city police will see this with his own eyes, pull over the driver and give him the business. And a ticket.
As a reminder, temporary tags are good for 30 days. That's all.
Dear Mahatma: I read your explanation awhile back that speed limits start and end at the signs. Now we're seeing speed limit signs inside of yellow signs. In Augusta, a local officer gave me a ticket saying the yellow sign with the speed limit inside was indeed the speed limit start. -- Martin
Dear Martin: What you mean is a sign that is diamond-shaped, yellow, has the words "Speed Limit 55" and an arrow pointing thataway.
We asked the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department and were told this is a warning sign notifying drivers of a reduced speed limit ahead. The actual, enforceable speed limit sign is the next speed limit sign beyond this one.
Based on your description of events in Augusta, and based on what the Highway Department has said, you were done wrong. Here's hoping you go back to Augusta and dispute the ticket in court.
Question: Is there a way to save millions spent every year fabricating, installing and maintaining the signs posted at bridges that remind people the bridge may ice before the road? Maybe if and when drivers get their license, and each time they renew it, they can sign a form saying they have enough brain power to know and remember this law of nature. -- Dumbfounded
Dear Founded: If we have learned anything over the past umpteen years, it's that drivers are forever forgetting the laws of nature.
This particular sign is one of the standard warning signs included in the Great Book of Traffic Wisdom. That is, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, published by the Federal Highway Administration. It's required reading for traffic engineers everywhere. Columnists, too.
The MUTCD does say that such signs "may be removed or covered during seasons of the year when its message is not relevant." To us, that seems like busywork.
A related warning sign is Slippery When Wet, which "may be used to warn that a slippery condition might exist."
Such a warning should also be put on babies. Ha!
You may have a point, dear reader. The MUTCD also says warning signs "should be kept to a minimum as the unnecessary use of warning signs tends to breed disrespect for all signs."
Vanity plate on a red Camaro: OMG MUV.
Mahatma@arkansasonline.com
Metro on 08/01/2015