Traffic Violations

California Highway Patrol Commissioner Maury Hannigan said Wednesday that his agency will investigate the enforcement of school bus driver regulations after the recent disclosure of 35 incidents in which drivers failed to stop at rail crossings.

The driver of a bus that was struck by a commuter train, killing two television executives, will face a variety of charges stemming from the accident, police said Friday. South San Francisco Police Chief James Datzman said the preliminary investigation into the Monday evening crash indicated that the bus driver, Paul Go Cang, 34, had marijuana on the bus and illegally held two driver's licenses.

Comedian Chevy Chase was arrested for investigation of drunken driving after officers noticed him weaving across traffic lanes and speeding, police said. Chase was arrested Thursday night after police saw him commit several traffic violations, including driving up to 70 m.p.h., making unsafe lane changes and following other vehicles too closely, said Lt. Frank Salcido.

The Montebello Police Department, on the lookout for truck drivers who are breaking traffic laws, will soon begin special patrols of the city's industrial areas. Capt. Michael Kight said four traffic officers recently received training from the California Highway Patrol in order to crack down on drivers who break the law by driving trucks on restricted streets or are committing other traffic violations.

The gated community of Dove Canyon is waiting for a traffic survey to be completed before making a decision on whether to have the Sheriff's Department begin enforcing traffic laws inside the community. Richard Donine, a spokesman for the Dove Canyon Homeowner's Assn., said the group is waiting for the study results to find out what steps would need to be taken to bring the roads in line with the California motor vehicle code. Sgt.

Mitchell J. Mehdy knows many lawyers who dream of landing that one, big high-profile case--a juicy murder trial, or maybe a poignant malpractice suit--that will fatten their bank accounts and bolster their reputations as brilliant litigators. Mehdy sets his sights lower, on speeding tickets and moving violations. The more low-profile the cases, he says, the better. The 36-year-old attorney, who calls himself Mr. Ticket, prides himself on maintaining a caseload that is 90% traffic-related.

A judge reversed himself Thursday and announced he would no longer dismiss controversial red light tickets issued by cameras at seven West Hollywood intersections. Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner Hugh Bobys said he had dismissed the tickets on the basis of his interpretation of a state rule governing the interval for a yellow light. West Hollywood, which benefits from some of the fines, contended that a 3-second yellow light is legally long enough. "I am persuaded by ...

Police are preparing to crack down on Harbor Boulevard traffic violators in an enforcement program that will begin Wednesday and continue through March 31. Police will be stationed along Harbor between Adams and Baker streets to issue citations to motorists who are speeding, tailgating or making dangerous lane changes, Costa Mesa police spokesman Kevin Lovelady said.

Faced with an embarrassing list of scofflaws and no jail in which to incarcerate them, the County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday declared a three-month amnesty for people who owe an estimated 250,000 delinquent fines for traffic violations.

Question: How long does a misdemeanor traffic violation remain on your record? --D.B. Answer: If you are ticketed for one-point misdemeanor offenses such as speeding, running a red light or failure to obey a stop sign, the violation will stay on your driving record for 36 months, the California Department of Motor Vehicles reports.