Question: How safe is it for a child to ride a motorized scooter to school in California and if it is not legal, does the child have to attend traffic school if they get a citation?

Answer: Unless the rider has a valid driver's license or instructional permit, not only is it not legal for a child to drive a motorized scooter; is not safe, nor is it cheap. However, traffic school is not a possible consequence for the young offender.

And here is a little heads-up for those parents that knowingly disregard the law and let their children ride motorized scooters to school anyway. The fine for a non-licensed rider on a motor scooter is around $100.00. In addition, if the scooter has been modified and is too loud, or it was being ridden anywhere but in a bike lane, or if the rider is under the age of 18 and riding without a helmet, three more $100.00 fines can be added to the party.

It might be time for some students to rediscover the lost art of placing one foot in front of the other.....

Q: My family is having a friendly debate. While waiting behind a vehicle to turn, I proceeded to drive in the right-hand turn lane and then continue straight ahead to pass on the right side of the vehicle making a left turn.

Some people in the car said that the maneuver was illegal because I was changing lanes in the intersection. I was told that by an officer that taught a traffic school class I attended years ago that changing lanes in an intersection is OK. Can you tell me if anything that was done was illegal?

A: The good news is that the traffic school officer was right.... The bad news is that you still did something wrong.

You are correct that it is legal to change lanes in an intersection, providing that you do not traverse onto the opposite side of the road (into oncoming traffic), and that you can complete the lane change safely.

However, the example you illustrated was one in which you were proceeding to drive straight ahead from a specifically marked right turn lane. This is not legal. The violation is referred to as "improperly passing on the right" and will net you a fine of well over $150.00 in most California counties.

I'd say the family debate ended in a draw.

Q: What kind of fine/punishment can my son expect for going 105 miles per hour at 3 AM?

A: 105 miles per hour? Ouch! I hope that you are sitting down for this answer. The fine in most California counties for driving over 100 mph is well over $400. In addition, this is a two point offense, and violators are not ordinarily offered the option of traffic school as a means of masking their points for this violation. This can mean a very steep rise in your son's insurance rates, as well.

I have a feeling that if you have to help your son pay for this little 3 AM indiscretion, he might find a new, more personal meaning in the words "Too Fast, Too Furious".

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