Q. Lately, businesses have been requesting or demanding to scan my driver’s license — a home grocery delivery with alcohol, blood-testing companies, and BevMo! to prove my age (I’m 74). As often as possible I refuse, not knowing what the state of California inputs onto the reverse strip of my license. So, please tell us just what info is embedded on our California driver’s licenses.
– Gregory Clements, Laguna Niguel
A. “The magnetic stripe on the reverse side of the California driver’s license and ID card holds the same information found on the front of the card,” Ronald Ongtoaboc, a Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman, told Honk in email in response to your question, Gregory.
“A business can ask for proof of age and identity in certain circumstances,” Ongtoaboc added.
Under the law, he told Honk, a business can swipe or scan a driver’s license to verify age, to ensure the license is authentic or to record info that is legally required.
In some instances, not all of the data can be used. For example, only the name and the identification number oftentimes can be retained by a check-service company.
Q. Can you hang glide over an amusement park?
– Eric Peterson, Granada Hills
A. No.
The Federal Aviation Administration does not regulate hang gliders, but it does have a say as to what airspace they visit.
The agency prohibits them going over “any congested area of a city, town or settlement, or over any open-air assembly of persons,” federal law says, with an FAA spokesman, Ian Gregor, adding that last clause certainly covers amusement parks.
Even when not open, theme parks often have substantial crews about. Further, under federal regulations, hang gliders are not allowed to fly at all from sunset to sunrise.
Because of the terrorists attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the Disney parks have another layer of protection — they have no-fly zones directly above and surrounding them for any aircraft whatsoever, drones included, up to 3,000 feet above ground level.
Q. Drivers, probably young adults, recently have started making doughnuts in the street very late at night. They seem to do them at every intersection. Is this a ticketed offense? Can police do anything to prevent this?
– Leslie Perovich, Irvine
A. Sure can, and although at times it can be difficult to catch up to the offenders, some departments will take extra efforts to nab them, such as by putting extra officers out on the streets with the main focus of arresting and citing such scofflaws.
Some of the state laws that officers can use to sting those found spinning tires and taking over intersections: exhibition of speed, reckless driving and, if the car is illegally modified, the owner can be tagged for that, too.
Rialto and San Bernardino police, for example, did a focused operation recently and arrested four motorists on suspicion of exhibition of speed, said Rialto Cpl. Mike Martinez. Another four were arrested on suspicion of reckless driving, with the involved vehicles seized for a month and the drivers facing $4,000 or so in fines and penalties and a suspended license.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk
Source: Orange County Register
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