Adopting a dog, on the other hand, will cost you about $140 to $200 according to the OC Animal Care Center in Orange. "There's a higher level of expectation when you adopt a dog," Oliva said. Either way, you'll have to pick up some yucky stuff. (Photos by Mindy Schauer, Bill Alkofer, Orange County Register and AP)
Don't even think about using toll roads or express lanes without an account. They'll track you down even if you were driving a rental car. They'll give you a ticket demanding $57.50. If you don't pay, that the penalty increases to $100. And if you don't repond to the second notice the DMV can put a hold on your vehicle registration. These guys are serious. The current transponders look like an all white pack of cigarettes. On your dashboard it could almost be perceived as a distraction. Eventually they'll be almond-colored and look like a harmonica. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The El Toro Y is the confluence of the I-405 and the I-5. According to the Alliance, more than 400,000 vehicles pass through the Y each day. Here's a photo of the I-405 (San Diego) freeway from 1958. (Photo courtesy USC Libraries)
The Alliance lists the El Toro Y as the widest interchange in the world. It's currently 26 lanes wide. The El Toro Y was named for the settlement of El Toro, which became part of the city of Lake Forest. El Toro was also the name of a now-decommissioned military base: the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. (Photo by Mark Rightmire,Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Santa Ana River crosses the I-5 at the Orange Crush, forming a large X. If you're in outer space, that X is a very definitive landmark. "Hey, I can see my interchange from here!" (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Orange Crush is the confluence of the I-5, the 57, and the 22. The Guiness Book of World Records cites it as the most complex road interchange in the world. The American Highway Users Alliance ranks it as the 5th worst bottleneck in the country. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Well, it turns out that there were two different Chapman fellas. The Chapman in Orange is named for Alfred Chapman, who with law partner Andrew Glassell founded the township of Orange. The Chapman in Fullerton was named for Charles Chapman, a fruit farmer who became known as "The Orange King of California.” Charles was the first mayor of Fullerton. (Photo by Bill Alkofer,Orange County Register/SCNG)
"Take the Chapman exit and turn right," your instructions say. "Wait a minute. Am I supposed to go to Orange or Fullerton?" This Chapman fella must have been a pretty important guy to get not one but TWO streets named after him. (Photo by Bill Alkofer,Orange County Register/SCNG)
If you're new to Southern California you may wonder why folks here have a unique way of referring the our freeways. It's "the" I-405, or "the" 91 or "the" I-5. We're the only place in the country that uses a definitive article in front of the freeway name. Here's a postcard of the very first freeway in America, the Pasadena Freeway, which opened in 1950.
California simplified its highway numbering system in 1964 so now we were driving on the 91 or the I-605. But having grown comfortable with using the definitive article, the "the" got tacked onto the numerical routes. Here's another postcard of "the" Pasadena Freeway.
In fact, anything dangling from your mirror can cause distracted driving. That includes graduation tassles, dream catchers or nightmare catchers. Gwen Vieau, the public information officer for the Superior Court of California, offers that you can find all of the traffic fines and fees online at www.courts.org (Photo by Bill Alkofer,Orange County Register/SCNG)
No matter how cute your baby's footsies are, hanging a bronzed bootie from your rear-view mirror can be considered a mechanism for distracted driving. (Photo by Bill Alkofer,Orange County Register/SCNG)
The CHP defines a Sigalert as any unplanned event that closes at least one lane for more than 30 minutes. The Sigalert system was developed by a guy named Loyd Sigmon. He had served in the Army as a radio communications expert for Dwight Eisenhower during World War II. In 1955, Sigmon developed a complex gizmo that would send signals to Los Angeles radio stations when he was alerted of a problem by law enforcement officials. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Now you're armed with good material to pull off a few bar room bets! (Photo by Bill Alkofer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The number of times per year that you clean up depends upon what section of freeway you adopt. You might just find some cool stuff. Oliva said that last month crews found a guitar, a lava lamp and a rubber chicken. (Photo by Bill Alkofer,Orange County Register/SCNG)
Adopting a freeway does not cost anything. Christopher Oliva works for the Adopt-A-Highway folks. He said that all you have to do is apply for a permit. You or your company then learns important safety tips then you get cool-looking orange vests and hardhats. (Photo by Bill Alkofer,Orange County Register/SCNG)
This sign had its problems, too. (Photo by Bill Alkofer,Orange County Register/SCNG)
But, sometimes the signs get garbled, like with this one on the I-5. (Photo by Bill Alkofer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
They're called Changeable Message Signs. In early March this sign reminded us that "Pedestrians Don't Have Armor." On St. Patrick's Day, Caltrans reminded us not to drive drunk on the 57 freeway. (Photo by Bill Alkofer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
...and Ashby has a recommendation for motorists as well. “Moving your vehicle in order to impede a motorcycle is a violation,” he said. (Photo by Ken Steinhardt, Orange County Register/SCNG)
In 2017, California became the first state to legalize lane splitting by motorcycles. The wrinkles are still being worked out but here are some suggestions for motorcyclists from California Highway Patrolman Nate Ashby: You shouldn't drive more than 10 miles per hour faster than the flow of traffic. Don't split lanes going faster than 30 miles per hour and don't split lanes at merge points. (Photo by Ken Steinhardt, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The fine for a first-time car pool lane offense is only $20 bucks, so what's the big deal? Gwen Vieau, Public Information Officer for the Superior Court of California points out that by the time you pay the fees, assessments and other penalties, you're looking at $162. (Photo by Bill Alkofer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Why are they called Botts' Dots? It's because they were invented by this guy - Elbert Dysart Botts. Alas, Caltrans' chief engineer Duper Tong said that they'll probably start removing Botts' Dots later this year. Why? Driverless cars have trouble reading these quirky lane markers. No Dots for robots. (Photo courtesy Caltrans)
A California Department of Transportation worker squints into the sun and points at a Botts' Dot on May 5, 1965. Botts' Dot research began in 1953. There are more than 25 million dots on California roadways. (File photo by Sam Smith, California Department of Transportation)
What the heck are those bumpy things between the lanes of a freeway? They're called Botts Dots. They give you a rumbly warning if you cross over into the next lane over. Some Californians call this "Driving By Braille."(Photo by Bill Alkofer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
