CA Driver's license rant

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I was talking to a young neighbor in his 20's and we were talking about drivers. I mentioned that I wonder why no one seems to understand the driver on the right at a 4-way stop has the right-of-way. He said that was not on the last test he took.

That's a good thing for me as I live in a neighborhood with a 4-way every other block. When I am the yielding party I come to a full stop and count to 3. If they don't move I do and don't hesitate. I've had a lot of people start a split second after me and they did have the right of way, until 3 seconds past that is.

They then typically jamb on the brakes and lay on the horn. Fk 'em. This also stems from coming to the stop and they have the ROW and I'm supposed to see some c*** inside dark tinted windows rapidly waving me to go ahead. No problem Ms. Syphilis Brain, I was going to anyway.

Hmm, you count to 3? I hope it's a really fast count. Most of the time, it's obvious who was there first. If it was a tie for first or I was second, I'll give the other car a chance to go, but if they wait too long, they lost their chance. I'm not going to sit around all day waiting for indecisive folks to follow the rules.

[Noah930]

FWIW, here are pics of "the range" where the California DMV tests your riding skills. I took the MSF course, so never had to do this.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

Just a question: You need to take the written test when you renew in CA?

I think it's every 5 years mail in renewal and on 10 years you retake the written test.

[Noah930]

To threadjack: My CA DMV WTF moment of the day: I received in the mail my annual registration notice for my daily driver on Monday. I had a moment in the middle of the day to get it smog checked on Tuesday. Today (Wednesday) I stopped by AAA to renew the registration, only to be told that it was **too early** to renew it, and that I had to wait until tomorrow to do so.

I understand how one cannot renew their registration too far in advance of a vehicle's expiration date, but why then mail out the renewal so far in advance? I had to renew the registrations on two other cars, so I thought I'd just do 'em all at the same time. But apparently I was too efficient.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I was talking to a young neighbor in his 20's and we were talking about drivers. I mentioned that I wonder why no one seems to understand the driver on the right at a 4-way stop has the right-of-way. He said that was not on the last test he took.

That's a good thing for me as I live in a neighborhood with a 4-way every other block. When I am the yielding party I come to a full stop and count to 3. If they don't move I do and don't hesitate. I've had a lot of people start a split second after me and they did have the right of way, until 3 seconds past that is.

They then typically jamb on the brakes and lay on the horn. Fk 'em. This also stems from coming to the stop and they have the ROW and I'm supposed to see some c*** inside dark tinted windows rapidly waving me to go ahead. No problem Ms. Syphilis Brain, I was going to anyway.

What gets me is when you pull up to the stop sign someone perpendicular to you slams on their brakes, stopping 20-30 feet from the actual stop sign and thinks that they get to go first.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by craigster59

I think it's every 5 years mail in renewal and on 10 years you retake the written test.

I don't know if I have ever retaken the written test. Once they wanted a new picture and I had to do the vision test. But I cannot recall ever retaking the written portion, and I've had my license for 35 years now. Not saying you're wrong. Maybe I just slipped through the cracks, Or don't remember things well (like examinations retaken) in my old age.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I don't know if I have ever retaken the written test. Once they wanted a new picture and I had to do the vision test. But I cannot recall ever retaking the written portion, and I've had my license for 35 years now.

You're probably right. I think you retake the vision test, get a new picture and lie about your height and weight again.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by craigster59

You're probably right. I think you retake the vision test, get a new picture and lie about your height and weight again.

Last time I had my DL renewed here, there were signs about doing it online (not the secure ID version) .... so I asked about it.

They just reuse your existing picture and if you can see good enough to take the online test (without cheating) ..... and pay them of course...

No waiting tho'!

Udderly Stooopid

[Scott Douglas]

When you're over 70 you get the joy of a mandatory trip to the DMV, no on line stuff allowed.

[Scott Douglas]

Did the MSF course recommend riding in the middle of the traffic lane?

[varmint]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Renewal costs $45.
IF you fail the test three times you forfeit the $45 and have to start over with the application process.
No where do they tell you your $45 is gone if that happens.
I passed my driver's license part but failed the motorcycle test.
I'd be dead if I followed their recommendations for how to ride.
Now I get to go thru this whole BS situation again.
What a crock of you know what.

End of rant, thanks for listening or reading.

Knew a bunch of teamster transport drivers back in LA. They would get up early in the morning and go to the DMV in Palmdale when it was time to renew. The reduced a hole staff factor there was worth the trip.

[Scott Douglas]

That would be a 120 mile one way drive thru LA, no thanks.
It's not really the staff's fault, they're just doing their job. I still haven't found where it says if you fail three times you forfeit your money and have to pay again.
Having an appointment is the only way to go around here. The none appointment line of people was out the door and into the parking lot at 9AM.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by Noah930

To threadjack: My CA DMV WTF moment of the day: I received in the mail my annual registration notice for my daily driver on Monday. I had a moment in the middle of the day to get it smog checked on Tuesday. Today (Wednesday) I stopped by AAA to renew the registration, only to be told that it was **too early** to renew it, and that I had to wait until tomorrow to do so.

I understand how one cannot renew their registration too far in advance of a vehicle's expiration date, but why then mail out the renewal so far in advance? I had to renew the registrations on two other cars, so I thought I'd just do 'em all at the same time. But apparently I was too efficient.

I think that's BS. I've gotten my notice on one day, went to get smog the next and then immediately gone to AAA and gotten my tags that same day. All done by 11AM having started at 9AM. The longest wait was at the smog station waiting for a Boxster to fail its test.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Did the MSF course recommend riding in the middle of the traffic lane?

It's been awhile (23/24 years?), but IIRC the recommendation was to switch positions in the lane, so you're never in any one vehicle's blindspot. Also the negative of riding in the middle of the lane is that that ends up where the drippins' (oil and other slippery liquids) concentrate.

When I took my motorcycle permit test, I read the DMV's moto pamphlet the night before. I think I maybe missed one question on the exam, but I tend to be a good test-taker. But I also recall being surprised that I was additionally handed an exam for the regular driver's license (which I already had). I expected to take the moto permit exam, but I didn't expect to have to retake the regular driver's written exam, too. I mean, it made sense: I'm supposed to know the rules of the road as well as the stuff germaine to motorcycles. I just didn't realize I'd have to take 2 tests at once. But it was no big deal to pass 'em both.

I don't know where it's written, but I recall that if you take the driver's test 3 times and fail x 3, you have to start over from the beginning--meaning you have to pay the $$ all over again. That's the way it was when I was 16, and now that I have kids entering driving age, it's still the same rule today.

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

Just a question: You need to take the written test when you renew in CA?

Not always. If you're a good boy or girl, you skate. You got points against you, you take the test. The last time I re-newed I was golden . But then I noticed on my new license the DMV forgot to stamp class "M" on it. I called and they said "oh, our bad but you have to take the written test now." WTF?! ...fine, I made an appointment and dealt with it.
For a new motorcyclist you either take a CHP course and are automatically licensed or you take the riding test. Most take the CHP course because the riding test is so tough. My buddy took the riding test and I lent him my XR because I knew his Harley didn't have the turning radius to do the 12' circle. Actually, there's nothing easy in the whole test. I watched my friend struggle through it with a DMV employee on his lunch break. He said it's entertainment for him, this guy and I laughed the whole test. He was impressed my buddy passed. 9 out of 10 fail he said. Most fall over at some point

[Bill Douglas]

Completely true. In Rarotonga if you don't have a motorcycle license and want to ride a scooter for your ten days there you go down to the police station with your 25 bucks. There is a swag of girls in bikini tops and boys in board shorts lined up. The cops get you to do a lap around the carpark and you're good to go. Something happens to the $25 and they write you up a genuine motorcycle license - good until you are 60 years old or something. A friend here in NZ rides his motorcycle using his Raro license so if he loses it it's no big deal.

[Evans, Marv]

Things must be different in different counties in CA. I renewed my license in 2022 and studdied for the written tests for car & motorcycle. When I went to the DMV, they gave me an eye test and told me people over 70 didn't have to take written tests. My license was renewed with the motorcycle certification. When the lady told me about not having to take the written, I said it didn't make sense & wthat older people should especially be tested. She agreed.