How to get a moving violation off your traffic record: Roadshow

Q: For the many decades I’ve been a California driver, I understood that if you had a previously clean driving record before receiving a moving violation, you could attend traffic school, pay an extra fee, and avoid having the point reported against your insurance.

I am very puzzled, then, by how my wife’s June 2019 moving violation, handled via traffic school and sign-off by the court, showed up on our insurance policy. Not only that, but it showed up after two years had passed. What would account for a two-year delay?

Mark Bole, Walnut Creek

A: Your wife’s traffic records were probably never entered at the DMV. She should take her traffic school receipt and proof of court sign-off to the DMV and have the moving violation expunged from her record.

Then she should take a corrected driving record to your insurance agent to have it removed there, as well.

Q: Can you provide a tip for keeping my FasTrak toll tag stuck to my windshield?

The sticky Velcro tape sticks great to my windshield but won’t remain stuck on the tag, probably because of heat in the vehicle. Have other readers had this problem? I tried to reaffix the Velcro tape to the tag with permanent double-sided tape, but this didn’t work, either.

Toby Librande

A: Double-sided tape works for many drivers, but since that didn’t work for you, readers, what ideas do you have for this type of situation?

Q: I was on my way to visit my brother in Albany on June 22 around 1 p.m. I decided to take BART.

Driving down Berryessa just after Lundy, I saw work on the side of the road, heard a huge bang and realized I had a flat. I turned into a BART lot and called AAA. They said it could be a two-hour wait, so I decided to deal with the flat after my visit.

I went to the kiosk to pay for parking with three crisp $1 bills, but it wouldn’t accept them, even after many tries. I saw a VTA car circling the lot, so ran after it, yelling “Stop, stop!” I finally caught the driver’s attention. I am 75, it was very hot, and I think the kind VTA lady thought I was going to have a coronary.

She heard my dilemma, told me to get in and drove us back to the kiosk. The machine showed no error codes, but it still wouldn’t accept my money. She finally recorded my plate number and said she would list it as paid. She was an angel.

Rosalie Govek,  San Jose

A: Thank goodness the VTA person was able to turn a tough experience into a good one.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.