Attention needed for speeders on Highway 4:…

Q: I saw the recent questions about carpool cheats in the San Jose area. I live in the East Bay and see the exact same issue on Highway 4 in the morning and the afternoon. I would say that about 80% of the people using the carpool lanes during the stated times are single drivers. Why is there no enforcement? Not a CHP in sight ever.

I used to see the CHP enforcing this before the pandemic, but now all I see is the CHP on rare occasions set up at different locations to monitor for speeders as Highway 4 is nothing but a race track, with drivers weaving in and out of traffic at unsafe speed.

Kevin Matthews

A: More carpool enforcement is planned, but speeders are the main focus. The Pittsburg Police department recently ticketed a woman doing 91 miles per hour on Highway 4. The very next day, she was cited again for doing 94 mph.

CHP Captain Christian Oliver said, “We really appreciate when the public helps to point out specific problems, in specific areas, rather than the usual ‘They are speeding everywhere’ types of complaints.

“Recently, a reader communicated a problem with the HOV lanes on Interstate 880 between Dixon Landing Road and Highway 101. In response, the CHP focused enforcement on the HOV lanes in this area. We wrote 96 citations during this focused enforcement. The frustrating part is we did not stop every violator in that area.”

That was 96 tickets over a mere two days.

Q: I was driving by the zoo animals off I-680 in the North Bay at dusk and noticed what looked like a camel laying down on its side with the other animals encircling it, looking down at it, as if they were all concerned for its welfare.
I have never seen that behavior from them before, so I am concerned the animal may be sick.

I am hoping the animals are checked daily or am looking for someone to notify, in case the animal is in need of care.

Gail Adam, Walnut  Creek 

A: They are checked frequently, but the status of this animal remains a mystery.

Q: I have been driving Highway 17 since 1977. The last several months, there has been a CHP officer going to San Jose around 5 a.m. and I would like to flash my lights at him as a “Good morning and thank you for your service” message. Is that appropriate?

Dennis Kennedy, Santa Cruz

A: I’d say no. Flashing your lights could be construed as signaling that there is a problem ahead. I’ll let the CHP know of your thanks for their efforts.