Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Eli from Port Neches asks: If a sign is posted van accessible, does that mean only a van can park there? Is anyone with a handicap placard allowed to park in van accessible spots?

Answer: The van accessible spot is available for anyone who has a valid placard or disabled plate on their vehicle. I have encountered many motorists who thought only a van was allowed to park in the disabled van accessible space. A reminder to all who have a placard, make sure you hang it on the rear view mirror or someplace it is easily seen. Do NOT drive with the placard hanging from the rear view mirror.

EJ from Port Arthur asks: Is it illegal for a license plate to be covered by a plastic cover? Does the entire license plate need to be visible in order to be legal?

Answer: I can definitely relate to your questioning the legality of covering license plates in Texas. Several years ago, the state of Texas had to clear up the language in the Transportation Code. Law enforcement officers interpreted it as covering any part of the lettering on the license plate was illegal. We were with the understanding the entire license plate had to be visible. All of the frames that covered any part of the license plate made the driver illegally operating a motor vehicle with obscured license plates. Today, the only lettering that must be clear and legible are the state “TEXAS,” and the license plate number/lettering.  Any additional lettering can be obscured. “Yes” you are allowed to have “clear” license plate covers. All others, such as smoked or tinted license plate covers, are not allowed to cover license plates and vehicles operated on Texas roadways.

Edward from Port Arthur asks: The other day my wife and I were treating a friend who was in a state of bereavement to dinner. We approached the traffic light on Highway 365 traveling west by Ritter Lumber and Avery Trace Apartments to turn left to go to Tony’s restaurant. This particular light cycled not once, not twice but three times without changing. My patience was wearing thin, watching others stop and go through their light that was cycling correctly. There were a couple of cars that went around me and turned left on the red light, so I eventually followed suit and turned left on red. Even in this case where I waited so long, would I still be wrong?

Answer: It’s rational to think and say somebody will experience this (traffic light malfunctioning) daily. I believe you are aware you broke the law and turned left on Red, which is disregarding a red light. I believe the knowledge is not out in the driving community enough that you can NOT take it upon yourself and turn through a red traffic light that won’t change to green, no matter how many cycles it rotates through. There are two choices a driver can make. Either stay longer at the light and wait or put on your RIGHT signal and when it’s clear, move out of the turning lane, go down and make a lawful U. Remember if you are involved in a crash because you failed to wait and turn left on red, you will be held as the fault vehicle, not the city of Port Arthur nor the state of Texas.

Join Me, Officer Rickey Antoine and the crew of Stephen “Buzzard Boots” Mosley, Lelo “mouth of Hwy 69/73” I. Washington and Tejas “Lil Man” Morning Star for Ask A Cop live on KSAP 96.9 FM, The Breeze radio station every Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. Tune in via the Internet at ksapthebreeze.org. Call in questions live at 409-982-0247. Email questions to rickey.antoine@portarthurtx.gov, call 409-983-8673 for voice mail or mail them to 645 4th Street, Port Arthur, Texas, 77640. If you happen to see me in public, you can always approach and “Ask A Cop!”