Q: Hi Honk: For the last few months, there have been demonstrations, at least once a week, on the overpass above the eastbound 101 Freeway in Encino, just west of the Balboa Boulevard off-ramp. The demonstrators hang banners and wave flags to the cars below. I’ve seen political protests from both sides, policy protests and one effort supporting the Rams late in the season. Whatever the cause, people slow down as they pass below, inevitably resulting in miles of traffic jams in both directions. Traffic usually opens up as soon as you’re past the overpass. I realize there are First Amendment protections at work here, but aren’t there any laws to prevent impeding the flow of traffic?
– Jeff Pressman, Bell Canyon
A: The spokesman for the California Highway Patrol’s West Valley station that patrols that area, Officer Cody Sturges, says that stretch often has heavy traffic even when no one is up top grabbing drivers’ attention. He did say the agency receives complaints about the protesters, the fans of Matthew Stafford and his Rams teammates or whoever else is trumpeting a cause or a passion.
But the folks on the overpass are within their rights.
Sturges says there’s not an increase of collisions there, and there’s been no reports of anyone tossing anything onto the vehicles below.
“It’s protected speech,” he said. “They are not creating a public-safety hazard.”
However, they are not to leave stuff up on state-controlled property, such as signs.
If so, after Caltrans learns about it and can get someone out there, the banners or other stuff will come down, said Eric Menjivar, a Caltrans spokesman.
“One of our crews will take it down, the CHP will take it down, or the CHP will ask us to take it down,” he said.
Years ago, a federal judge said Caltrans had a choice: Leave everything up, or take it all down.
So to get ugly hate speech off of the highways, the beautiful America flags flying from an overpass have to come down, too.
The public can alert Caltrans of signs left hanging when the protesters leave online via csr.dot.ca.gov.
Menjivar said if the message is vulgar or hate speech, though, it is best to call the CHP on a non-emergency line where the complaint can get quicker attention.
HONKIN’ FACT: On a flight from Cape Town, South Africa, to Munich, ultra-distance runner (and content creator, of course) Dom Stroh did a workout in a jetliner’s bathroom, running in circles — including stepping atop the closed toilet seat. The Berlin resident circled for an hour, for five kilometers, or 3.1 miles, according to his watch’s app. (Source: 7 San Diego).
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