Lane splitting, RT, prostitution and refugees

Fault in lane-splitting accident?

Re “Motorcycle bill barely moves the needle” (Insight, Foon Rhee, Aug. 16): A question that I’ve never seen answered: If a lane-splitting motorcycle rider is clipped by a car and falls over in front of me, and I hit him, who is at fault?

I ask because this situation has nearly happened to me on two occasions; both times the lane splitters recovered and maintained their balance. I would hope that the law would be on the side of drivers who stay in their own lane, but wouldn’t be surprised if that isn’t the case.

Let riders help clean up RT

Re “Has RT answered challenge to up its game, win new riders?” (Insight, Aug. 18): RT has doubled its cleaning staff to clean up stations for the opening of the arena. There is no doubt about the litter that plagues every RT train, bus and station.

I have observed people on trains pulling pickles off their hamburgers and dropping them on the floor. I’ve watched people at RT stations drop food containers when there was a trash can a few feet away.

California penal code 374.4 makes it illegal to litter and provides a fine and the possibility of being ordered to participate in community service to pick up litter. If RT would invest in having someone at the stations to issue tickets to riders for littering, riders would start to think twice about where they leave their trash, and there would be less need for cleanup crews.

Bill is good idea, but …

Re “Assembly votes to cut prostitution penalties” (Capitol & California, Aug. 19): SB 1322 attempts to protect minors involved with prostitution, recognizing that they are victims. The bill would prevent law enforcement from arresting or charging minors for prostitution, or loitering to commit prostitution. From the pimp’s standpoint, the bill would make underaged sex workers more valuable. The pimps would have workers that would never have to be bailed out of jail. The bill has the right idea, but without some enforceable separation between pimps and their underage workforce, it might unintentionally make things worse.

Question for extreme vetting

Re “Image of Aleppo boy sparks talk of cease-fires” (Insight, Aug. 19): How much “extreme vetting” would 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh in Aleppo and his family have to endure before they would be allowed into this country as refugees? Of course if Donald Trump has his way, they would never be allowed in, since they are from Syria.

This story was originally published August 20, 2016 at 12:59 AM with the headline "Lane splitting, RT, prostitution and refugees."