Commuter: About two months ago, I wrote you about crossing parallel double yellow lines to get into a driveway. You quoted Section 21460(c) of California's Vehicle Code, stating it was legal.

Unfortunately, I had a negative experience this morning and I wanted to verify with you whether I was right or wrong. I was in Concord driving to work on Concord Boulevard, which is separated by two sets of double yellow lines that are wide enough to have a car drive between them.

As I approached Bailey Road, another car drove between the set of double yellows all the way down to the left turn lane at the light at Bailey Road. There was a motorcycle officer pulled over on the right who immediately got behind us and gave us both a ticket for crossing the double yellow.

I have two questions. Was that in fact, illegal? If we aren't allowed to drive between the double yellows, why are they designed wide enough for a car?

Maher in Concord

Queen: The Queen is very sorry you, a respectful, law-abiding defensive driver, had to learn the hard way, though she is glad you wrote about this because now others can avoid the same fate.

Your two questions deal with different situations and different laws. As we discussed a couple of months ago, it is lawful to make a left turn across either two parallel solid lines or two parallel lines, one of which is broken. This is set forth in Vehicle

Now, let's examine your second question, Maher. You asked if driving between a set of double parallel lines is illegal. Your first clue should have been getting pulled over and given a ticket, eh?

But the Queen does not want to be too hard on you. Many drivers don't understand the function of those sets of double yellow lines. Basically, you should think of the setup as a one-dimensional traffic island, or median strip. As most of us know, you're not supposed to drive down a median strip.

This setup is actually governed by Vehicle Code section 21651(a). The section dictates that whenever a highway is divided into two or more roadways by a section not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings, it is illegal to drive any vehicle upon the dividing section.

Queen: Her Majesty ran a number of items recently related to disabled plates and placards. She was mistaken when she referred to disabled "stickers" on license plates. Here's the scoop:

Commuters: Your recent comments regarding disabled drivers and the (disabled) placards and plates were incorrect in one respect. My wife has been disabled for 20 years and she has both the placards and license plates on both our vehicles. You stated you checked the "stickers" on the license plates on several cars. They are not stickers, they do not come off, they are imprinted on the plates. We read your column all the time, keep up the good work.

Bill and Jan March, Concord

Queen: Finally, Her Majesty gratefully thanks the ever-so-sharp Loyal Subjects who sent in additional wild and crazy traffic acronyms. Here's a new sampling from readers, sorted into three classifications:

1. The good: Transit in Tampa, Florida has a heart, or rather, a HART: Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit (thanks to Art Zeidman of Walnut Creek for supplying this one). "The Queen of HART, she made some TARTs..." Actually, that would be Tahoe Area Rapid Transit, Laurie K. Neuenschwander of Antioch and Bob Hetler of cyberspace informed Her Majesty.

2. The bad: Denver's Transportation Expansion project to extend light rail is "T-REX." Hey, there are enough dinosaur transit projects around already, OK? (Actually, the Queen is just teasing. This actually is a fine name.)

3. The ugly: Philadelphia has the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or "SEPTA," which also means "walls of fungus cells."

HOW TO CONTACT THE QUEEN

Got questions about your commute? Whether you drive, ride, bike or walk, write the Queen at The Commuter Page, c/o The Times, P.O. Box 8099, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, or ccncommuter@bayareanewsgroup.com. Visit her at www.contracostatimes.com/queen-of-the-road.