Doug Dahl, The Bellingham Herald Journalist Profile

Articles

Consider consequences of resting feet on the dashboard

5 days ago | bellinghamherald.com | Doug Dahl

Q: I saw a person riding in the passenger seat of a car with their feet up on the dashboard. I'm concerned about what would happen in a collision, since there's an airbag in the dash. Can police pull them over and warn them not to put their feet on the dash? A: Maybe you've noticed that in movies, when a passenger in a car puts their feet on the dashboard, it's often to convey that the character is a free spirit; someone who can't be confined by traditional expectations.
There are limits to window tinting in Washington

1 week ago | bainbridgereview.com | Doug Dahl

Q: Is it legal in Washington to have windows so dark that cross traffic cannot see the driver’s face? I have had two incidents where a car has pulled out in front of me, where a near-crash situation would have been avoided had I been able to see if the driver had looked my way. A: I know someone who bought a car with tint so dark he had to drive with the windows down at night. Not a joke. He promptly removed the tint, both for functionality and legality.
Right of way dilemma boils down to this simple question

1 week ago | bellinghamherald.com | Doug Dahl

Q: I have never found the answer to this - even in the Washington Driver Guide. If two cars coming from opposite directions on the same street want to turn onto the same side street, and there aren't stop signs on the main street, who has the right-of-way to make that turn first? A: If you're looking for a rule for that exact scenario, you're right, you won't find it in the Washington Driver Guide or in Washington's traffic laws.
In traffic stops, passengers have rights

2 weeks ago | wenatcheeworld.com | Doug Dahl

Q: If you are a passenger in a car that police suspect might be stolen, do you need to identify yourself? I know that for a traffic infraction stop you don't need to provide identification, but in this situation I would think the cops have a good reason to identify everyone in the car. A: I don’t like to tell people they’re wrong, so how about this: you’re mostly right. Also, this question is a good prompt for the reminder that I’m a traffic safety nerd, not an attorney.
There are advantages to parking further away

2 weeks ago | bainbridgereview.com | Doug Dahl

Q: Lately, I’ve seen a lot of motorcycles parking in the hashed area adjacent to posted handicapped parking spaces. I’ve always understood that the hashed area was part of the handicapped parking space to allow room for persons getting into and out of vehicles. Is parking in the hashed area a handicapped parking violation or just rude?
Road Rules: Can off-road vehicles be used on public roads? - All Point Bulletin

2 weeks ago | allpointbulletin.com | Doug Dahl

Question: I live in a neighborhood in the county, and we have people who race up and down our streets on mini-bikes, dirt bikes, and three- and four-wheelers, often after dark with no lights. These vehicles are loud, none of them are licensed and some of the riders are too young to even get a driver’s license. All I can see is a disaster waiting to happen. Are these vehicles legal on neighborhood streets? Answer: This might set a new record for most laws broken in one question.
Road Rules: Can off-road vehicles be used on public roads? - The Northern Light

2 weeks ago | thenorthernlight.com | Doug Dahl

Question: I live in a neighborhood in the county, and we have people who race up and down our streets on mini-bikes, dirt bikes, and three- and four-wheelers, often after dark with no lights. These vehicles are loud, none of them are licensed and some of the riders are too young to even get a driver’s license. All I can see is a disaster waiting to happen. Are these vehicles legal on neighborhood streets? Answer: This might set a new record for most laws broken in one question.
Rules of the Road: Are passengers required to provide ID during traffic stops?

2 weeks ago | bellinghamherald.com | Doug Dahl

According to RCW 46.61.020, during a traffic stop the driver of the car must provide license, registration and proof of insurance to an officer. But does a passenger have to show their ID? avid_creative Getty Images/iStockphoto Q: If you are a passenger in a car that police suspect might be stolen, do you need to identify yourself?
The Wise Drive: Off-road vehicles in the neighborhood

3 weeks ago | wenatcheeworld.com | Doug Dahl

Q: I live in a neighborhood in the county, and we have people who race up and down our streets on mini-bikes, dirt bikes, and three- and four-wheelers, often after dark with no lights. These vehicles are loud, none of them are licensed, and some of the riders are too young to even get a driver's license. All I can see is a disaster happening. Are these vehicles legal on neighborhood streets? A: This might set a new record for most laws broken in one question.
Exceptions for phone use while driving

3 weeks ago | bainbridgereview.com | Doug Dahl

Q: It’s clearly dangerous to talk on the phone while driving, and it makes sense that we have a law against it, but why are the police allowed to do it? A: The longer cell phones are around, the more we all agree that they don’t mix well with driving. According to AAA surveys, in 2009, 58 percent of us thought that drivers talking on their phones were a serious threat. By 2014, 66 percent of us thought it was unacceptable, and in 2023, 78 percent of us thought it was very dangerous.