Nov. 9--Q There's a serious road hazard on the Page Mill Road exit from southbound Interstate 280. Vehicles rock violently left to right when passing over this section because of the condition of the pavement. The road appears to be sinking and the sinking feeling also extends into the right lane on 280. It seems to be getting progressively worse over the past few weeks. Can Caltrans fix this sooner rather than later?

Pete Thomas

Redwood City

A Look for repairs within a week. And this is a problem we can partly blame on cows. Yep, cows. There is a cattle crossing under the freeway, and the culvert appears to be settling. Caltrans will make temporary repairs until its engineers can recommend a long-term solution.

Q My purse was stolen at my daughter's high school while I was meeting with her counselor. I left it outside the office on the table I was waiting at. The next day a good Samaritan found it under a mailbox five miles away, but my driver's license was missing. Would a teenager be dumb enough to use it for fake ID, posing as a 51-year-old woman? I tried to go to the DMV on Friday, but it was a furlough day and all offices were closed. What would happen if I got pulled over?

Too embarrassed to leave my name

Palo Alto

A Tell your sad tale to the cop and hope he believes

you. Also, make sure you have your insurance information and registration in the car. That may help convince the officer that your tale is true. But if you did get a ticket, it would be of the fix-it variety.

Q I write to you in the strictest of confidence. My family operates a business in downtown San Jose. In order to help our customers along a bit so that they don't receive parking tickets, I'll slip a nickel into their meters when their time gets low. My family says that this is illegal. Is it? My kids claim that if I get caught and jailed, it'll be my own fault, so they won't bail me out. I'd like to think that they'll eventually miss me, but even so, I don't believe I'm doing anything that will send me up the river. What do you think? You're welcome to run my letter, though I'd like to play it safe by being in your Witness Protection Program. Or just list me as the "Parking Meter Fairy." If I am right, I will be pleased that when my kids threaten to turn me in, I can tell them, "Mr. Roadshow says I'm pretty much legal, so now go finish your chores!"

Parking Meter Fairy

San Jose

A Kids, clear the table, clean your rooms and take out the garbage -- now! Mom is right. She cannot be ticketed for doing such a good deed, says Gina-the-City-Parking-Expert.