Do you have questions about general driving related require ments, such as registration or insurance? Are you unclear about the laws and restrictions related to driving? The Califor nia Department of Motor Ve hicles offers the following an swers in this column and at www.dmv.ca.gov.

Q: Our son is in the military and stationed in Mississippi. We loaned him a vehicle that we own and that is registered in our names (because we want it back in a couple of years), but he insures it in his name, in Mississippi.

What do we need to do for registration? Since it’s on loan in Mississippi, we won’t be able to have a smog certificate done this upcoming year to continue with the California registration.

A : An exemption is available from the smog check in your son’s circumstances. The exemption can be obtained by completing the vehicle description area, Section 2, and signing our Statement of Facts Form (Reg 256), which can be found using the following link: www.dmv.ca.gov/ forms/reg/reg256.pdf. The form should be included with the application for renewal mailing.

If you have any questions or have need for additional assistance, please call our Customer Communications Section at (916) 657-6560.

Q: Is it illegal to carry an unopened container of alcohol in a vehicle?

A: It’s not against the law to carry containers of liquor, beer or wine inside the vehicle as long as they’re full, sealed and unopened.

However, it is against the law to drink any amount of alcohol in any vehicle, whether you’re the driver or a passenger.

Keeping an opened alcoholic drink in the glove compartment is also against the law. If you must transport an open container, it must be in the trunk or in a place where passengers don’t sit.

Q: I work downtown and always see people making left turns on a red light on one-way streets. Is this legal?

A: Yes—but the move is only permitted if you’re turning left into a left-moving oneway street and if there’s no sign to prohibit the turn. Always signal and stop for a red traffic light at the limit line or corner and be sure to yield to pedestrians, bicyclists or other vehicles moving on their green light.

Q: My 15-year-old grandson was browsing your website and found the California Teens Treasure Hunt. What is this exactly?

A: The California Teens Treasure Hunt, on the DMV website at www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/ teen_hunt.html, is a wonderful tool to educate teens on driver safety and encourage them to be the best drivers they can be. This great interactive page takes teens on a journey to find the “treasure.” They advance to the next level and increase their chances of finding the treasure by answering DMV related questions correctly.

Please encourage your grandson to read through the helpful information on the California Teens Treasure Hunt, as it covers a wide range of information teenagers need to ensure they become safe and informed California drivers.

Q: How do I comment on the quality of customer service I re ceived over the phone or in person from the DMV?

A: I hope you received excellent service and want to write a glowing review of your experience! Whatever type of service you encountered, you can go to www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/survey/ survey_top.htm to fill out online comment forms concerning field office or telephone service.

Q: I’m doing a report on the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a class I’m taking this semester. Can you help me find some interesting historical facts on your department?

A: This sounds like my kind of report. Did you know California first started requiring driver licenses on Jan. 1, 1914, or that the DMV first introduced appointments to expedite driving test service in 1982? Seems like a long time to start offering appointments, doesn’t it?

Q: Can I make a right turn on a red light from a center lane if that lane is marked as a turning lane?

A: If the center lane is marked as a turning lane, it’s legal to make a right turn on a red light. If you do, make sure to stay in your lane. Just like making a right turn on red from the right lane, you must come to a complete stop at the light, yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles close enough to be a hazard before you proceed. Most importantly, make the right turn only when it’s safe.

For more information on laws and rules of the road, you can read the California Driver Handbook online at www.dmv.ca.gov/ pubs/dl600.pdf.

Readers are invited to submit their DMV-related questions to askdmv@dmv.ca.gov.