National Motorists Association
Massachusetts Page
Welcome to our "Millennium Mass Mailing." This is what's happened in our fin-de-siecle Commonwealth:
Here's a way you can make a difference -- if you think a street in your city or town has an unreasonable speed limit, tell them so. Cities post low speed limits because they think that's what voters want.
Since last March I have been trying to get the city of Newton to correct a large number of illegal speed limit signs. Nobody seemed interested in fixing the problem. The Highway Department doesn't like confrontations and the goal of the City of Newton is to get the smallest possible number on signs to satisfy demands from residents (meanwhile, those residents drive 40 or 50 MPH down the same streets they want posted 20 or 25).
On January 6 many of the illegal signs were replaced. It's still too soon to say exactly what's going to happen and some illegal speed limit remain, but the worst abuses are gone. I don't think this reflects a change in attitude, just a determination that they couldn't get away with further violations.
If you got a speeding ticket on a street in Newton that was illegally posted, and you were ticketed for a speed less than or equal to the new posted limit, or if you got a speeding ticket for any of the other illegal limits listed on the NMA web page and you were only going a few MPH over the limit, let me know. Even if it's too late to fight the ticket I'm looking for stories to send to the legislature to convince them that there is a problem.
I have also started investigating Boston speed limits. Based on my research, I believe that the posted limits on Jewish War Veterals Drive in Franklin Park, Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton, Washington Street in West Roxbury, and Washington Street in Brighton are illegal. If you live in Boston and want to get something done about these signs, let me know.
(Some little known trivia: Boston and a few other cities have had special acts passed giving them the power to post 20 MPH speed limits as long as they call them "safety zones".)
On behalf of 6,000,000 motorists who vote with their right foot every day, last year we went to Beacon Hill to testify against such proposals as the "aggressive driving" bills, fine doubling and lowering of speed limits.
You cannot imagine how difficult it is to counteract a crying self-proclaimed "victim" by using only sensible lines such as "but we already have laws about that," or pointing out to the legislators that the statistics used by that State Trooper all decked out in full regalia, were all made up. (If any of you are extremely photogenic, quick-witted and charming, please let me know - I'll put you on TV.)
At any rate, these are some other highlights:
In 1999 I became your State Chapter Coordinator. I also got a new set of wheels (a Suzuki Great Viagra) and two speeding tickets. I did get rid of the first one, but the other is still pending - I'll let you know of the outcome. And just because the world didn't end doesn't mean now you can stop worrying; there is always the Leap-Year Bug...
That's all for now, see you on the rebound.
Ivan Sever
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