National Motorists Association
Massachusetts Page

Hello Massachusetts motorists,

Welcome to the newest edition of our Mass Mailing.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

There are two bills pending that effect every motorist in the state. One reduces speed limits. The other brings photo radar to Massachusetts.

• House Bill 4318 would reduce speed limits to 25 mph in residential areas from the current 30. It would also allow cities and towns to reduce speed limits further on other streets.

• House Bill 4138 authorizes red light cameras. You would get a ticket weeks later in the mail and be told to send in a fine.

Cameras are also unreliable. As we write this update, a San Diego judge has stated that the camera system there is probably too flawed to permit using the photos as evidence.

Maybe you are not concern; you don't drive through red lights. But history shows that the system will be expanded. The British government is in the process of deploying 6,000 photo radar cameras for speed enforcement; Arizona just added photo radar capability to its red light cameras. And Tampa, Florida has taken the next step. They outfitted their cameras with facial recognition software to identify everybody who walks by.

Please contact us on how you can fight these bills.

On the other hand, the legislation just repealed a law that mandated an automatic licences suspension of any driver who received three warnings within one year. They did it not because the bill was unfair, but because the Registry is overworked. And let's not forget S2088, which would prohibit driving a dirty car on any public road...

TAPINGS

The case of the driver prosecuted for audio recording Abington police harassing him went to the Supreme Judicial Court this summer.

The driver had tried to make a complaint against the police, but they retaliated by filing wiretapping charges against him. In a 4-2 decision the SJC ruled that his conduct was a felony under state law. Since police officers have a right to privacy in public places, under current Massachusetts law, you are required to let the officer know you are recording him, giving him a chance to separate you from your tape recorder before he continues.

Meanwhile, secret video taping remains legal. This comes in handy for the police when they want to video tape you - for instance to show your impaired or aggressive driving. But recently this backfired on them. Seems that a creep got caught secretly video taping his female roommates in their bedrooms. Because of this loophole in the law, what should have been a simple conviction became very difficult to prove in court.

TOLLS UPDATE

At the western part of the state, the two new trucks purchased earlier to pick up the toll receipts turned out to be too big for the MassPike garage. According to the Pike Authority, the solution was "retrofitting" the facility at a cost of "$7000 or $8000."

At the same time, even after two public hearings, increase on the Pike Extension to $1 from 50 cents, and the Sumner Tunnel/Tobin Bridge increase by $1 each come January 2002 is almost certain.

LEFT ON RED

This is a reminder that it's legal in Massachusetts to turn left on red, provided both streets are one-way and turns on red are not prohibited by a sign. For a listing of some of these intersections, see "Little Secret #2."

DRIVER TRAINING

Finally good news for young drivers. Due to an overwhelming response, the brand new free program for licensed teenaged drivers is going to be expanded.

The driving course which runs 3 1/2 hours, is designed to teach kids emergency car handling behind the wheel of a real car. It is the result of collaboration between the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealer's Association and Stevens Advanced Driver Training school.

Contact your local new car dealership, or call Kirk Hazlett at 617-451-1051, e-mail: khazlett@msada.org for more information.

FATALITY FIGURES AND THE BOSTON GLOBE

On August 12 and 19, following the release of the latest government traffic fatality figures, the Boston Globe published front page editorials calling for stricter traffic laws.

Exactly how many fatalities did Massachusetts have last year?

1. 1000 for every 100,000,000 miles driven in the state
2. 100 for every 100,000,000 miles driven in the state
3. 10 for every 100,000,000 miles driven in the state

The correct answer is none of the above. Massachusetts had the safest drivers in the country, with less than one fatality for every 100,000,000 miles driven (0.8 to be exact). But reading the Boston Globe, you would have thought we were the worst, not the best.

Congratulations, Massachusetts motorists!