By guest writer Mariya Frost, Director, Coles Center for Transportation Washington Policy Center Editor’s note: This post first appeared on the Washington Policy Center Blog. The state Department of Commerce is very clear about its views on driving: officials must reduce or altogether eliminate people’s need to drive. In their latest draft of the state energy […]
134 Alerts Found For: "washington"
Officials Pitch Wishful Thinking as Fact in Washington State Plan to Reduce Driving: NMA E-Newsletter #626
January 10, 2021 • Bicycle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, MASS TRANSIT, NEWSLETTER, PEDESTRIAN, Road Diets, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, VMT, WASHINGTON
The Washington Report–COVID-19 Crisis Edition: NMA E-Newsletter #589
April 26, 2020 • Complete Streets, DETER Act, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Gas Tax, infrastructure, LEGISLATION, MASS TRANSIT, NEWSLETTER, NMA, SAFETY, TICKET QUOTA, VISION ZERO, VMT, VMT Tax
By Rob Talley Editor’s Note: The Washington Report is a regular feature of the NMA’s quarterly Driving Freedoms member magazine. Our representative in DC, Rob Talley, wrote the original version of this newsletter for the spring issue of the magazine before the pandemic halted its publication. So Rob recently updated his dispatch to include more […]
Shenanigans Abound in the Washington State Ballot Initiative over Car Fees: NMA E-Newsletter #575
January 19, 2020 • Bicycle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Gas Tax, LEGISLATION, MASS TRANSIT, NEWSLETTER, PEDESTRIAN, REVENUE GENERATION, WASHINGTON
Motorists are not cash cows, and it is time elected officials stop treating us as such! In Washington State, Tim Eyman decided he didn’t think it was fair for everyone in the state to pay for big city transit projects through ever increasing vehicle registration fees (or car tabs, as the locals call them). Anger […]
NMA E-Newsletter #244: A Driving Tour of Washington, DC, NMA Style
September 15, 2013 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, Parking, RADAR, RED LIGHT CAMERA, SHORT YELLOW LIGHT, SPEED CAMERA, SPEED LIMIT, TRAFFIC CAMERA, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON D.C., YELLOW LIGHT TIMING
(Editor’s Note: Washington, DC has a reputation for being extremely hostile to drivers. Longtime NMA New York Activist Casey Raskob recently took a driving trip to the Washington, DC area and confirmed it with this report.) (Photo courtesy of DC photographer Marty Katz http://washingtonphotographer.com) I’ve driven lots of places, but this last weekend was crazy. I […]
NMA E-Newsletter #738: The Revenue-Hungry Rise of Automated Ticketing
April 30, 2023 • Automated Camera Tickets, Automated Ticket Enforcement, Bus Lane Cameras, CIVIL, DUE PROCESS, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, Photo Enforcement, RED LIGHT CAMERA, REVENUE GENERATION, SAFETY, SCHOOL BUS CAMERA, SPEED CAMERA, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET REVENUE
By Jay Beeber, Director of Policy & Research For the past few years, we’ve been monitoring a concerning trend in traffic enforcement: a steady shift towards more and more automated ticketing. Unfortunately, this trend appears to be gaining momentum. In California, we’ve witnessed a surge of bills introduced that attempt to authorize various forms of […]
NMA E-Newsletter #737: Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Strongest-Ever Pollution Standards for Cars and Trucks to Accelerate Transition to a Clean-Transportation Future
April 16, 2023 • AUTO INDUSTRY, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, EPA, Fuel, infrastructure, NEWSLETTER, Technology
Building on rapid advancements and investments in clean vehicle manufacturing, including investments in domestic manufacturing in the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA’s proposed standards would deliver on President Biden’s agenda to tackle the climate crisis. April 12, 2023 Contact Information EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new proposed federal […]
NMA E-Newsletter #736: Your Freedom to Travel is Under Attack
April 2, 2023 • Automated Camera Tickets, Automated Traffic Enforcement, Bicycle, Bicyclist, Complete Streets, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FHWA, ITE, MASS TRANSIT, NEWSLETTER, NMA, NTSB, Parking, PEDESTRIAN, RACIAL PROFILING, RIGHT-TURN-ON-RED, Road Diets, SPEED LIMIT, speed limits, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET FINES, USDOT, War on Cars
By Jay Beeber, Director of Policy & Research, National Motorists Association If there was any doubt before, now we have a clear indication that the WAR ON CARS is real –and it’s being waged at the highest levels of society by authoritarian culture warriors. These tyrannical elitists seek to eliminate our freedom to travel where […]
NMA E-Newsletter #735: Walberg, Raskin Lead Bipartisan Effort to Reform Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws
March 12, 2023 • CAF, civil asset forfeiture, Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform, CIVIL FORFEITURE, DUE PROCESS, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LEGISLATION, NEWSLETTER, NMA
The National Motorists Association has, for some years now, been fighting to protect motorists from abusive Civil Asset Forfeiture laws. For those unaware of how this abuse of the public’s trust operates, Civil Asset Forfeiture allows police departments to seize assets such as cash, vehicles, houses and other valuables simply on the allegation that those assets […]
Setting A New Course of Communication: NMA E-Newsletter #731
By Stewart W. Price, President of the National Motorists Association At our strategy conference in October at the NMA home office in Waunakee, we asked ourselves a key question: In what ways does the NMA need to change to meet future challenges and grow? The resounding response from our Board of Directors: “We absolutely must […]
Motorists Vote 2022: An Overview of US Motorist-Related Ballot Initiatives from the November 8th Vote: NMA E-Newsletter #723
November 20, 2022 • CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, infrastructure, MAINE, MASS TRANSIT, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NEWSLETTER, NMA, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, TEXAS, Voting, Washington State, WEST VIRGINIA
Here is how Americans voted on ballot initiatives that the NMA outlined in Newsletter #719. The following election results came from Ballotpedia unless listed otherwise. Here are some articles from the national perspective on motorist and transportation issues: Voters Across the Country Support Public Transportation at the Ballot Box (APTA Center for Transportation Excellence) It’s […]
Funding for Road Infrastructure–Never Seems to be Enough: NMA E-Newsletter #721
November 6, 2022 • Congestion Pricing, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel Tax, Gas Tax, Highway Trust Fund, infrastructure, Infrastructure Funding, LEGISLATION, mileage-based user fee, NEWSLETTER, NMA, Road User Charge, VMT, VMT Tax, WHEEL TAX
Out of the many transportation problems America currently faces, funding infrastructure remains at the top of the pile. Currently, we pay at the pump both a national and state gas tax and in many local counties and cities around the country, we also pay special sales taxes and wheel taxes for infrastructure. It never seems […]
Motorists Vote 2022: An Overview of Ballot Initiatives around the US: NMA E-Newsletter #719
October 23, 2022 • CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NEWSLETTER, NMA, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, TEXAS, Washington State, WEST VIRGINIA
Mid-term elections on November 8th draw near. Here is a list of ballot initiatives that directly affect motorists around the country. No matter your political stance, the National Motorist Association encourages all motorists to vote in every local election. Remember–all traffic is local and your vote can make a difference in how streets and roads […]
A Response to “The Automobile Won”: NMA E-Newsletter #706
July 24, 2022 • Bicycle, Bicyclist, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel Tax, HIGH OCCUPANCY, Highway Trust Fund, Induced Demand, MASS TRANSIT, mileage-based user fee, NEWSLETTER, PRIVACY, speed limits, TOLL, tolls, TRAFFIC CONGESTION
by Sherman Johnson, NMA Maryland Member Editor’s Note: NMA e-newsletters and blog posts that stir debate serve the valuable purpose of creating conversation that often leads to a better understanding of the issues at hand. Sherman Johnson’s response to The Automobile Won (Part 1, NMA E-Newsletter #702, and Part 2, #703) follows. The NMA’s stance […]
NMA Legislative Roundup – January-June, 2022: NMA E-Newsletter #705
July 17, 2022 • CELL PHONE, Drone, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Facial Recognition, Fuel Tax, Gas Tax, LANE COURTESY, LEGISLATION, NEWSLETTER, Photo Enforcement, Red-Light Cameras, School Bus Stop Arm Cameras, Speed Cameras, SPEED LIMIT, TICKET QUOTA, TICKET REVENUE, Traffic Tickets
The January through June legislative activity at the state and national levels is complete. It is worth reviewing a report card of bills resolved during the period, motorist-related legislation that we followed. Overall, 38 bills that the NMA supported or opposed met the fate we desired as opposed to 21 that went against our wishes. […]
Should the Public Score Police Encounters? NMA E-Newsletter #704
“To Protect and To Serve” is the motto we frequently see on the side of police vehicles. Most of us understand the “To Protect” part of the equation. We ask the men and women in blue to handle life-and-death situations on a regular basis. But what about the ‘To Serve” portion of the job? The […]
The Automobile Won Part 1: NMA E-Newsletter #702
June 26, 2022 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel, Fuel Tax, Induced Demand, infrastructure, mileage-based user fee, NEWSLETTER, PEDESTRIAN, TRAFFIC CONGESTION
By Randal O’Toole, The Antiplanner Editor’s Note: This post recently appeared on The Antiplanner website and we thought it was an important piece for all NMA supporters to read and digest. Part 2 will be featured in next week’s E-Newsletter. Last month, anti-automobile activists led by the Congress for the New Urbanism announced the formation […]
Civil Asset Forfeiture in Indiana Goes Beyond Policing for Profit: NMA E-Newsletter #701
June 19, 2022 • CAF, CHECKPOINT, CIVIL, civil asset forfeiture, CIVIL FORFEITURE, DUE PROCESS, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, INDIANA, NEWSLETTER, NMA, POLICING FOR PROFIT, Traffic stops
Initially created to take down drug lords, civil asset forfeiture has morphed into an excuse by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to confiscate cash and other property regardless of whether a person is charged with a crime. The Indiana Supreme Court recently ruled that the government must prove it is ‘entitled’ to keep […]
Calm Before the Storm: NMA E-Newsletter #689
March 27, 2022 • Bicyclist, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, Parking, PEDESTRIAN, Road Diets, ROUNDABOUT, speed limits, TRAFFIC CALMING, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, VISION ZERO
The city of Sarasota is located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, just south of Tampa. Its population has declined in recent years to about 55,000, according to the 2020 U.S. census, within 24 square miles of territory. During the winter months, the number of residents swells somewhat with the snowbird migration from the north. […]
2021: The Year Transit Failed to Recover Part 2: NMA E-Newsletter #688
March 20, 2022 • Commuters, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FTA, infrastructure, LEGISLATION, MASS TRANSIT, NEWSLETTER, Telecommuting, TRAFFIC CONGESTION
By Randal O’Toole, writer of The Antiplanner Editor’s Note: Check out Part 1 here that explores what happened with transit before and during the pandemic. The NMA is reprinting with permission this post that first appeared on The Antiplanner website. Transit by Urban Area As of December, transit carried 58 percent of pre-pandemic riders in […]
2021: The Year Transit Failed to Recover Part 1: NMA E-Newsletter #687
By Randal O’Toole, writer of The Antiplanner Editor’s Note: The NMA is reprinting with permission this post that first appeared on The Antiplanner website. Despite receiving tens of billions of dollars in support from Congress, the transit industry in 2021 failed to recover most of the riders it lost to the pandemic in 2020. Ridership […]
The USDOT, Speed Cameras, and Automated Corruption: NMA E-Newsletter #683
February 13, 2022 • Automated Camera Tickets, Automated Traffic Enforcement, Corruption, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LEGISLATION, NEWSLETTER, Red-Light Camera, REVENUE GENERATION, Road Safety, SAFETY, Speed Cameras, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET FINES, TICKET REVENUE, TRAFFIC CAMERA, Traffic Tickets
It didn’t take long after Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Transportation Secretary, introduced his department’s 42-page National Roadway Safety Strategy for people to grasp the importance of a tiny sentence buried in Note 3 on Page 28 of the report: “Promote speed safety cameras as a proven safety countermeasure.” Protestations emanated from as far away as the […]
And So It Begins—Vision Zero from the Top Down: NMA E-Newsletter #682
February 6, 2022 • Bicycle, Bicyclist, Complete Streets, Corruption, CROSSWALK, DMV, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FHWA, infrastructure, LEGISLATION, MASS TRANSIT, MUTCD, NEWSLETTER, NHTSA, NMA, NSC, PEDESTRIAN, REVENUE GENERATION, Road Safety, SAFETY, Speed Cameras, speed limits, Street Lights, TICKET REVENUE, TRAFFIC CAMERA, VISION ZERO
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently announced that his department wants to drastically reduce deadly traffic accidents through vehicle and street design changes. The USDOT also plans to use $14 billion in funding from the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill to encourage the states to make extensive use of speed cameras to enforce lowered […]
Traffic Safety is the Responsibility of All – Not Just Motorists: NMA E-Newsletter #674
December 12, 2021 • 85TH PERCENTILE, Bicyclist, CALIFORNIA, CROSSWALK, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Idaho Stop, Jaywalking, LEGISLATION, LIDAR, NEWSLETTER, PEDESTRIAN, RADAR, SAFETY, speed limits, SPEED TRAP, SPEEDING, Stop Signs, TICKET QUOTA, TRAFFIC CALMING, Traffic Safety, VISION ZERO
In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed AB122, a bill that would have enabled bicyclists to utilize the Idaho Stop (using stop signs as yield signs if no cars or pedestrians are present). Newsom cited safety as the primary reason for the veto: “While I share the author’s intent to increase bicyclist safety, I am […]
Roads Might Be Dicier than Usual this Winter: NMA E-Newsletter #673
December 5, 2021 • Car Care, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, SAFETY, speed limits, TIRE
It won’t entirely be Mother Nature’s fault either. A number of state departments of transportation are warning drivers that roads and mountain passes may be closed longer and will likely be in worse condition than normal. Just as the nation’s staffing shortage has hit school bus drivers, it has also reduced the ranks of intrepid […]
A Data-Driven Approach to Transportation Safety Part 1: NMA E-Newsletter #670
November 14, 2021 • Bicycle, Bicyclist, CELL PHONE, Complete Streets, CROSSWALK, DISTRACTED DRIVING, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Jaywalking, NEWSLETTER, NHTSA, PEDESTRIAN, SAFETY, TRAFFIC CALMING, Traffic Safety, VISION ZERO
By Randal O’Toole, The Antiplanner Editor’s Note: The NMA has received permission to post this report on recent findings on traffic safety in the US. Parts 2 and 3 will be featured in subsequent weeks. About 20,160 people died in traffic accidents in the first half of 2021, according to an early estimate released last week by the […]
A Primer on Induced Demand, Part 1: NMA E-Newsletter #664
By Christopher M. DiPrima, NMA Board Member Editor’s Note: We touched on induced demand—the theory that as highway capacity increases, demand does also, thereby creating a never-ending need for more capacity—in NMA E-Newsletter #599 last year. In light of the current infrastructure negotiations in Washington, and the ongoing effort to reshape urban land use by […]
Infrastructure Urgency, Part 3: NMA E-Newsletter #662
September 19, 2021 • Congestion Pricing, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel Tax, Gas Tax, GPS, GPS TRACKING, infrastructure, Infrastructure Funding, LEGISLATION, Motorcycle, NEWSLETTER, NMA, PRIVACY, REVENUE GENERATION, Road User Charge, TOLLING, tolls, VMT, VMT Tax, WHEEL TAX
Layered levels of taxation are nothing new to motorists. The gas tax, road tolls, congestion pricing, registration fees, and even wheel taxes are commonplace. Congress is looking at us hungrily again as being ripe for the picking as it debates the final details of desperately needed transportation infrastructure funding. The idea is not new. In […]
Infrastructure Urgency, Part 2: NMA E-Newsletter #661
September 12, 2021 • Automated Traffic Enforcement, Corruption, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, infrastructure, Infrastructure Funding, LEGISLATION, NEWSLETTER, NMA, Red-Light Camera, REVENUE GENERATION, Road User Charge, SAFETY, SCHOOL BUS, School Bus Cameras, School Bus Stop Arm Cameras, SPEED CAMERA, SPEED LIMIT, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET REVENUE, Traffic Tickets, VISION ZERO
The sausage-making is in full swing as opposing parties in Washington wrestle the Senate’s $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and the House’s $3.5 trillion version to the ground. In Infrastructure Urgency, Part 1, NMA E-Newsletter #659, we shared the first two in a series of NMA emails directed to members of the Transportation & Infrastructure […]
Infrastructure Urgency, Part 1: NMA E-Newsletter #659
August 29, 2021 • Automated Traffic Enforcement, Bicyclist, DRIVER EDUCATION, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FHWA, infrastructure, Infrastructure Funding, LEGISLATION, MUTCD, NEWSLETTER, NMA, ROAD-USER FEES, SAFETY, Speed Cameras, speed limits, Traffic Safety, Traffic Tickets, VISION ZERO, VMT
Two weeks ago, the NMA launched an information campaign directed at the top aides of U.S. Congressional members who sit on either the Senate or House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committees. One single-topic email is sent per week on issues contained within the massive proposed legislation to fund an upgrade of the nation’s transportation-ish infrastructure. […]
Seismic Shifts: NMA E-Newsletter #658
August 22, 2021 • AUTO INDUSTRY, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, infrastructure, LEGISLATION, NEWSLETTER, NMA, Technology
Much is happening on the national stage in recent weeks that will have a tremendous impact on motorists for years to come. The laborious, and politically charged, process of negotiating two infrastructure bills has resulted in more than 4200 pages of legislation with plenty of anti-driving provisions contained within. The other shockwave was caused by […]
Jane Jacobs and the Mid-Rise Mania Part 3: NMA E-Newsletter #653
July 18, 2021 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, infrastructure, MASS TRANSIT, NEWSLETTER, Parking, PEDESTRIAN, REVENUE GENERATION, TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Editor’s Note: The following content, reprinted in three parts over this and the previous two NMA e-newsletters, is presented with permission from Randal O’Toole’s The Antiplanner, a blog whose tagline describes its point of view: “Dedicated to the sunset of government planning.” O’Toole is a senior fellow with the Cato Institute who specializes in land-use and […]
Autonomous (Self-Driving) Vehicles – Available Soon? (Yes and No) Part 1: NMA E-Newsletter #648
June 13, 2021 • AUTO INDUSTRY, Autonomous Car, Bicyclist, CROSSWALK, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, GPS, LIDAR, NEWSLETTER, PEDESTRIAN, RADAR, Ridesharing, SAFETY, Technology, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, TRAFFIC SIGNAL
By Gary Witzenburg, Automotive Senior Writer and Contributing Editor, President of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year, and NMA Member. Editor’s Note: HOUR Detroit Magazine has graciously permitted the NMA to publish this piece, which initially appeared in a slightly different version on its pages. Part 2 will be presented in […]
Equity and the MUTCD: NMA E-Newsletter #644
May 16, 2021 • Automated Traffic Enforcement, CROSSWALK, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FHWA, MISSOURI, MUTCD, NEWSLETTER, RACIAL PROFILING, REVENUE GENERATION, speed limits, Stop Signs, Traffic stops, Traffic Tickets, WASHINGTON D.C.
As we have noted prominently in recent newsletters and email action alerts, the Federal Highway Administration has recommended sweeping changes to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). In Equity and Sustainability (NMA E-Newsletter #637), we criticized the appropriation of those terms, particularly ‘equity,’ to demand broad restrictions on drivers and driving. NMA Director […]
Should We Lean into a Federal Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax?: NMA E-Newsletter #643
May 9, 2021 • AUTO INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Gas Tax, GPS, infrastructure, Infrastructure Funding, LEGISLATION, MINNESOTA, NEWSLETTER, NMA, OREGON, PRIVACY, REVENUE GENERATION, Road Usage Charge, Road User Charge, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, VMT Tax, WASHINGTON
Most experts agree that the way America funds infrastructure is broken. Many of our roads are in terrible shape. The Highway Trust Fund is nearly empty. Many local governments have difficulty paying for year-round road maintenance. The reasons vary. The federal and state gas taxes have never been adjusted for inflation. Many states divert funds […]
Is This the Beginning of the End?—Readers Respond: NMA E-Newsletter #639
April 11, 2021 • AUTO INDUSTRY, CAFE, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel, ICE, LETTER WRITING, NEWSLETTER, Technology
Editor’s Note: We received over 35 responses to last week’s Is This the Beginning of the End? NMA E-Newsletter #638. No matter what side of the divide our readers fall, they certainly have many different opinions about electric vehicles. Two things come to mind: the change from horse-drawn power to cars starting around 1900 and […]
Crimes against Motorists: NMA E-Newsletter #631
February 14, 2021 • Carjacking, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, GPS TRACKING, NEWSLETTER, Predatory Towing, RED LIGHT CAMERA
Motorists have always been a target for criminals, but since the pandemic began, it seems the nefarious activity has increased dramatically. Some are violent, most involve property loss and all turn victims’ lives upside down. For example, cities large and small have reported an increase in carjackings. The Associated Press has reported cases are on […]
ALPRs win the Day in the Virginia Supreme Court: NMA E-Newsletter #623
December 20, 2020 • ACLU, ALPR, CIVIL, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FOIA, LICENSE PLATE, NEWSLETTER, NMA, PRIVACY, PUBLIC RECORDS, VIRGINIA
Automatic License Plate Readers or ALPRs can detail a motorist’s comings and goings without any thought of whether the person driving is suspected of nefarious activity. Some motorists around the country are challenging ALPR tracking in court. The latest dispatch comes from Virginia. In 2015, motorist Harrison Neal started his legal battle over the Fairfax […]
Leading the Charge: NMA E-Newsletter #619
November 22, 2020 • civil asset forfeiture, CIVIL FORFEITURE, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, NHTSA, PUBLIC RECORDS, REVENUE GENERATION, TICKET QUOTA, Traffic Tickets
We like clever wordplay as much as the next guy. The double entendre of the title, however, stirs an emotion stronger and more negative than “like.” Christopher Matthew Spencer, one of our most active members in Southern California, led the charge by submitting a public records request to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office […]
Motorists Vote 2020 Ballot Initiatives Final Count: NMA E-Newsletter #618
November 15, 2020 • ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, Bicycle, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Facial Recognition, GEORGIA, infrastructure, Infrastructure Funding, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASS TRANSIT, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MONTANA, NEWSLETTER, OREGON, PEDESTRIAN, PRIVACY, Ridesharing, Right to Repair, Search Warrant, TOLL, TOLLING, VIRGINIA, Voting
Statewide ballot initiatives and local votes on infrastructure and transit have now been finalized from the November 3, 2020 election. Check out the final results below from the motorists’ rights statewide initiatives we outlined in the NMA weekly E-Newsletter #612. Important local election results follow the state ballot initiatives reporting. Statewide Ballot Initiatives Arkansas […]
So, Who IS Responsible in a Driverless Car Accident?: NMA E-Newsletter #617
November 8, 2020 • Bicycle, CELL PHONE, DISTRACTED DRIVING, DRIVERLESS CARS, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, NHTSA, NTSB, PEDESTRIAN, Road Safety, SAFETY, Technology
By Shelia Dunn, NMA Communications Director For years, an ongoing debate has been raging in the media about who would be responsible when a driverless vehicle injured or killed another road user. Perhaps, we will soon have the answer. In March 2018, Elaine Herzberg jaywalked from a center median with her bicycle across a dark […]
Motorists Vote 2020 Ballot Initiatives: NMA E-Newsletter #612
October 4, 2020 • ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, Car Care, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, GEORGIA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEWSLETTER, PRIVACY, REVENUE GENERATION, Ridesharing, Search Warrant, VIRGINIA, Voting
The November 3rd election day is a month away, and mail-in voting has already begun in many states. If you have not cast your ballot yet, be sure to consider motorists’ rights issues in your decisions on which candidates and issues to support. Check out the NMA’s Motorists Vote 2020 Guide (a slideshow with a […]
What’s Next for Motorists’ Rights—Part 2: NMA E-Newsletter #598
June 28, 2020 • Automated Traffic Enforcement, civil asset forfeiture, Congestion Pricing, Connected Cars, DRIVERLESS CARS, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel Tax, Gas Tax, infrastructure, Infrastructure Funding, LEGISLATION, MASS TRANSIT, NEWSLETTER, REVENUE GENERATION, Road Usage Charge, TICKET QUOTA, TOLL, Toll Roads, TOLLING, tolls, TRAFFIC STOP, VMT, VMT Tax
The need to advocate for motorists’ rights has grown during the time of COVID. NMA members need to be more vigilant than ever in their home communities and states. This newsletter is a reflection of what we see trending nationally. Last week in Part 1, we looked into our crystal ball at speed limits, automated […]
Flipping the Stacked Deck: NMA E-Newsletter #594
May 31, 2020 • CHECKPOINT, civil asset forfeiture, CIVIL FORFEITURE, DUE PROCESS, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, POLICING FOR PROFIT, REVENUE GENERATION, TICKET FINES, TICKET QUOTA, TICKET REVENUE, Traffic stops, Traffic Tickets
There are many forms of legitimized stealing. The government has perfected a near-perfect version, with motorists too often serving as easy prey. The NMA’s legislative focus in Washington, even when lawmakers are advancing little during these pandemic times, continues to be two areas of policing-for-profit that desperately need reform. One practice ─ as if it […]
The Selling of a Narrative: NMA E-Newsletter #591
May 10, 2020 • 85TH PERCENTILE, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, NMA, SAFETY, SPEED LIMIT, SPEEDING, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, Traffic Tickets
By Gary Biller, NMA President The media has never shied away from peddling stories that sell. Often in doing so, the truth gets kicked to the curb or run over. Such is the case in the current lockdown climate where sensationalistic headlines scream that 100+ mph super speeders are taking advantage of less-crowded roads across […]
Turn Signal on a Roundabout; Readers’ Comments Part 3: NMA E-Newsletter #588
Editor’s Note: Part 3 will be the final chapter for readers’ comments on our Newsletter #585. More than 40 readers emailed us their thoughts on roundabouts. We did a tally on how many believe in signaling or not signaling in roundabouts: 46 percent for signaling 32 percent opposed to signaling 22 percent who did not […]
Turn Signal on a Roundabout; Reader Comments Part 2: NMA E-Newsletter #587
Editor’s Note: Roundabouts elicit all kinds of opinions, and the comments from our recent Newsletter #585 was no exception. Last week, we presented the first set of comments. Part two also runs the gamut of those for and against signaling in a roundabout. Readers’ Comments Part 2 No signaling should be required upon entering or […]
Ticket Quotas are Alive and All Too Well: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #572
December 29, 2019 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, NHTSA, NMA, REVENUE GENERATION, SPEED TRAP, TICKET QUOTA, TICKET REVENUE, Traffic Tickets
By our latest count, twenty states have explicit laws banning traffic ticket quotas. And yet, the practice continues, even within some of those states. City, county, and state budgets must be met, and a reliable target for revenue continues to be the motorist. A brief rundown of the states with quota prohibitions follows but first, […]
Indivisibility of Cars and Commuting: NMA E-Newsletter #567
November 24, 2019 • Bicycle, Commuters, Congestion Pricing, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, MASS TRANSIT, NEWSLETTER, NMA, PEDESTRIAN, SPEED LIMIT, TRAFFIC CONGESTION
One of the exciting elements of the October 5 Keep the US Moving Conference (KLAM) attended by both Gary Biller, NMA President and Shelia Dunn, NMA Communications Director, was meeting others who study urban commuting. Mariya Frost, Transportation Policy Analyst for the Washington (State) Policy Center, a free market think tank, was one such person. […]
NMA Wrap Up of Legislative Activity, 3rd Quarter 2019: NMA E-Newsletter #562
October 20, 2019 • 85TH PERCENTILE, BAC, Bicycle, Complete Streets, Congestion Pricing, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, HAWAII, ILLINOIS, ITE, LEGISLATION, MOVE OVER LAW, NEWSLETTER, NMA, NMA Foundation, NORTH CAROLINA, OREGON, PEDESTRIAN, RADAR, Road Diets, SAFETY, Scooter, SPEED CAMERA, SPEED LIMIT, SPEED TRAP, TICKET CAMERA, TRAFFIC CALMING, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, VISION ZERO, YELLOW LIGHT, YELLOW LIGHT TIMING
July, August, and September were not nearly as active in resolving NMA-tracked legislation as in the second quarter, but October began with some very important events that will have positive ramifications for motorists well into the future. Let’s start with the final disposition of bills in the third quarter: Bills Opposed by the NMA […]
Do Vision Zero Programs equal more Traffic Accidents?: NMA E-Newsletter #559
September 29, 2019 • 85TH PERCENTILE, Bicycle, Bicyclist, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, Road Diets, SAFETY, Speed Cameras, SPEED LIMIT, TRAFFIC CALMING, Traffic Safety, VISION ZERO
Many cities and states around the country have adopted a Vision Zero program which strives for zero traffic deaths, usually by a specific year. Some of the oldest programs, though, are finding that the ideal of zero traffic deaths is becoming ever more elusive and expensive over time. Instead of decreasing, traffic deaths involving accidents […]
The Road User Charge by Any Other Name: NMA E-Newsletter #555
September 1, 2019 • Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel Tax, Gas Tax, GPS TRACKING, infrastructure, NEWSLETTER, NMA, PRIVACY, REVENUE GENERATION, Road User Charge, VMT, VMT Tax
We recently completed a series of newsletters (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) about the renewed calls for levying a set of surcharges–or thinly disguised taxes–on motorists to help rescue the Federal Highway Trust Fund. National calls are picking up in momentum for the implementation of a system of travel fees layered on top […]
An Appropriate Balance for Whom? – NMA Readers Respond: NMA E-Newsletter #553
August 18, 2019 • Bicycle, Complete Streets, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LEGISLATION, NEWSLETTER, NMA, SPEED LIMIT, TICKET QUOTA, VISION ZERO
In “An Appropriate Balance for Whom?” (NMA E-Newsletter #552), we discussed HB 3663, a recently introduced bill to Congress that would require each state to fund its own program to prioritize walking and bicycle riding over vehicular traffic when designing new or upgrading existing roads. Data from the 2016 U.S. Census showed that more than […]
US Congress HB 1895 – FAIR Act Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act of 2019
UPDATE January 4, 2021: Bill died in committee UPDATE May 3, 2019: Referred to Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. House Bill 1895 was introduced March 27, 2019 in a bipartisan fashion by a number of Republican and Democrat lawmakers, led by Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan. Similar legislation has been introduced […]
Are Cyclists Vision Zero Zealots—Readers’ Responses: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #525
February 3, 2019 • Bicyclist, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, NMA, NMA Foundation, Speed Bumps, SPEED LIMIT, TEXTING, TICKET FINES, TICKET REVENUE, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, VISION ZERO, WASHINGTON D.C., WYOMING
Last week, we emailed and posted on our website a guest newsletter entitled Are Cyclists Vision Zero Zealots? written by Eric Berg, an NMA Board Member, an NMA Life Member, an avid sport bicyclist, and a staunch defender of motorists’ rights. Readers, including some of whom (like Eric) are bicyclists, responded with interesting perspectives which […]
Are Cyclists Vision Zero Zealots?: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #524
From guest writer Eric Berg. Eric Berg is an NMA director and life member since the Citizens Coalition for Rational Traffic Law days. Eric is an avid sport bicyclist as well as staunch defender of motorists’ rights. He is well positioned to provide observations from both vantage points. One of the challenges for NMA advocacy […]
The Next Ten Years – Readers’ Edition, Part 2: NMA E-Newsletter #523
January 20, 2019 • 85TH PERCENTILE, ALPR, DRIVERLESS CARS, Electric Vehicle, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel Tax, infrastructure, INSURANCE, Motorcycle, NEWSLETTER, NMA, NMSL, Red-Light Camera, SAFETY, Scooter, SPEED CAMERA, SPEED LIMIT, Technology, TRAFFIC CALMING, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, Traffic Tickets
In NMA E-Newsletter #520, The Next Ten Years, Jim Walker, Gary Biller, and Steve Carrellas provided their thoughts — limited by the NMA to less than 300 words — on the significant challenges that motorists and the NMA will face over the next decade. We asked readers to chime in with their thoughts and published […]
Ballot Decisions that Affect Motorists–2018 Version: NMA E-Newsletter #513
November 11, 2018 • ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, Fuel Tax, Gas Tax, IDAHO, infrastructure, LOUISIANA, MAINE, MISSOURI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NEWSLETTER, Red-Light Camera, SAFETY, TEXAS, UTAH, Washington State
The mid-term elections are officially over. Ballotpedia stated this week on its website that voters in 37 states decided a total of 155 statewide ballot measures. Not all, of course, were motorist related but a few certainly were. We have also included some important county or city ballot issues that asked voters to raise the […]
To Record or Not to Record, That is the Question: NMA E-Newsletter #512
November 4, 2018 • CALIFORNIA, CELL PHONE, CONNECTICUT, Dashcam, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, ILLINOIS, INSURANCE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MONTANA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEWSLETTER, PENNSYLVANIA, PRIVACY, Technology, TRAFFIC STOP, WASHINGTON
An interesting phenomenon is being reported by some members. Police officers approaching their vehicles during routine traffic stops are asking an opening question different than the traditional, “Do you know why I stopped you?” Rather, in this day of rising popularity of dashcams and the ubiquitous presence of smartphones, the opening query is just as […]
The Real Police Overtime Scandals: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #507
September 30, 2018 • ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, Automatic Traffic Enforcement, CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LOUISIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, NEWSLETTER, Red-Light Camera, SAFETY, SPEED TRAP, TEXAS, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET QUOTA, Traffic Tickets, WASHINGTON
Much has been written about the Massachusetts State Police Overtime Scandal. A number of officers have been arrested for federal counts of embezzlement for allegedly cutting hours or outright skipping overtime (OT) traffic enforcement shifts on the MA turnpike while getting paid in full. Forty-two members of Troop E have been implicated and the troop […]
The Zipper Merge—Coming to a Construction Zone near You Part 2, Readers Comments: NMA E-Newsletter #501
August 19, 2018 • ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LETTER WRITING, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, OKLAHOMA, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, ZIPPER MERGE
The National Motorists Association received some thoughtful comments from readers like you and thought we should share them. If you missed reading Part 1, click HERE. I’m glad one more place seems to have figured this out. Many other places have not. People get the idea that others who are using an open lane to a […]
Standing Up for Yourself: NMA E-Newsletter #498
The most frequent encounter the public has with law enforcement is during a traffic stop. The interaction can be a frightening experience with ever changing dynamics that can seem surreal at best. Motorist Adam Finley in Arkansas found out this the hard way in December 2016 when he was stopped by Officer Matthew Mercado of […]
Down the Rabbit Hole with Civil Asset Forfeiture: NMA E-Newsletter #494
July 1, 2018 • CAF, civil asset forfeiture, CIVIL FORFEITURE, Eighth Amendment, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FOIA, HAWAII, INDIANA, New York City, NEWSLETTER, NMA, OKLAHOMA, RENTAL CAR, REVENUE GENERATION, SPEED LIMIT
As one of the NMA’s current national issues, Civil Asset Forfeiture or CAF is a program that allows the government at all levels to confiscate cash, cars and even homes from people who are suspected of criminal activity. Even if you are ruled innocent, your property is not necessarily returned; a trip to civil court […]
All Hail more Traffic Congestion: NMA E-Newsletter # 484
April 22, 2018 • CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, GEORGIA, MASS TRANSIT, MASSACHUSETTS, NEWSLETTER, Ridesharing, TOLLING, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON D.C.
The math is simple. More cars on the streets equals more traffic congestion. Ridesharing companies such as Lyft and Uber have tipped that delicate balance between street traffic and transit alternatives. Many city officials are finally taking notice. In a recent Boston survey of 944 rideshare users over four weeks in late 2017, nearly six […]
Driver’s License Watch—Your Private Info for Sale: NMA E-Newsletter #482
April 8, 2018 • ALABAMA, ARIZONA, Digital Driver's License, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, NEWSLETTER, PRIVACY, Real ID, TEXAS, WASHINGTON
Personal information privacy seems to be a fluid construct these days. We give our information to social media companies like Facebook who sell the information for gain (Cambridge Analytica Scandal). We also give our private information directly to marketers if we enter any online contest, ask for information online about products or fill out an […]
Walking While Distracted–Nobody Wins: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #481
April 1, 2018 • ARIZONA, AUTO INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA, CELL PHONE, DISTRACTED DRIVING, DRIVERLESS CARS, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, HAWAII, IDAHO, New York City, NEWSLETTER, NHTSA, SAFETY, Technology, TEXTING, WASHINGTON
Have we become a nation of cellphone zombies? Many experts believe that the increase in distracted driving, in particular using a cellphone to text while driving, has been a big factor in the increase of traffic fatalities since 2009. Another factor apparently is distracted walking. Pedestrian deaths account for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities. […]
Getting REAL: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #478
March 11, 2018 • ALASKA, Digital Driver's License, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, Kentucky, LOUISIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEWSLETTER, NMA, NORTH DAKOTA, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, Real ID, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON D.C.
With the February 25, 2018 newsletter regarding the advent of digital driver’s licenses, it is an appropriate time to provide an update on the implementation of the REAL ID Act of 2005. Over the past 12 years, the NMA and other civil liberties organizations have lobbied against REAL ID which in effect would convert your […]
Commuters vs. Neighborhoods—Congestion at its Root: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #477
March 4, 2018 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, SAFETY, Technology, TRAFFIC CONGESTION
We all pay for public roads so shouldn’t we be able to travel on them when we want? A number of New Jersey towns and villages are saying NO. If you don’t live here, you don’t have the right to take a neighborhood street to beat congestion during rush hour. Part of the reason commuters […]
Is a Digital Driver’s License in your Future?: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #476
February 25, 2018 • COLORADO, Digital Driver's License, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Facial Recognition, IDAHO, IOWA, MARYLAND, NEWSLETTER, PRIVACY, Technology, TRAFFIC STOP, WASHINGTON D.C., WYOMING
Many states currently allow digital proof of insurance during a traffic stop. Will a digital driver’s license or DDL be too far behind? After several years of testing, the state of Iowa will debut later in 2018 a digital driver’s license in cooperation with “augmented identity” specialists IDEMIA, a company that works with about 80 […]
Congestion Pricing Cannot be the Future of Transportation Funding, Part 1: NMA E-Newsletter #468
December 31, 2017 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Gas Tax, MINNESOTA, NEWSLETTER, OREGON, REVENUE GENERATION, TOLL, TOLL ROAD, TOLLING, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON
Single-occupant Northern Virginia commuters had a rude awakening in early December when they used Interstate 66 express lanes and found new tolls spiking as high as $44 for commuting the 10-mile stretch between the Capital Beltway and the District of Columbia. While the Virginia DOT showed that the average round-trip toll during the first week […]
NMA Lobbying in DC, Part 2 – License to Steal: NMA E-Newsletter #465
December 10, 2017 • CALIFORNIA, civil asset forfeiture, CIVIL FORFEITURE, DUE PROCESS, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FOURTH AMENDMENT, LEGISLATION, NEWSLETTER, NMA, POLICING FOR PROFIT, REVENUE GENERATION
By Gary Biller, NMA President I get annoyed by the overuse of certain clichéd buzzwords and catch phrases in our area of advocacy, terms like “big brother,” “nanny state,” and “taxation by citation” for instance. That isn’t to say that they don’t sneak into the NMA vernacular from time to time. In fact, I used […]
NMA Lobbying in DC, Part 1 – Reeling in Traffic Enforcement: NMA E-Newsletter #464
December 3, 2017 • 85TH PERCENTILE, civil asset forfeiture, CIVIL FORFEITURE, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LEGISLATION, LICENSE PLATE, NEWSLETTER, NHTSA, NMA, NTSB, RED LIGHT CAMERA, REVENUE GENERATION, SAFETY, SPEED CAMERA, SPEED LIMIT, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET FINES, TICKET QUOTA, TICKET REVENUE, WASHINGTON D.C.
By Gary Biller, NMA President Enabled by contributors to our Spring 2017 Campaign, the NMA is pursuing its 2017-18 National Legislative Agenda in Washington. More precisely the current focus is on two of the agenda items – eliminating federally funded ticket blitzes and restricting the bounds of civil asset forfeiture. Part 2 of this newsletter […]
Funding Infrastructure in Rural America—a Snapshot of Three States: NMA E-Newsletter #463
November 26, 2017 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Gas Tax, infrastructure, LICENSE PLATE, MISSOURI, NEWSLETTER, REVENUE GENERATION, SOUTH DAKOTA, SPEED TRAP, WEST VIRGINIA, WHEEL TAX
Whenever the media reports on infrastructure, much of the time the discussion centers on urban cores and highways. Small towns and rural roads are often left out of the discussion but related infrastructure needs can be just as critical. Securing adequate funding for road and bridge maintenance requires the active involvement and cooperation of rural, […]
Next Generation Police Tools: NMA E-Newsletter #462
November 19, 2017 • BODY CAMERAS, BREATHALYZER, civil asset forfeiture, CIVIL FORFEITURE, DUI, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, INDIANA, NEBRASKA, NEWSLETTER, ROADBLOCK, SAFETY, TRAFFIC STOP, WASHINGTON D.C., X-RAY SCANNER
Traffic enforcement continues to go high tech beyond just the newest drone technology. Here are three recent examples of how police are using federal and state funding – some from assets seized from citizenry – to patrol motorists. Police Body Cameras In late October, results from a large study on police body cameras was released […]
Gotcha Speed Enforcement – Feds Are Complicit: NMA E-Newsletter #460
November 5, 2017 • 85TH PERCENTILE, civil asset forfeiture, CIVIL FORFEITURE, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, NHTSA, NMA, NTSB, REVENUE GENERATION, SAFETY, SPEED CAMERA, SPEED LIMIT, SPEED TRAP, TICKET QUOTA, TICKET REVENUE, VIRGINIA
With great thanks to advocate Joe Bahen, the NMA played an active role in the development of the 2012-2016 Virginia Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). With the SHSP for the next five years now moving into the implementation phase, Joe continues to work with state officials to craft a safety roadmap that is effective and […]
Trump Reverses Course on Infrastructure Funding: NMA E-Newsletter #456
October 8, 2017 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, INDIANA, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, NMA, PPP, Public Private Partnership, ROAD-USER FEES, TOLL, TOLL ROAD, TOLLING
In late September, President Donald Trump changed his mind on PPPs or Public-Private Partnerships, one of his bedrock funding mechanisms for funding infrastructure. He campaigned on the idea of utilizing PPPs and seemed to be for the idea all the way up until he reversed his support when talking to the House Ways and Means […]
Losing a License Due To Unpaid Fines Is Hurting Millions: NMA E-Newsletter #455
October 1, 2017 • CALIFORNIA, Driver's License, DUI, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, IOWA, MICHIGAN, NEWSLETTER, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, SAFETY, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, TICKET FINES, VIRGINIA
When a motorist receives a traffic ticket the expectation is that if you plead guilty or are found guilty, you pay the fine. Most of us would agree that if you break the law then you should pay for it. But what if you really cannot “pay for it” due to life circumstances? The Falls […]
‘Variable Speed Limits’ allow Police to Trap Motorists on the Fly: NMA E-Newsletter #454
September 24, 2017 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, MINNESOTA, NEW JERSEY, NEWSLETTER, OREGON, REVENUE GENERATION, ROADBLOCK, SPEED LIMIT, speed limits, speed traps, TICKET REVENUE, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, UTAH, WASHINGTON, WYOMING
From Joe Cadillic, writer of the massprivatel blog A nightmare driving scenario, is slowly making its way across the country as states everywhere begin installing ‘Variable Speed Limits’ (VSL) which allows law enforcement to change speed limits on a whim. Imagine you are cruising down the highway, obeying the posted speed limit of 75 MPH only […]
The Scariest Ride of Your Life: NMA E-Newsletter #451
By guest writer William Rayburn, NMA Washington State Member As an NMA member I truly enjoy reading the NMA e-newsletter. Today I thought to myself I could contribute something that I have had the displeasure witnessing first-hand and something quite relevant to the subject matter for which the NMA is founded. I’m talking about DHS […]
No lollygagging in the Left Lane, Please! Legislative Update on Lane Courtesy Laws: NMA E-Newsletter #438
June 4, 2017 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LANE COURTESY, LEGISLATION, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MONTANA, NEVADA, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, NMA, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, RHODE ISLAND, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, VIRGINIA
June is Lane Courtesy Month and many state legislatures are taking on the problem of drivers who impede traffic by camping out in the left lane. The NMA long ago established June as the spotlight month for lane courtesy to raise awareness that keeping right to allow faster traffic to pass is one of the […]
Is Distracted Driving the new Drunk Driving? Part 1: NMA E-Newsletter #433
April 30, 2017 • CELL PHONE, DISTRACTED DRIVING, DRIVER EDUCATION, Driver's License, DUI, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, MINNESOTA, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, SAFETY, TEXTING
Distracted driving of any kind can be instantly dangerous. Each April the federal and state governments conduct a public awareness campaign on the dangers of distracted driving that bombards motorists with media messages which leads to increased command-and-control enforcement. There can be many different distractions for drivers but among the most controversial is the use […]
How Policing for Profit can lead to a Debtors’ Prisons: NMA E-Newsletter #429
April 2, 2017 • ACLU, ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, GEORGIA, ILLINOIS, KANSAS, LOUISIANA, MICHIGAN, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, NEWSLETTER, POLICING FOR PROFIT, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, TICKET FINES, TICKET REVENUE, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON
Alexander City, Alabama has agreed to give $680,000 to nearly 200 people who were jailed because they were too poor to pay their court fines. The suit filed in September 2015 by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) claimed that the town ran “a modern-day debtors prison.” Indigent debtors served time in the municipal jail […]
Who Will Fix Rural Roads and Bridges? NMA E-Newsletter #413
December 11, 2016 • CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, MASSACHUSETTS, MISSISSIPPI, NEWSLETTER, SAFETY, Technology, TOLLING
The chronic underinvestment in infrastructure dates back to the Reagan Administration. Since the 1980’s, public spending on water and transportation infrastructure fell from around one percent to 0.6 percent of the annual U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). Instead of renewing or building additional infrastructure to keep up with population and current technology, government officials have […]
Transportation Shakeout from the 2016 Election: NMA E-Newsletter #409
November 13, 2016 • ALABAMA, CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel Tax, GEORGIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MICHIGAN, NEVADA, NEW JERSEY, NEWSLETTER, NORTH CAROLINA, OREGON, PPP, SAFETY, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, TOLL, TOLL ROAD, TOLLING, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, UTAH, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON
The entire country shared a sigh of relief when the election in-fighting finally ended this week. Before the election, President-elect Donald Trump released his ideas on rebuilding America’s infrastructure. He said he wants to put a trillion dollars into rebuilding infrastructure over the next 10 years without raising taxes. He plans to do this through […]
More Nighttime Restrictions for Teen Drivers. Why? Part 2 Newsletter Readers Respond: NMA E-Newsletter #399
September 4, 2016 • CELL PHONE, DRIVER EDUCATION, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, INDIANA, INSURANCE, LETTER WRITING, MICHIGAN, NEWSLETTER, PENNSYLVANIA, TEXAS, WASHINGTON
Last week’s newsletter on the new Center for Disease Control guidelines to states with regards to nighttime driving for teen drivers brought in some great comments for discussion. We thought we would share a few thoughts covering both sides of the issue. To read last week’s newsletter, More Nighttime Restrictions for Teen Drivers. Why? Part […]
Intexicated While Driving: NMA E-Newsletter #387
June 12, 2016 • Biometrics, BREATHALYZER, CALIFORNIA, CELL PHONE, COLORADO, DISTRACTED DRIVING, DNA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LEGISLATION, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, PRIVACY, Technology, TEXTING
New York State has legislation called Evan’s Law that is winding its way through the system. It would allow law enforcement to use a textalyzer to determine if you have been on your phone while driving. This means even hands free phone usage, texting, surfing the web, and engaging with various apps can raise flags. […]
Saint or Sinner, Government Eyes Are Watching Every Move You Make: NMA E-Newsletter #380
April 24, 2016 • ALPR, Biometrics, CELL PHONE, DNA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Facial Recognition, NEWSLETTER, PPP, PRIVACY, Public Private Partnership, SOCIAL NETWORKING, Technology, TEXTING
By John W. Whitehead, President, The Rutherford Institute Government eyes are watching you. They see your every move: what you read, how much you spend, where you go, with whom you interact, when you wake up in the morning, what you’re watching on television and reading on the internet. Every move you make is being […]
How Technology Facilitates Roadside Justice: NMA E-Newsletter #379
April 17, 2016 • ALPR, BAC, BREATHALYZER, CALIFORNIA, CELL PHONE, COLORADO, Driver's License, DUI, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LEGISLATION, LICENSE, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, Technology, TEXAS, TRAFFIC STOP, WASHINGTON
The California Senate recently took up a bill that would let police officers use oral fluid drug screening tests to check motorists for the presence of drugs in their systems. The proposed test is administered with a handheld device that uses an oral swab to check for the presence of a variety of controlled substances […]
“Seriously? It’s Come to This?” Part 2: NMA E-Newsletter #357
November 15, 2015 • CELL PHONE, CONNECTICUT, DISTRACTED DRIVING, DUI, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, FOURTH AMENDMENT, MADD, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEWSLETTER, OHIO, TEXTING, TRAFFIC STOP
In August we recounted some driving stories that were just too absurd to be true (“Seriously? It’s Come to This?” NMA Newsletter #345). Alas, they were true, and the sad part is we’ve compiled enough stories for Part 2. So here goes. New Haven, Connecticut, has been experiencing an uptick in vehicle break-ins lately. The […]
Some Pointers on Driver’s License Points: NMA E-Newsletter #352
October 11, 2015 • CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, INSURANCE, MARYLAND, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET FIGHTING, TICKET FINES, WISCONSIN
One of the most common questions we get from members is how many points will a given violation add to their driving record. It’s an important question, but it’s not the only one to ask after you get a traffic ticket. You also need to know how many points it takes to trigger a license […]
Where’s the Skepticism? NMA E-Newsletter #349
September 20, 2015 • ARIZONA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, IIHS, NEWSLETTER, SPEED CAMERA, TICKET CAMERA
Good reporters are skeptical by nature. They’re not supposed to take official pronouncements at face value; they’re supposed to dig deeper to get the real story. Yet, we constantly see lazy reporting on driving issues or stories that simply parrot the latest propaganda from the likes of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Don’t […]
If it Walks Like a Duck: NMA E-Newsletter #341
July 26, 2015 • COMMUNITY, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, NEWSLETTER, NORTH CAROLINA, SAFETY, VISION ZERO, WASHINGTON D.C.
Summer is the time when communities across the country conduct their annual crosswalk sting operations in which undercover police officers walk out into busy intersections hoping they won’t get run over. The purpose is to ticket passing drivers who fail to yield to, or stop for, the “pedestrian” in the crosswalk. Locally, the unlucky undercover […]
NMA E-Newsletter #332: The Future of Police/Community Relations
May 24, 2015 • COMMUNITY, CRIMINAL, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, ILLEGAL SEARCH, MARYLAND, MISSOURI, NATIONAL, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, PROTEST, SOUTH CAROLINA, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
By John Bowman, NMA Vice President I recently had the privilege of speaking at a regional meeting of state motorcycle riders associations. A few minutes into my presentation an audience member stood up and forcefully objected to what he thought were my unfair and ill-informed comments about the nature of traffic enforcement. I asked the […]
NMA E-Newsletter #325: 2015 First Quarter Legislative Update
April 5, 2015 • ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, INDIANA, Kentucky, LEGISLATION, MARYLAND, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEVADA, NEWSLETTER, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON
The NMA continues to advocate for motorists’ rights at the national, state and local level. Legislatures across the country took up a broad range of motorists’ issues in the first quarter of 2015. Here’s a brief summary of the driving-related issues we addressed. Arizona Supported Senate Bill 1167 which would ban red-light and speed cameras […]
NMA E-Newsletter #311: The Business of Civil Forfeiture
December 28, 2014 • CIVIL, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, ILLINOIS, NEWSLETTER, OKLAHOMA, PUBLIC RECORDS, TRAFFIC STOP
It’s the highway hustle. The shakedown shuffle. It’s civil forfeiture, and it’s one of the most flagrant roadside abuses motorists face today. Using civil forfeiture laws, police can confiscate property, like cash and vehicles, from motorists if they suspect the property is tied to illegal activity. The police don’t actually have to prove such a […]
NMA E-Newsletter: #305: T’row de Bum(s) Out!
November 16, 2014 • ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COMMUNITY, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, KANSAS, MARYLAND, MISSOURI, NEWSLETTER, OHIO, PETITION, RED LIGHT CAMERA, TEXAS, TICKET CAMERA, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
By Gary Biller, NMA President Popular lore has it that the phrase “throw the bums out” originated during the 1941 World Series when the New York Yankees faced off against the Brooklyn Dodgers. A man supposedly walked into a bar—stop us if you’ve heard this one before—in Brooklyn in the midst of the games and […]
NMA E-Newsletter #291: How Much Does Your State Divert Federal Highway Funding To Transit Projects?
August 10, 2014 • ARKANSAS, DELAWARE, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel Tax, HAWAII, LEGISLATION, MISSISSIPPI, NEW JERSEY, NEWSLETTER, NORTH DAKOTA, OREGON, ROAD-USER FEES, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WYOMING
This week we wrap up our examination of the three equal-weighted metrics that comprise the State Fiscal Responsibility scoring in the recent NMA report, “Motorists Beware: Ranking the States That Treat You Worst.” Part 1 (Legislative Interference with Transportation Planning, #289) rated the influence of lawmakers in determining the planning and spending of funds on […]
NMA E-Newsletter #289: Legislative Interference with Transportation Planning
The states are experts at spending your money. Mind you, they don’t spend it efficiently or constructively, but boy can they spend it. When we put together our Memorial Day rankings of the states by how they treat motorists, one of our primary evaluation categories—State Fiscal Responsibility—didn’t draw too many questions. But that was then […]
NMA E-Newsletter #281: Members Share Thoughts on Emerging Transportation Designs
June 1, 2014 • DDI, DRIVER EDUCATION, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, RCUT, ROUNDABOUT, SAFETY, SPEED LIMIT
In last week’s newsletter (#280: Can it really be Safer to Drive on the Wrong Side of the Road?) we discussed several emerging, “alternative” interchange and intersection designs: the Diverging Diamond Interchange, the Displaced Left Turn Intersection and the U-Turn Intersection. We asked if you’ve ever driven one and what you thought about them overall. […]
NMA E-Newsletter #271: 2014 First Quarter Legislative Update
March 23, 2014 • CALIFORNIA, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, Kentucky, LEGISLATION, MICHIGAN, MISSOURI, NEWSLETTER, OHIO, RED LIGHT CAMERA, SCHOOL BUS, SCHOOL BUS CAMERA, SPEED CAMERA, SPEED LIMIT, TICKET CAMERA, TRAFFIC CAMERA, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON
The NMA continues to advocate for motorists’ rights at the national, state and local level. Legislatures across the country took up a broad range of motorists’ issues in the first quarter of 2014. Here’s a brief summary of the driving-related issues we addressed. California Opposed efforts by the Elk Grove City Council to renew its […]
NMA E-Newsletter #261: PPPs—Brought to You by Your Shortsighted Legislator
January 12, 2014 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, Fuel Tax, Gas Tax, HIGH OCCUPANCY, NEWSLETTER, PPP, Public Private Partnership, REVENUE GENERATION, TOLL, TOLLING
A recent e-newsletter, #259: A Private Windfall, a Public Bust, described the pitfalls associated with Public Private Partnerships. It also prompted this thoughtful and informative response from North Carolina member KC Green, PE. We need to increase the fuel tax—significantly increase it—no matter what the price of gas or diesel is. (The federal fuel tax […]
NMA E-Newsletter #258: Just Say NO for the Holidays
December 22, 2013 • BLOOD WITHDRAWAL, BREATHALYZER, DNA, DUI, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, MISSOURI, NEWSLETTER, PENNSYLVANIA, PRIVACY, ROADBLOCK, TEXAS
Nothing says Happy Holidays like getting caught up in a roadblock followed by one of NHTSA’s elves asking you for a “voluntary” blood sample. We originally told you about this ongoing roadside “research project” a few weeks back (NMA E-Newsletter #255: Dangerous Business). Since then, it seems that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) […]
NMA E-Newsletter #251: Usefulness Takes a Backseat to Technology and the Law
November 3, 2013 • CALIFORNIA, CELL PHONE, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRACTED DRIVING, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, HAWAII, ILLINOIS, INSURANCE, MARYLAND, NEVADA, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, OREGON, Technology, WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA
Did you rush out and buy the latest and greatest iPhone, the 5S model, as soon as it became available last month? If so, this newsletter is for you. Actually, since smartphone technology typically follows in Apple’s footsteps, everyone who uses the mobile communication devices will eventually need to pay heed. Here’s a hint: Many […]
NMA E-Newsletter #250: The Ghosts of 1973
October 27, 2013 • 85TH PERCENTILE, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, INDIANA, IOWA, LEGISLATION, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEWSLETTER, NMSL, OHIO, SAFETY, SPEED LIMIT, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
The year was 1973. British rockers Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Who were battling it out on the top of the charts. That year also marked the beginning of the OPEC oil embargo, and this past October 17th signified the 40th anniversary of that seminal event. Two months after the embargo took effect, Congress […]
NMA E-Newsletter #236: Mors Ab Alto
July 22, 2013 • CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, OHIO, SPEED LIMIT, SPEED TRAP, TICKET FIGHTING, TICKET REVENUE, VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN
We’ve all seen those “Speed Enforced by Aircraft” signs, and the first question that comes to mind is: Do they actually still do that? The answer is yes, but probably not as much as you think. Airplanes are expensive to maintain and operate ($150-$200 per hour, not including labor costs). Budget constraints in recent years […]
NMA E-Newsletter #218: Lane Courtesy Redux
March 17, 2013 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LANE COURTESY, MARYLAND, NATIONAL, NATIONWIDE, NEWSLETTER, SAFETY, SPEED LIMIT, SPEEDING, TICKET FINES, WASHINGTON
Although all states have various forms of the “keep right unless passing” (aka “lane courtesy”) requirement in their statutes, it is rare to hear about the police actually enforcing the law against a driver who camps out in the left lane. …
NMA E-Newsletter #216: Update on ‘Move Over’ Laws
March 3, 2013 • ALABAMA, DRIVER EDUCATION, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, MOVE OVER LAW, NEWSLETTER, NMA BLOG, RED LIGHT CAMERA, SPEED TRAP, VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN
Florida police agencies recently stepped up enforcement of the state’s “Move Over” law by setting up sting operations on roadways throughout the Sunshine State, including in a state park where nearly two dozen unsuspecting motorists were ensnared….
NMA E-Newsletter #215: Connecting with Lawmakers—Tips from an Insider
February 26, 2013 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LETTER WRITING, NEWSLETTER, SOCIAL NETWORKING, WASHINGTON D.C.
Editor’s Note: The following article is reprinted with permission from the February 2013 issue of Land Line, a publication of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). The NMA has worked closely with OOIDA on driving issues since…
NMA E-Newsletter #205: Technology Failure Brings Early Holiday Gift to Motorists
December 16, 2012 • CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, OHIO, SPEED CAMERA, Technology, TICKET FIGHTING, TICKET REVENUE, TRAFFIC CAMERA, WASHINGTON
The Village of Elmwood Place, Ohio, has had its share of ups and downs since it installed speed cameras on September 1. By some measures the program has been wildly successful, issuing 14,000 tickets and generating $470,000 in revenue. Elmwood Pla…
E-Newsletter #191: ALPRs—Coming to a Street Near You
The NMA first raised the alarm on automated license plate readers (ALPRs) two-and-a-half years ago (E-Newsletter Issue #61: Here, There, Everywhere). With more and more police agencies throughout the country employing the technology, we thought an…
NMA E-Newsletter #189: The Next Wave of Ticket Cameras
August 26, 2012 • ALPR, CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, MARYLAND, NEWSLETTER, PRIVACY, SPEED CAMERA, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET FINES
The small town of Glen Echo, Maryland (population 259) made headlines recently when its mayor proposed a unique addition to the town’s landscape: a stop sign camera mounted at the town’s only intersection. Maryland statutes don’t currently allow s…
NMA E-Newsletter #183: The Confrontation Clause v. Traffic Enforcement Cameras
July 15, 2012 • ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, CRIMINAL, DNA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, ILLINOIS, NEWSLETTER, SPEED CAMERA, TICKET CAMERA
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right … to be confronted with the witnesses against him …” Known as the Confrontation Clause, this idea that a defendant should have th…
NMA E-Newsletter #177: Policing for Profit
June 3, 2012 • ALABAMA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LICENSE, MICHIGAN, NEW JERSEY, NEWSLETTER, SPEED CAMERA, TICKET QUOTA, TICKET REVENUE, VIRGINIA
It’s common knowledge (verified by academic studies) that traffic enforcement becomes more heavy-handed in tough economic times. Policymakers looking for creative ways to fill ever widening budget gaps often find motorists easy targets.But if the …
NMA E-Newsletter #169:The Latest Generation of Traffic Busy Bodies
April 2, 2012 • CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LASER, NEWSLETTER, RADAR DETECTOR, SPEED LIMIT, SPEED TRAP
The police have a long history of enlisting citizens to assist with routine law enforcement tasks. Everyone is familiar with police-sponsored neighborhood watch programs, and many communities train volunteers to monitor traffic (complete with rada…
NMA E-Newsletter #167: Members Weigh In on Pay as You Drive Auto Insurance
March 18, 2012 • BLACK BOX, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, GPS TRACKING, INSURANCE, LICENSE, NEWSLETTER, PAYD, PRIVACY, SPEED CAMERA
NMA members are never shy about sharing their opinions. Our recent E-newsletter on Pay as You Drive (PAYD) auto insurance (#165: The Trade-Offs of “Pay as You Drive” Auto Insurance), spurred many to respond with their own thoughtful and provocativ…
NMA E-Newsletter #161 – Ticket Amnesty Schemes: Misguided and Perpetual
February 5, 2012 • CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, LICENSE, NEWSLETTER, TEXAS, TICKET FINES, TICKET REVENUE
Policymakers love to use amnesty programs to demonstrate their magnanimity toward perceived rule-breakers or, more likely, to encourage them to fork over some of what they owe. Typical amnesty programs target things like delinquent taxes, overdue …
NMA E-Newsletter #160: Variability and Uncertainty as Deterrence
January 29, 2012 • ARIZONA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, MARYLAND, NEWSLETTER, SPEEDING, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET FIGHTING, TICKET REVENUE, VIRGINIA
Many members call us to ask how they can fight their camera tickets and what to expect in court when they do. The short, but honest, answer is it depends. Some of the reasons for this include: Photo enforcement statutes vary from state to state Co…
NMA E-Newsletter #154: Will We Never Learn?
December 18, 2011 • CALIFORNIA, CELL PHONE, DISTRACTED DRIVING, DUI, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, IIHS, INSURANCE, LOUISIANA, MINNESOTA, NEWSLETTER, TEXTING, WASHINGTON
The feds are at it again. Anyone following the news last week almost certainly ran across a headline like this one from CNN.com: “NTSB recommends full ban on use of cell phones while driving.” In the frenzy to report this story, CNN and other medi…
NMA E-Newsletter #141: A Man’s Car Is His Castle
The typical North American adult spends between 15 and 20 hours a week driving or riding in a car. While that may not qualify the vehicle as being a home away from home, many motorists may feel differently – particularly if their typical commutes …
NMA E-Newsletter #137: Houston, We Have A Problem
August 23, 2011 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, RED LIGHT CAMERA, TEXAS, TICKET REVENUE, TRAFFIC CAMERA, WASHINGTON
That iconic quote from the terrific 1995 movie Apollo 13 wasn’t exactly what astronauts Swigert, Jr. and Lovell uttered on that fateful space mission, but it persists in popular culture. And it appropriately describes the dysfunctional relationshi…
NMA E-Newsletter #131: End The Federal Highway Program?
From the very beginning of the country the federal government has had a role in the provision of roadways. The US Constitution specifically mentions the responsibility “To establish Post Offices and post roads.” However, state and local government…
NMA E-Newsletter #126: So Much For Precision
June 7, 2011 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, MARYLAND, NEWSLETTER, RED LIGHT CAMERA, SPEED CAMERA, Technology, TICKET FIGHTING, TRAFFIC CAMERA
Maryland drivers are unfortunate. Some jurisdictions in the state have contracted the services of Optotraffic, a company that touts the precision and accuracy of its red-light and speed cameras. Optotraffic notes that it uses “space technology” – …
NMA E-Newsletter #121: Enlightened vs. Opportunistic
May 3, 2011 • CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, MARYLAND, NEWSLETTER, SPEED CAMERA, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET QUOTA, TICKET REVENUE, TRAFFIC CAMERA
This is a tale of two cities and how they approach their traffic safety responsibilities. As the newsletter title intimates, Roseville (California) and Chevy Chase Village (Maryland) represent a contrast of law enforcement philosophies. Let’s star…
NMA E-Newsletter #111: Communicating with Congress (Or State Legislators)
In order to appear to be doing something, or to generate more donations, many large and prominent organizations distribute pre-printed post cards, petitions (on line and off), form letters, and questionnaires that will be subsequently sent to Memb…
NMA Email Newsletter: Issue #102
December 21, 2010 • EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, SPEED CAMERA, SPEED LIMIT, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET FINES, TICKET REVENUE
The Pressure of Public Exposure Few opponents of photo enforcement would argue that Washington D.C. has few, if any, peers among major metropolitan areas when it comes to raking in traffic ticket revenue per capita. Before we hear howls of protest…
NMA Email Newsletter: Issue #83
August 10, 2010 • DRIVER EDUCATION, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, NEWSLETTER, RED LIGHT CAMERA, TEXAS, TICKET CAMERA, TICKET FINES, TICKET REVENUE
Follow The Money Why a majority of motorists don’t get more riled up about the massive amount of red-light ticket camera fines being levied across the country is hard to fathom. A reporter asked the other day for our best estimate of the annual re…
NMA Email Newsletter: Issue #53
January 12, 2010 • CALIFORNIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, SPEED LIMIT, SPEEDING, TICKET FIGHTING, TRAFFIC STOP
Eye In The Sky: Speed Enforcement By Air Currently, nineteen states have an aviation component to their enforcement of traffic laws. If you live in, or have occasion to drive through, any of the states shown below, you should be aware of how the p…
NMA Email Newsletter: Issue #37
September 22, 2009 • DISTRACTED DRIVING, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NEWSLETTER, Technology, TEXTING, WASHINGTON D.C.
You Can Participate In Next Week’s Distracted Driving Summit On Wednesday September 30th and Thursday October 1, over 200 safety experts, researchers, elected officials and members of the public will gather in Washington D.C. to discuss the ramifi…
NMA Email Newsletter: Issue #14
April 14, 2009 • ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, Driver's License, EMAIL NEWSLETTER, FLORIDA, HAWAII, INSURANCE, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NEWSLETTER, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, PROTEST, REVENUE GENERATION, TICKET REVENUE, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
Share The Pain The following article from the New York Times provides a fair warning of how state and local governments intend to “share the pain” during the current recession. Motorists will be the favorite target for new fees, fines, surcharges,…
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