In this week’s TheNewspaper.com Roundup!
–Fed Judge Declares NM CAF Program Illegal–
–MA Cops busted over Fake Tickets & Bogus OT–
–KS Supremes Reject Owner is Driver Presumption–
Friday, August 3, 2018
Federal Judge Declares New Mexico Car Seizure Program Illegal
A federal court on Saturday could see no defense for the way that the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, seizes automobiles. US District Judge James O. Browning declared the program an unlawful cash grab.
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Massachusetts Cops Busted Over Fake Tickets, Bogus Overtime
A state police trooper was arrested last week as part of an ongoing federal investigation into overtime payments for speed traps on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Daren DeJong, 57, pocketed $179,971 — a generous salary inflated by $75-an-hour payments for times he was not at his post, according to the US Department of Justice.
Wednesday, August, 1, 2018
Texas: School System Goes After School Bus Camera Operator
The school system in Dallas County, Texas regrets ever getting involved in photo enforcement. Last year, disgusted voters dissolved Dallas County Schools (DCS) after learning of the massive bribery scandal surrounding the school bus camera programs. Now the trustees responsible for winding down the organization are seeking millions in compensation from the school bus camera provider, Force Multiplier Solutions (now operating with largely the same staff and in the same building under the name BusPatrol). The trustees filed a lawsuit Friday to recover the funds lost as a result of corruption from everyone who advanced the scheme.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Kansas Supreme Court Rejects Owner Is Driver Presumption
Red-light camera and speed camera programs around the country rely upon the legal presumption that the registered owner of the vehicle is also the one behind the wheel. In the Fourth Amendment context, the Kansas Supreme Court on Friday declared that this notion is so flimsy it does not rise to the level of reasonable suspicion.
Monday, July 30, 2018
France, Italy: Vigilantes Thwart Speed Cameras
In Pisa, Italy, a speed camera was destroyed Sunday morning after the device failed to prevent an accident. Three women aged 24 to 27 suffered serious injuries after their Nissan collided with the photo radar unit on the Viale D’Annunzio, according to Il Tirreno. In Pesaro, a 28-year-old man was accused of smashing a speed camera with an ax, Il Resto del Carlino reported.
