Each Wednesday, we’ll publish quick summaries of the articles from the last week on TheNewspaper.com. We’re doing this because these articles are often strongly connected to the issues that National Motorists Association members are interested in.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Traffic Camera Company Demands $600,000 From Florida County
Increasingly desperate red light camera firms are taking advantage of strict contractual language in an attempt to prevent local governments from dumping their ticketing programs. Manatee County, Florida grew disenchanted with automated ticketing after signing a contract with Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), but the firm will not let the county government unplug the cameras unless it is paid $603,344.38. County commissioners yesterday moved to ignore the threat and drop the contract.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Colorado: Auditor Blasts Denver Photo Ticketing Program
After performing a thorough performance audit, Denver, Colorado’s city auditor is no longer convinced of the value of red light cameras and speed cameras. The Denver Police Department (DPD) deputized the Dallas-based firm Affiliated Computer Services (ACS, a division of Xerox) to issue red light tickets at four intersections and speeding tickets throughout the city with five roaming vans. The program has little more to show for itself than a profitable bottom line.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Federal Appeals Court Backs Traffic Stop Patdown
As long as a police officer cites his own safety as the reason, he may frisk any motorist during a traffic stop and remove objects from his pockets, according to a ruling handed down Tuesday by the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Italy, Latvia: Speed Camera Shot, Sign Swiped
Three truck drivers grabbed a speed camera warning sign in Italy while shots were fired at a camera in Latvia.
Friday, December 17, 2011
Gardena, California Dumps Red Light Camera
Another city in Los Angeles County, California has opted to shut down red light cameras. On Tuesday, the Gardena City Council unanimously voted to terminate the contract with their Australian automated ticketing vendor, Redflex Traffic Systems, because the program was losing money and failed to reduce accidents.
Thursday, December 16, 2011
Italy: Seven Arrested in Red Light Camera Corruption Scandal
Italy’s widespread red light camera corruption investigation expanded once again yesterday with the arrest of seven officials in towns about an hour outside Rome. As part of Operation Watchful Eye, Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza, charged the police commanders in the towns of Frosinone and Isola del Liri with taking bribes from a private traffic camera firm.
