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, February 15, 2012
US House Considers Transportation Priorities
Congress will take up legislation this week reauthorizing federal transportation programs for the next five years. Republicans in control of the House see the allocation of $260 billion in funding as an opportunity to realign America’s transportation priorities. Among the provisions in the 979-page legislation is a ban on the use of federal “highway safety” grants on red light cameras or speed cameras.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Idaho Court: Feel Free to Ignore Cop Tapping on Window
Idaho’s Court of Appeals ruled last week that motorists should feel free to ignore any police officer who comes tapping on their window. A three-judge panel came to that conclusion after examining the case of Christopher Homer Randle who had been sitting with a female friend in his parked car in a parking lot on January 4, 2010 at around 11:30pm.
Monday, February 13, 2012
California Court of Appeal Throws Out Red Light Camera Ticket
Red light cameras are coming under increasing legal fire in the Golden State. On Friday, California’s second-highest court published a ruling that struck down red light camera evidence as insufficient to convict a motorist.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Texas, France, Poland, UK: Traffic Cameras Burned, Rammed
Speed cameras were set on fire in England, France, Poland while two red light cameras were knocked down in Texas.
Friday, February 10, 2012
UK: Study Shows No Speed Camera Safety Benefit
A private study of the effect of speed cameras in Thames Valley, England concluded Tuesday that the devices failed to produce a measurable safety benefit. Dave Finney, an electronics engineer, produced the report by examining accident data from the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership before and after cameras were activated at 212 permanent sites and at all 105 locations where mobile photo radar vans were routinely parked.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Atlanta, Georgia Stops Red Light Camera Collections
The red light camera program in Atlanta, Georgia is effectively over. City officials admitted to WGCL-TV investigative reporter Jeff Chirico earlier this week that they would no longer pursue any collections against photo ticket recipients, leaving them free to ignore citations. That means Atlanta is likely to join Los Angeles, California and Houston, Texas as major cities that have recently shut down photo ticketing programs.
