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, January 16, 2013
South Dakota Supreme Court Upholds High Beam Traffic Stop
Driving with overly bright headlights justifies a traffic stop, according to a ruling handed down last week by South Dakota’s highest court. The court considered the issue in the context of whether a police officer can continue to pursue a traffic stop after realizing he was mistaken about the initial violation he observed.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Traffic Camera Patent Battle Headed to Court
A lawsuit over whether one company infringed on another’s speed camera patent may be headed to trial. American Traffic Solutions (ATS) and B&W Sensors have not settled their heated dispute over the upstart photo ticketing firm infringed a valid patent belonging to ATS. Top officials with both firms as well as three Texas Transportation Institute researchers will be deposed leading up to what both sides agreed in court filings would be a ten-day trial. On Thursday, the firms will discuss having a mediator come up with a settlement, but if that does not happen the long process of preparing for a trial in June 2014 would begin.
Monday, January 14, 2013
US Supreme Court Considers Forced Blood Draw From Motorists
The nation’s highest court on Wednesday considered whether police should be able to forcibly draw the blood of a motorist without a warrant. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in the case of Missouri v. McNeely to decide whether Tyler McNeely’s constitutional rights were violated when he was taken to a hospital for a blood draw after a state patrolman accused him of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in October 2010.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
France, Germany, Italy, UK : Fires, Explosions Disable Traffic Cameras
Vigilantes in La Chaussee-Saint-Victor, France rang in New Year’s Eve by setting fire to a speed camera at around 2:30am. According to La Nouvelle Republique, a burning tire was used to completely destroy the device.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Auditor Blasts Pennsylvania Toll Road Mismanagement
Friends of the Pennsylvania Turnpike are getting a free ride. In a report released Tuesday, Auditor General Jack Wagner blasted the state-run toll road’s culture of freebies lavished on political allies, the lack of transparency and accountability as well as the money-losing financial gambles that the Turnpike Commission used to finance its debt.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
GAO Report Pushes Per-Mile Taxation
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) believes lawmakers should tax motorists for every mile they drive. In a report released Tuesday, the congressional watchdog agency suggested GPS surveillance devices or other, less invasive techniques could be used to more than double the amount of money motorists currently pay in federal gas tax fees.
