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 30, 2013
Courts Deal With Broken Taillight Stops
Appellate judges in Wisconsin and Arizona disputed this month over whether motorists should be pulled over if their tail lights appear to be burned out. Wisconsin’s Court of Appeals on January 15 overturned a circuit court judge who saw no problem with Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Wawrzonek’s decision on July 3, 2010 to stop Antonio D. Brown’s 1977 Buick Electra over its tail lights.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Opinion: US Transportation Department Cracks Down On Wrong Ticket Scam
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced last week that it was cracking down on a ticket scam — one having nothing to do with motorists. Instead of addressing unlawful traffic ticket quotas or inaccurate speed camera citations, the department is concerned about fraud related to ticket packages offered to fans interested in attending Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 3.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Another Speed Camera Company Sues a Competitor
A Swedish speed camera firm is suing Maryland-based photo enforcement company Brekford claiming it has been ripped off. In 2011, Sensys cut a deal to sell automated ticketing machines and services to Brekford. According to the complaint filed with a federal district court in Florida, Brekford failed to provide services that were valued at $260,000 as required under a contractual arrangement.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
French Speed Camera Sends Ticket To Poland
A speed camera in France falsely accused a motorist in Poland of speeding. On December 11, a student in Warsaw named Mariusz was surprised to find a “notice of contravention of the traffic law” mailed to him by the French government. The ticket claimed to have photographed his Peugeot traveling 57 km/h (35 MPH) in a 50 km/h (31 MPH) zone on the Route de Corbeil in Longjumeau, in the southern suburbs of Paris. For allegedly traveling 4 MPH over the limit, the noticed demanded payment of 135 euros (US $182).
Friday, January 25, 2013
Virginia: Insurance Industry Data Shows Mixed Results From Red Light Cameras
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on Thursday released a brief analysis of red light running incidents in Arlington, Virginia claiming a benefit to the use of photo enforcement. The primary assertion is that violations taking place 1.5 seconds after the light turned red decreased dramatically at red-light camera intersections.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Louisiana: Redflex Appeals Court Loss In Lawsuit Against Sheriff
Redflex Traffic Systems is appealing its failed effort to sue a former red light camera client for $8 million in federal court. Redflex last week asked the Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Judge Eldon Fallon’s December 20 ruling that dismissed the company’s demand that Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Sheriff Newell Normand pay up. Automated ticketing firms have a history of taking their claims to federal courts, sometimes even forum shopping to exploit personal connections for a favorable decision. Here the standard tactics backfired, as Judge Fallon refused to allow the Australian company to argue Jefferson Parish and Sheriff Normand violated their automated ticketing contract.
