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, July 31, 2013
Colorado Cops Cleared In Photo Radar Ticket Prank
The Civil Service Commission in Denver, Colorado cleared a pair of police officers who had been disciplined over a practical joke that got out of hand. According to the account of the Denver Police Department, Officers Joshua Herrick and Thomas Sanchez learned their long-time friend, Officer Kyllion Chafin, was at home dodging process servers to avoid having to pay a photo radar ticket on January 27, 2010. They decided to play a joke.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
New Hampshire Town Sues Over Meter Feeding
A group of residents in Keene, New Hampshire thought the city was gaining a bad reputation for its predatory parking meter enforcement and decided to do something about it. The organized an effort to regularly feed coins into the meters so that other residents and visitors could avoid having an expensive ticket slapped on their windshield. Instead, they receive a card telling them that Robin Hood and the Merry Men have “saved you from the king’s tariff.” As a reward for their generosity, the city is suing the Robin Hooders for civil conspiracy to interfere with a contract. A hearing on the case is scheduled for August 12.
Monday, July 29, 2013
European Court Backs Journalist Harassed Over Speed Camera Criticism
Latvian journalist Ilze Nagla is a frequent critic of speed cameras. A few days after she exposed irregularities with photo radar devices used in her country, her home was raided by state police. Earlier this month, the European Court of Human Rights ordered the Latvian government to pay her 20,000 euros (US $26,500) in compensation for violating her rights.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Italy, UK: Speed Cameras Burned, Shot
A speed camera in Lamberton, Scotland was set on fire last week Sunday, BBC News reported. The automated ticketing machine on the A1 joins a long list of recently damaged cameras in the border region, where 19 devices have been firebombed since 2004.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Iowa: Judge Rescues Sioux City Speed Camera Program
The state of Iowa wants speed cameras off its freeways, but a local magistrate has other ideas. On Tuesday Woodbury County District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Poulson intervened and ordered Redflex Traffic Systems of Australia to continue issuing tickets until further notice. An expedited hearing is scheduled for Friday to decide whether the ticketing will be allowed permanently.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
UK Information Commissioner Blasts License Plate Readers
The American Civil Liberties Union is not alone in its concern over the use of automated license plate readers (ALPR or ANPR in Europe). The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on Wednesday ordered a review of Hertfordshire Constabulary’s use of the technology in Royston, the first town in England to adopt the technology. In November, Canada’s privacy commissioner arrived at a similar conclusion in November.
