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, June 19, 2013
US Supreme Court Rules Against DMV Disclosing Driver Info
US Supreme Court issued a ruling Monday confirming federal privacy protections for the personal information stored by state motor vehicle departments. The justices considered the issue in a case where one group of lawyers found a way to file a $200 million class action lawsuit against another group of lawyers that also files class action lawsuits.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Ohio Appeals Court: Signal Not Needed If Driving Straight
Motorists driving in a straight line do not need to use their turn signal. That’s the conclusion Ohio’s second highest court reached on June 7 while reviewing the opinion of the Erie County Municipal Court, which had found otherwise regarding the traffic stop of Cory A. Paseka on December 29, 2011.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Louisiana: Cops Used Red-Light Cameras For Personal Profit
Police officers in New Orleans, Louisiana filled their own pockets with red-light camera cash by setting up a private company to “review” photo citations off the official clock. The city’s inspector general, E. R. Quatrevaux, on Friday released a report documenting how Edwin Hosli, the New Orleans Police Department’s (NOPD) 8th District commander, formed his own limited liability company called Anytime Solutions to take advantage of the lucrative business opportunity.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Maryland, Italy: Speed Cameras Painted
Vigilantes in Maryland and Italy disabled several automated ticketing machines last week by coating their lenses with spraypaint. In Montgomery County, black paint blocked the flash and camera lenses on a speed camera at Dufief Mill Road in North Potomac. The same device has been targeted multiple times in the past.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Florida: Study Documents Shortened Yellows At Camera Intersections
An investigative reporter’s claim that Florida cities have been exploiting shortened yellow times at red-light camera intersections has been vindicated by a report commissioned by the city of St. Petersburg. WTSP-TV’s Noah Pransky has been documenting timing shortfalls throughout the region since last month, and a new report by the engineering firm Kimley-Horn and Associates confirms several of St. Petersburg’s photo enforced intersection approaches fail to meet the minimum specified under state law.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Oregon Extends Reach Of Red-Light Camera Surveillance
Red-light cameras and speed cameras will be used to prosecute vehicle owners for dozens of new offenses in Oregon if Governor John Kitzhaber (D) signs a measure that cleared the state legislature on Tuesday. The state House voted 53-6 and the Senate 22-8 to repeal an existing law that prohibits the use of photo radar or red-light camera photographs for the prosecution of anything other than a speeding or red light-related infraction. In its place, state Representative Andy Olson (R-Albany) and Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-South Lane) said their bill would allow the cameras to prosecute “serious crime.”
