TheNewspaper.com Roundup: May 27, 2015


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, May 27, 2015
Ohio: Code Enforcement Officers Personally Liable For Seizing Cars
Code enforcement officers in Riverside, Ohio do not have the unfettered right to tow cars from a private residence that they imagined they had. Although Voncile DuBose and Peter Williams were backed up by a city ordinance, they found that they did not have the statutory immunity for their actions on the city’s behalf that they imagined, thanks to a ruling earlier this month by the Ohio Court of Appeals. A divided three-judge panel held Kevin Vlcek could hold city employees personally liable for taking his cars without giving him a meaningful opportunity to appeal.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
North Carolina: Audit Finds Flaws In One Out Of Five Speeding Tickets
Nearly one out of five speeding tickets issued by police in Asheville, North Carolina between 2011 and 2014 were invalid. After being questioned by WLOS-TV and the district attorney’s office, the Asheville Police Department hired a firm to conduct an independent audit of the citations. The results, released earlier this month, found discrepancies that rendered the evidence inadmissible.

Monday, May 25, 2015
Maryland: Speed Camera Shot
In Ellicott City, Maryland, a vigilante cracked the rear windshield of a photo radar van last Monday. According to Howard County police, a pellet gun was used against the speed trap at around 3:45pm on Ilchester Road.

Friday, May 22, 2015
Pennsylvania Limits Secondary Questioning During Traffic Stop
Police officers routinely engage in extended roadside questioning during traffic stops. The tactic, designed to goad drivers into divulging information that might lead to other potential offenses, is under increasing scrutiny in Pennsylvania. A three-judge state appellate panel decided earlier this month that officers may not start a second round of roadside questioning after telling a motorist that he is free to go.

Thursday, May 21, 2015
Virginia Report Finds Female Drivers Need Longer Yellow Times
The argument over whether current engineering practices produce yellow times that are too short has raged for more than a decade. Recent experience in Florida has shown that adding an extra 1.5 seconds to the commonly accepted minimum standard reduced violations by over 90 percent. A 2011 study funded by the Virginia Department of Transportation provided further evidence that the differences between drivers may account for the need for longer yellow durations.

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