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, November 27, 2013
Second Missouri Court of Appeals Decision Strikes Down Traffic Cameras
The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, on Tuesday agreed with the Eastern District that red-light cameras have been used illegally in the state. In a unanimous, 49-page decision, a three-judge panel of the Western District struck down the automated ticketing ordinance in effect in Kansas City because it ignored state law imposing points on all moving violations.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Motorist Issues Take Stage In Race For Texas Governor
Rick Perry will step down next year after fourteen years as governor of Texas. That leaves potential successors to scramble for to GOP nomination. The Lone Star State is one of the most Republican leaning in the nation — Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama by 1.2 million votes last year — so winning over Republicans is key to taking the governor’s mansion. Former state party chairman Tom Pauken is trying to outmaneuver heir apparent Greg Abbott, the attorney general, by highlighting opposition to toll roads and red-light cameras.
Monday, November 25, 2013
California: Court Rejects Confrontation Argument Against Cameras
Forget fighting a red-light camera ticket with a Confrontation Clause argument in Beverly Hills, California. A three-judge panel of the Superior Court’s appellate division in July upheld the citation issued to motorist Tayo Popoola, denying his argument that he was unable to confront the real witness against him, the private, for-profit firm Affiliated Computer Services (ACS, now Xerox).
Sunday, November 24, 2013
France, Germany, Italy, UK: Speed Cameras Burn
Last week Saturday, a speed camera on the RD1215 in Saint-Laurent de Medoc was set on fire at around 11pm, Sud Oest reported. The fire did not completely destroy the camera. A speed camera was set on fire at 7:30am last week Sunday in Morbihan, Ouest France reported. On Saturday, a camera in Ouges was covered in blue spraypaint, according to Bien Public. Later that evening, a newly installed speed camera on the RD1916 in Verdun was set on fire, according to Lor’Actu. On Monday, three more cameras were attacked along the RD824 running through the towns of Meillan, Saint-Paul-les-Dax and Mees. Sud Oest reports that the camera lenses were spraypainted purple.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Goldman Sachs Gives Its Own Traffic Camera Executive An Award
Investment bankers at Goldman Sachs are pleased with the performance of American Traffic Solutions (ATS), the red-light camera and speed camera company that it has given the company an award. ATS has picked up business as its primary competitor, Redflex Traffic Systems of Australia, has been bogged down in the wake of multiple bribery investigations. Late last month, Goldman Sachs decided to promote ATS CEO James D. Tuton as one of the “100 most intriguing entrepreneurs of 2013” at the Goldman Sachs Builders and Innovators Summit.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Oregon: Cracked Windshield Traffic Stop Fails Without Evidence
The mere assertion that a cracked windshield might be dangerous does not justify a traffic stop, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled last week. State prosecutors attempted to use a catch-all safety statute about driving a vehicle with an “obstructed view” to convict George Duane Anderson, who had been stopped after a Jackson County sheriff’s deputy saw the windshield of Anderson’s pickup truck.
