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 28, 2015
Virginia Considers Mix Of Pro, Anti-Motorist Bills
State lawmakers in Virginia are weighing whether to expand or limit the use of photo enforcement among a handful of bills of interest to the commonwealth’s drivers. The first bill failed before the state Senate Privileges and Elections Committee last week on an 11 to 4 vote. State Senator Richard H. Black (R-Leesburg) had put forward a bill giving the public a say in whether red-light cameras are used in their community.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Federal Agency Centralizes License Plate Spying Data
The federal government is harvesting information from a network of hundreds of spy cameras to develop a centralized database that tracks the movement of motorists not suspected of any wrongdoing. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Monday released documents obtained from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that offer new details about how this national tracking program works.
Monday, January 26, 2015
France, Germany, Italy: Speed Cameras Sprayed, Exploited, Distrusted
Vigilantes in France sided with free speech last week by attacking a speed camera in Noroy-le-Bourg. According to Est Republicain, the automated ticketing machine on the D9 had its lens covered with pink spraypaint, and the message, “Je suis Charlie” was painted on its side. The phrase expresses solidarity with the newspaper Charlie Hebdo which was attacked by Islamic terrorists on January 7.
Friday, January 23, 2015
US Supreme Court Considers Random Use Of Drug Dogs During Traffic Stops
Should police have the power to order a driver out of his car while a search is conducted with a drug dog — even when there is no reason to believe the motorist has done anything wrong? That was the question posed to the US Supreme Court during oral arguments on Wednesday in the case of Dennys Rodriguez.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Willis, Texas Ignores Anti-Camera Petition
Officials in Willis, Texas are doing everything they can to prevent residents from having a say in whether red-light cameras are used in their community. The city council voted Tuesday to block a proposed charter amendment submitted by residents who had collected more than six times the number of signatures legally required to force the matter onto the ballot. The city’s attorney offered a rationale to keep the cameras running.
