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 11, 2012
Federal Judge Overrules DC Car Seizure
A federal judge ruled on Friday that the District of Columbia had no business taking a man’s car without a hearing after a jury found him not guilty of any crime. DC Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jeremy Bank claimed that Frederick Simms, 22, made a right turn on Martin Luther King Avenue in Southeast Washington where a small sign stated such turns could not be made between 7am and 7pm.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Florida Appeals Court Finds Early Camera Use Illegal
Orlando, Florida jumped the gun when it started using red light cameras without waiting for authorization from the state legislature. In December 2007, the city council voted to give Lasercraft, now American Traffic Solutions (ATS), the right to issue traffic tickets at intersections. It was not until 2010 that the legislature gave in to a massive lobbying effort and granted statewide permission for the use of automated ticketing machines, effective July 1, 2010.
Monday, July 09, 2012
Italy: Police Chief Busted in Speed Camera Scam
The top cop in Pistoia, Italy was placed under house arrest on Friday, accused of rigging a contract with a speed camera company. Police Chief Giuseppe Napolitano is suspected of working with businessman Carlo Alberto Diddi in accepting gifts or other benefits for the contract worth 39,950 euros (US $49,030) to install an automated ticketing machine on the highway. The contract was awarded on February 9 to Diddi in an amount that was just 50 euros under the threshold that triggers a public procurement process.
Sunday, July 08, 2012
Australia, Italy: Speed Cameras Swiped, Smashed, Scorched
Vigilantes in Bacchus Marsh, Australia grabbed ten different speed cameras being used on the Avenue of Honour. The Melton Weekly reported the padlocks and cables used to tie down the equipment failed to deter those involved.
Friday, July 06, 2012
Traffic Camera Vendor Introduces New Measurement Technology
Old technology has become new again as American Traffic Solutions (ATS) on Tuesday received a patent for a photography-based speed measurement system that dispenses with the need to use lasers, radar or in-pavement sensors to generate speed readings. ATS calls the system “vidar” because it uses video sensing to estimate vehicle speeds.
