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.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Tennessee: Man Sues Traffic Camera Company Over Double Billing
Drivers often get the run around when dealing with the traffic ticket bureaucracy. Motorist Harry A. Church realized that with red light cameras, the system was outsourced from city hall to a company that could be more easily sued. After being double-billed by the Australian red light camera company Redflex Traffic Systems, Church filed a lawsuit that has been taken up by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Monday, July 18, 2011
California: More Cities Dropping Red Light Cameras
In Westminster, the city council decided unanimously to ask voters to ban the use of red light cameras in a referendum scheduled for November 2012. Also, the cities of Grand Terrace and San Bernardino are both trying to get out of their ticketing contracts.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Canada, France: Speed Cameras Disabled
In Edmonton, Canada a vigilante attacked a mobile photo radar van by throwing rocks at it. Meanwhile, in France, speed cameras in Etain and Marmagne were spray painted by vigilantes.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Massachusetts Court Denies Meaningful Right to Contest Parking Tickets
The highest court in Massachusetts believes there is no due process problem with charging motorists $300 to challenge a $5 or $15 parking ticket. On Thursday, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the appeal procedures in the city of Northampton satisfied constitutional requirements even though motorists were denied an in-person hearing to contest the legitimacy of a citation.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
North Carolina to Seize Speeding Cars That Fail to Pull Over
Beginning December 1, North Carolina will join Australia in having laws on the book mandating the seizure of vehicles for certain speeding offenses. On June 23, Governor Bev Perdue (D) signed the “Run and You’re Done” bill into law which authorizes a county sheriff to take and hold the car of anyone accused — not convicted — of speeding away from a police officer.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
South Carolina Supreme Court Busts Town for Ignoring Camera Law
In 1998, South Carolina lawmakers mandated that police use dashboard mounted cameras to document the arrest of anyone arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. The state supreme court on Monday ruled that the town of Mount Pleasant was not in compliance with this statute, which states a suspect “must have his conduct at the incident site and the breath test site video recorded.”
