Driving News Roundup: April 27, 2012
This is a weekly feature on the NMA Blog, running each Friday, where we highlight seven of the most interesting driving news stories of the week.
U.S. ban sought on cell phone use while driving – US news
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called on Thursday for a federal law to ban talking on a cell phone or texting while driving any type of vehicle on any road in the country.
New Jersey: State adds “road rage” kicker to traffic violations
In honor of a woman who was paralyzed from the waist down as a teenager because of a road rage incident, New Jersey has just made Jessica Rogers’ Law official The law upgrades the degree of a vehicular incident – from Disorderly Persons to fourth degree or fourth to third degree – if road rage is established as a factor.
South Dakota: Supreme Court says avoiding nighttime roadblock is suspicious
Avoiding a roadblock is, in effect, sufficient justification for police to pull over a driver, the Supreme Court of South Dakota ruled last Wednesday. The justices unanimously ruled that avoidance itself technically is not enough, they approved the most minor of “suspicious” circumstances to justify pulling over any motorist who does not want to be stopped and interrogated at a checkpoint.
Florida: Red-light cameras catch officers running red lights
When a red-light camera flashes you, you get a citation in the mail with a $158 fine. That is, unless you’re a cop in certain South Florida locales.
Washington D.C.: Some motorists appreciate marking of hidden speed cameras
Large orange X’s painted on trees and utility poles at two locations in Washington now mark spots where officials appear to have have cleverly hidden speed enforcement cameras from oncoming motorists.
California: Federal court takes on photo enforcement hearsay issue
California courts are split on the issue of whether US Supreme Court precedent invalidates evidence typically provided by red light cameras. The Court of Appeal, number-two in state’s the judicial hierarchy, issued a pair of rulings within a few weeks coming to contradictory conclusions on this question
To see more stories like the ones above, check out our NMA Driving News site. Each weekday we update the site with news stories that are interesting and/or informative for drivers like you.
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