Driving News Roundup: August 17, 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.
Drivers’ newest nemesis — stop-sign cameras
Thinking about rolling through that stop sign the next time nobody’s looking? Think again. On top of red-light cameras and speed cameras, some jurisdictions are starting to install stop-sign cameras in their seemingly never-ending quest to monitor drivers and catch them in the act of some ticket-able offense. California has already rolled out cameras at stop signs. Maryland and the nation’s capital could be next.
Georgia: School bus cameras can catch drivers who illegally pass; fines might follow
Hundreds of Cobb County school buses will be back on the streets beginning tomorrow, and drivers who pass a school bus that has stopped to pick up or drop off children could receive a $300 citation in the mail. County commissioners are expected to approve a five-year agreement with the Cobb School District and a private company, American Traffic Solutions, to allow ATS to process camera footage and mail citations to violators. The company would keep 75 percent of the revenue the first year, and lesser percentages thereafter.
Florida: Newspaper wins red-light camera FOIA case
A federal court ordered the city of Tallahassee and for-profit vendor Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) to hand over the names of all red-light camera ticket recipients to the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper. On July 15, 2011, the paper demanded copies of a year’s worth of notices so it could analyze how the program is being administered, particularly the identity of city and county employees who have received citations.
Iowa: Another high-tech police tool to ponder
Cedar Rapids uses traffic cameras to help catch red-light runners and speeders. It’s been a generally effective, albeit controversial, high-tech police tool. Will license-plate readers mounted on patrol cars be next? Don’t bet against it.
Kansas: Statewide traffic enforcement project begins today
The annual “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” traffic enforcement project begins Thursday across Kansas and continues through Labor Day weekend. Additional law enforcement officers will be patrolling area roads enforcing drunken driving and other traffic laws.
Virginia: VDOT, private partner file to move tolls suit to federal court
If the state gets its way, a federal judge – instead of a Portsmouth one – will settle the battle over tunnel tolls. The Virginia Department of Transportation and its private partner, Elizabeth River Crossings, have filed to have a lawsuit against the Midtown Tunnel deal switched from Portsmouth Circuit Court to the federal docket.
British Columbia: Speed limits should be higher
Many drivers in B.C. and Canada simply don’t take speed limits seriously. Contrary to government propaganda that “speed is killing us”, exceeding the speed limit on highways is not causing carnage and mayhem – other than the kind instigated by police actions and government policies.
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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