Driving News Roundup: January 11, 2013

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.

Maryland: Baltimore replacing entire speed camera system
Baltimore officials said Monday they are scrapping all 83 of the city’s automated speed cameras and “methodically” replacing them with newer models, after an investigation found errors with the system. The overhaul, estimated to cost about $450,000, comes after the city’s new speed camera contractor, Brekford Corp., analyzed Baltimore’s system and concluded the only way to cut down on the errors was to replace all the cameras with newer models.

Canada: Lower speed limit dangerous?
Reducing the posted speed limit on Winnipeg’s residential streets may actually increase the risk of collisions, according to a new report that recommends the city put the brakes on proposed changes. The report said some drivers will follow the lower speed limit while others will ignore it, disrupting traffic and increasing the potential for collisions between slower and faster drivers.

Ohio: Village reaps estimated $700,000 from speeding tickets; lawsuit challenges cameras
An attorney challenging the use of traffic speed cameras says a southwest Ohio village has reaped some $700,000 from tickets, stating the speed cameras are “nothing more than a money grab.” He wants a Hamilton County judge to shut down the system in Elmwood Village, near Cincinnati.

Supreme Court to decide whether police can take your blood without your permission
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in a landmark Fourth Amendment case that could clear up almost 50 years of uncertainty over the constitutionality of blood tests that are taken without a suspect’s consent.

Texas: Speed limits to rise on 18 Central Texas highways
Speed limits will be increased from 70 to 75 miles per hour on 18 highways early this year, the Texas Department of Transportation said Tuesday. The Texas Transportation Commission approved the increased speed limits last year in response to legislation approved by lawmakers raising the maximum speed limit on most highways to 75 miles per hour.

Virginia: City running illegal yellow lights to boost tickets, motorist group charges
Virginia‘s largest city is manipulating the timing of yellow lights to inflate the number of tickets issued at intersections, the National Motorists Association charges. The NMA says Virginia Beach‘s revenue-generating scheme violates state law. “The (shorter) yellow change intervals on 85 of the 90 lanes do not comply with the Institute of Traffic Engineers’ methodology required by the state’s red-light camera law,” said Joe Bahen, of NMA’s Virginia chapter.

Illinois: Mayor decides to re-bid city’s lucrative red-light camera contract
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration decided Thursday to re-bid Chicago’s lucrative red-light camera contract but extend it six months to give the city’s inspector general time to complete his investigation of the current vendor. Reflex Traffic Systems was barred from competing for yet another cash-rich contract to install speed cameras around schools and parks after a news report disclosed the Arizona company’s relationship with a former city official charged with overseeing the contract.

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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