Such as discussion as to what might be used as probale cause for a stop?
Answer:
F.S.S.320.0607 Replacement license plates, validation decal, or mobile home sticker.--
(1) Any law enforcement officer or department license and registration inspector may at any time inspect a license plate or validation decal for proper display and legibility as prescribed by chapter 316. A damaged or defaced plate or decal may be required to be replaced.
Ride Free ya hear!Add to Technorati Favorites
Notes From Distracted Driving Summit by Lynn Wesley
We will only be excerpting parts of Lynn Wesleys notes on the Department of Transportation's Driver Distraction summit held 9/30 thru 10/1. We are limiting our excerpts to cell phone use as we are operating from the assumption that only complete idiots text and drive at the same time. They can be read in there entirety here Part1 and part 2 on Bruce and Rc's Motorcycle Forum.
Day 1:
LMW note: Please be advised that this is simply the notes I took from listening to the first day of the summit. I have made no attempt to draw any conclusions, just to try to record as accurately as I could (and that is lacking in areas) the information that was disimminated. An interesting note, was that the word "motorcycle" was only mentioned two times by the gentleman who represented Utah Mass Transit. There were some interestinjg graphs that I was not able to capture and will note so in italics where necessary. Hopefully they will become available at some later date. Please forgive any misspellings in names or organizations. The webcast was a decent quality, but not perfect. Nor am I.And a final note, for some reason, my spell check isn’t working
Ray LaHood, Secretary -U.S. Department of Transportation
Distracted driving has become the new "menace to society". It is an epedemic and distresses me greatly personally as well as the nation’s cheif eecutive on safety. We have included a pannel of teens because we think their views are extremely important . We met with serveral victims of distracted driving incidents who’s stories are heartbreaking. Introduced Greg Zaffke, II (Anita Zaffke’s son) along with two others who were victimized by distracted drivers. Nearly 8,000 have been killed, ½ million injured involving use of a hand held device. Hand held cell phones are not the only distraction, We can include iPods, video games, Blackberries, etc., and it goes beyond usage by private citizens. A generateion ago, there was a blind eye towards seat belt usage and drunk driving. We need to turn society’s attitude the same way against distracted driving.
Bruce Magladry, Direrector - Office of Highway Safety National Transportation Safety Board Used the data from the National Crash Data from the FARS Repeot. In 2008, 5870 fatalities occured, which accounted for 16% of all fatalities, up from 12% in 2004. 11% involved in those fatal crashes were reproted to be distracted driving at the time of the crash. 39% of these distracted drivers were under 30 years of age. It is a safe assumption that the occurance of distracted driving is underreported. According to the GES (General Established System), in 2008, 515,000 people were injured in crashes involving distracted driving which equates to 22% of all crash related injuries. The data from FARS and GES is obtained from police reports, which have various holes in them, but are working to more unify that reproting system.
Kristin Backstrom, Senior Manager - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Use of cell phones have increased every year. For example, senior citizens in 2003 used cells at a rate of 1 in 10 and that has now increased to 1 in 5. Four out of fiveof those involved in the self-reporting said they regularly use cells while driving and this spans all age groups. This is a broad reaching behavior that will be beyond challenging to change. Every 13 minutes a person dies on our nation’s highways.
John Inglish, General Manager - Utah Transit Authority
We still rank way below motorcycle accidents. In fact we ought to be concerned with the growth of motorcycling. (LMW note: This was the ONLY mention of motorcycles throughout the entire day!
Questions/Discussions
Do note that hands free is not risk free. Judicious drivers engage in conversation. Banning hands held may subtly imply that hands free are safe and therefore lessen judicious behavior.
In general, most people think they are better than the average driver.
Hands free give false sense of security. According to the Carnagie Mellon study, 38% of the cognative skills go right to use device when hands free are used.
Dr. Tom Dingus, Director - Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Presented findings of a studies of Large sacale Naturalistic Driving consisting of over 600 drivers who operated thier own vehicles equipted with specialty instruments and numerous videos, over seven million miles, and 100,000 driving hours and collected this data. It found that human behavior and performance accounted for 90% of crashes, which consisted of impairment, inattention, drowsiness, and judgement related error.
Research recommendations: Primary law banning hand held wireless devices, (cells, mp3s, an headset with non true hand held); Significant fine, points and punishments for violation. This would exclude emergency communication. Most of the countries outside of the U.S. already have this
Dr. William Horrey, Chair - Surface Transportation Technical Group, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and Research Scientist Center for Behavioral Sciences,Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety Focus on conversation – cognitive aspects. Inattentional blindness – Incomplete or failure to process information that has been fixated. Implications for looked, but didn’t see conclusions . Failure to process information due to distraction.
Day two:
Senator Robert Menendez, NJ
The advent of cell phone usage has surpassed the problem of drinking and driving.
Major David Salmon, Director - Traffic Services Division, NY State Police Actively involved in enforcement of nation’s first cell phone ban in NY. As member of Highway Commission of International Chiefs of Police, we really need and appreciate voice at this table. Oversees traffic safety and we have seen vast expansion since the nation’s first law was in place. Not only to limit cell phones and distracted driving, because soon such laws ill be antiquated. A more encompassing approach to distracted driving is necessary to give law enforcement the tools they need. 81,000 tickets were issue last year accounting for 81% of all tickets last year, but that is effective enough. This is also true of every single safety threat. Last year record low fatalities, not coincidentially record high enforcement. Secondary laws are not vigorously enforced. Laws must also be clear as well to be enforced well. Officer must believe it is dangerous as well as illegal to have effective enforcement. What is needed is the statutory authority that permits driving and driving Page 3
only as the primary objective of the driver. All else is distraction. Continious 365 day a year, not simple campaigns are what is effective. We can’t think of each social ill on an individual basis, we must commit to all on a 24 – 7 basis. There is also a financial burden with implemention of said laws. A well funded project has a far greater chance of success.
Panelist – while coming into the summit this morning, I counted 21 out of 40 drivers on K street on cell phones even though DC has a ban. His wife recieved a ticket on 21 April for the same thing. I remember the date well because the Concilman who introduced the ban, also recieved a ticket for same on the same date as his wife.
"Our impression of the rest of the summit was that it was anti-texting and anti young. This summit in our mind is nothing more but an example of how putting a bunch of bureaucrats in the same room is akin to taking your money out of your pocket and setting it on fire. Actual cell phone conversations were minimally touched on and motorcycles less than that. Time to take things into our own hands! Thanks to Lynn Wesley for her notes."Add to Technorati Favorites
Day 1:
LMW note: Please be advised that this is simply the notes I took from listening to the first day of the summit. I have made no attempt to draw any conclusions, just to try to record as accurately as I could (and that is lacking in areas) the information that was disimminated. An interesting note, was that the word "motorcycle" was only mentioned two times by the gentleman who represented Utah Mass Transit. There were some interestinjg graphs that I was not able to capture and will note so in italics where necessary. Hopefully they will become available at some later date. Please forgive any misspellings in names or organizations. The webcast was a decent quality, but not perfect. Nor am I.And a final note, for some reason, my spell check isn’t working
Ray LaHood, Secretary -U.S. Department of Transportation
Distracted driving has become the new "menace to society". It is an epedemic and distresses me greatly personally as well as the nation’s cheif eecutive on safety. We have included a pannel of teens because we think their views are extremely important . We met with serveral victims of distracted driving incidents who’s stories are heartbreaking. Introduced Greg Zaffke, II (Anita Zaffke’s son) along with two others who were victimized by distracted drivers. Nearly 8,000 have been killed, ½ million injured involving use of a hand held device. Hand held cell phones are not the only distraction, We can include iPods, video games, Blackberries, etc., and it goes beyond usage by private citizens. A generateion ago, there was a blind eye towards seat belt usage and drunk driving. We need to turn society’s attitude the same way against distracted driving.
Bruce Magladry, Direrector - Office of Highway Safety National Transportation Safety Board Used the data from the National Crash Data from the FARS Repeot. In 2008, 5870 fatalities occured, which accounted for 16% of all fatalities, up from 12% in 2004. 11% involved in those fatal crashes were reproted to be distracted driving at the time of the crash. 39% of these distracted drivers were under 30 years of age. It is a safe assumption that the occurance of distracted driving is underreported. According to the GES (General Established System), in 2008, 515,000 people were injured in crashes involving distracted driving which equates to 22% of all crash related injuries. The data from FARS and GES is obtained from police reports, which have various holes in them, but are working to more unify that reproting system.
Kristin Backstrom, Senior Manager - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Use of cell phones have increased every year. For example, senior citizens in 2003 used cells at a rate of 1 in 10 and that has now increased to 1 in 5. Four out of fiveof those involved in the self-reporting said they regularly use cells while driving and this spans all age groups. This is a broad reaching behavior that will be beyond challenging to change. Every 13 minutes a person dies on our nation’s highways.
John Inglish, General Manager - Utah Transit Authority
We still rank way below motorcycle accidents. In fact we ought to be concerned with the growth of motorcycling. (LMW note: This was the ONLY mention of motorcycles throughout the entire day!
Questions/Discussions
Do note that hands free is not risk free. Judicious drivers engage in conversation. Banning hands held may subtly imply that hands free are safe and therefore lessen judicious behavior.
In general, most people think they are better than the average driver.
Hands free give false sense of security. According to the Carnagie Mellon study, 38% of the cognative skills go right to use device when hands free are used.
Dr. Tom Dingus, Director - Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Presented findings of a studies of Large sacale Naturalistic Driving consisting of over 600 drivers who operated thier own vehicles equipted with specialty instruments and numerous videos, over seven million miles, and 100,000 driving hours and collected this data. It found that human behavior and performance accounted for 90% of crashes, which consisted of impairment, inattention, drowsiness, and judgement related error.
Research recommendations: Primary law banning hand held wireless devices, (cells, mp3s, an headset with non true hand held); Significant fine, points and punishments for violation. This would exclude emergency communication. Most of the countries outside of the U.S. already have this
Dr. William Horrey, Chair - Surface Transportation Technical Group, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and Research Scientist Center for Behavioral Sciences,Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety Focus on conversation – cognitive aspects. Inattentional blindness – Incomplete or failure to process information that has been fixated. Implications for looked, but didn’t see conclusions . Failure to process information due to distraction.
Day two:
Senator Robert Menendez, NJ
The advent of cell phone usage has surpassed the problem of drinking and driving.
Major David Salmon, Director - Traffic Services Division, NY State Police Actively involved in enforcement of nation’s first cell phone ban in NY. As member of Highway Commission of International Chiefs of Police, we really need and appreciate voice at this table. Oversees traffic safety and we have seen vast expansion since the nation’s first law was in place. Not only to limit cell phones and distracted driving, because soon such laws ill be antiquated. A more encompassing approach to distracted driving is necessary to give law enforcement the tools they need. 81,000 tickets were issue last year accounting for 81% of all tickets last year, but that is effective enough. This is also true of every single safety threat. Last year record low fatalities, not coincidentially record high enforcement. Secondary laws are not vigorously enforced. Laws must also be clear as well to be enforced well. Officer must believe it is dangerous as well as illegal to have effective enforcement. What is needed is the statutory authority that permits driving and driving Page 3
only as the primary objective of the driver. All else is distraction. Continious 365 day a year, not simple campaigns are what is effective. We can’t think of each social ill on an individual basis, we must commit to all on a 24 – 7 basis. There is also a financial burden with implemention of said laws. A well funded project has a far greater chance of success.
Panelist – while coming into the summit this morning, I counted 21 out of 40 drivers on K street on cell phones even though DC has a ban. His wife recieved a ticket on 21 April for the same thing. I remember the date well because the Concilman who introduced the ban, also recieved a ticket for same on the same date as his wife.
"Our impression of the rest of the summit was that it was anti-texting and anti young. This summit in our mind is nothing more but an example of how putting a bunch of bureaucrats in the same room is akin to taking your money out of your pocket and setting it on fire. Actual cell phone conversations were minimally touched on and motorcycles less than that. Time to take things into our own hands! Thanks to Lynn Wesley for her notes."Add to Technorati Favorites
The solution Tallahassee did not choose over Red Light Cameras
Study: Longer Yellows Reduce Crashes (Texas Transportation Institute)
The Texas Transportation Institute shows that engineering improvements are an effective alternative to cameras.
Texas Transportation Institute logoThe Texas Transportation Institute examined concerns that red light cameras were being used by cities that had not first exhausted available engineering alternatives such as improving signal timing and visibility. They studied individual police accident reports from 181 intersection approaches across three Texas cities over three years to determine the most effective solutions for problem intersections.
The study found that improving signal visibility reduced violations 25 percent. Other changes could net between 18 and 48 percent reductions. Yet they found when the yellow signal was 1 second shorter than what the standard ITE timing formula specifies as a minimum, red light violations jumped 110%. Adding an additional second to the ITE minimum yellow yielded 53% reduction in violations, producing the greatest benefit of all the factors studied (2-6). When safety is the main concern, preventing crashes is more important than reducing violations. Yellow signal timing again proved most effective in reducing crashes. An extra second yielded a 40 percent collision reduction.
The study also found that the vast majority of red light camera tickets are issued within the first second a light is red -- in fact, the average ticket is issued when the light has been red for half a second or less. Yet right-angle crashes, which account for the majority of red-light related collisions, "with one exception, all of the right-angle crashes occurred after 5 seconds or more of red" (5-16). In other words, tickets are being issued primarily for split-second violations where collisions are not occurring.
Full study available in 1.3mb PDF format file.
Key Statistic:
The data in figure 2-11 indicate that there is a trend toward fewer red-light related crashes when the observed yellow is longer than the computed duration. (2-22)
An increase in yellow duration of 1.0s is associated with an MF [crash frequency] of about 0.6, which corresponds to a 40 percent reduction in crashes. (2-20)
Article Excerpt:
It is also likely that there is a point of diminishing returns where further increases in enforcement effort bring little additional safety benefit. (3-2)
If the frequency of violations is excessive, the violations are most likely caused by congestion, dense traffic streams, or conditions that make it difficult for drivers to stop. (5-6)
Source: PDF File Development of Guidelines for Treating Red-Light Running (Texas Transportation Institute, 9/1/2004)
AND with pictures, charts and 8x5 glossy pictures with a paragraph on the back of each one (sorry Arlo):
http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/reports/rlcreport.asp
Red light cameras in Tallahassee will kill motorcyclists
Ever hear the screeching of brakes behind you while stopped at a light and look into your rear view mirror to see a Cement Truck on you ass? I have. Well soon in Tallahassee, besides having the opportunity to get taken out by every selfish, self-centered cell phone yaking, texting inconsiderate Son of a Bitch out there, you will also have the opportunity to be run over by the same.
After all you ever see how many folk in Tallahassee run red lights. Now to avoid a ticket you get to slam on your brakes in front of one.
It is once again government officials doing every thing they can do to "fix" a problem (as long as their is money in for them) without really addressing the problem. The Problem is, ta da.........
Distracted, and for those of you with less sensitivity, ASSHOLE drivers whose only concern for your life..... Ummm excuse me, they have no concern for your life. They perform aggravated assault on a daily basis and we do "zilch" to stop them.
So looks like Tallahassee is getting red light cameras, we wrote a comprehensive post about red light cameras below. But it may be to long for those who prefer their news in two second sound bites (which is why America is full of people shouting about shit they have no clue about).
So let us show you how they deal with cameras in Europe:
The importance of the yellow warning signal time in reducing the instances of red light running is found in the following reports:
After all you ever see how many folk in Tallahassee run red lights. Now to avoid a ticket you get to slam on your brakes in front of one.
It is once again government officials doing every thing they can do to "fix" a problem (as long as their is money in for them) without really addressing the problem. The Problem is, ta da.........
Distracted, and for those of you with less sensitivity, ASSHOLE drivers whose only concern for your life..... Ummm excuse me, they have no concern for your life. They perform aggravated assault on a daily basis and we do "zilch" to stop them.
So looks like Tallahassee is getting red light cameras, we wrote a comprehensive post about red light cameras below. But it may be to long for those who prefer their news in two second sound bites (which is why America is full of people shouting about shit they have no clue about).
So let us show you how they deal with cameras in Europe:
“Motorists Against Detection, the vigilante anti-speed camera group have announced a summer of MADness which will see them target for destruction all speed cameras in the UK. It’s now going to be a period of zero tolerance against all speed cameras, said their campaigns director Capt Gatso.”
And for some links:
- A 2008 University of South Florida report found:
"Comprehensive studies conclude cameras actually increase crashes and injuries, providing a safety argument not to install them.... public policy should avoid conflicts of interest that enhance revenues for government and private interests at the risk of public safety."
Read a summary
Full copy, 80k pdf - A 2007 Virginia Department of Transportation study found:
"The cameras were associated with an increase in total crashes... The aggregate EB results suggested that this increase was 29%... The cameras were associated with an increase in the frequency of injury crashes... The aggregate EB results suggested an 18% increase, although the point estimates for individual jurisdictions were substantially higher (59%, 79%, or 89% increases) or lower (6% increase or a 5% decrease)."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1mb pdf - A 2006 Winnipeg, Canada city audit found:
"The graph shows an increase of 58% in the number of traffic collisions from 2003 to 2004.... Contrary to long-term expectations, the chart shows an increase in claims at each level of damage with the largest percentage increase appearing at the highest dollar value."
Read a summary
Full copy, 541k pdf - A 2005 Virginia DOT study found:
"The cameras are correlated with an increase in total crashes of 8% to 17%."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1.7mb pdf - In 2005, The Washington Post found:
"The analysis shows that the number of crashes at locations with cameras more than doubled, from 365 collisions in 1998 to 755 last year. Injury and fatal crashes climbed 81 percent, from 144 such wrecks to 262. Broadside crashes, also known as right-angle or T-bone collisions, rose 30 percent, from 81 to 106 during that time frame."
Read a summary
Full article on the Post website - A 2004 North Carolina A&T University study found:
"Our findings are more pessimistic, finding no change in angle accidents and large increases in rear-end crashes and many other types of crashes relative to other intersections."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1.7mb pdf - A 2003 Ontario Ministry of Transportation study found:
"Compared to the average number of reported collisions occurring in the before period, the average yearly number of reported collisions increased 15.1 per cent in the after period."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1.5mb pdf - A 1995 Australian Road Research Board study found:
"The results of this study suggest that the installation of the RLC at these sites did not provide any reduction in accidents, rather there has been increases in rear end and adjacent approaches accidents on a before and after basis and also by comparison with the changes in accidents at intersection signals."
Read a summary
Full copy, 2.4mb pdf - A 1995 Monash University (Australia) study found:
"a simple correlation analysis was undertaken for red light running data in the current study and revealed no significant relationship between the frequency of crashes at RLC and non-RLC sites and differences in red light running behaviour."
Read a summary
The importance of the yellow warning signal time in reducing the instances of red light running is found in the following reports:
- A 2004 Texas Transportation Institute study found:
"An increase in yellow duration of 1.0 seconds is associated with a [crash frequency] of about 0.6, which corresponds to a 40 percent reduction in crashes."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1.5mb pdf - A 2001 report by the Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives found:
"The changes in the yellow signal timing regulations have resulted in the inadequate yellow times. And these inadequate yellow times are the likely cause of almost 80 percent of red light entries."
Full version with summary
While Tallahassee jumps on gravy train: Red Light Camera's will kill you!
Tallahassee Democrat has run a long story, which as usual is full of pablum and little substance, on the new Red light cameras to be used to catch red light runners at the beginning of the year.
We are not surprised that Tallahassee is the next city to jump on the gravy train. After all they do have to make some money to cover the consequences of the death of Rachel Hoffman killed after being delivered into the hand of drug dealers by detectives. Which still leaves us "detecting" a very fishy odor.
However it would appear that, as usual, greed has won out over common sense, which is going to come back and bite Tallahassee right on the ass. And we can't think of a better ass to get snake bit either.
So Tallahasseans get ready once again to pay for the mistakes, whoops excuse me, the ignorance of your Leaders.
Cause here's the gig:
As the Tallahassee Democrat reports:
The city of Tallahassee still plans to install red-light cameras by the beginning of next year despite civil lawsuits filed against five Florida cities that are using the devices.
Note that Tallahassee could wind up being a litigant in a class action lawsuit. That will cost money, lots of money to fight the lawsuit. Even more should they lose and have to return the fines collected
and eat the cost of the cameras and the the time spent having them monitored (we must note here that we do not know the specifics of the contract with ACS State & Local Solutions).
What we do know is the following:
Found here: Florida: Lawsuits Challenge Red Light Camera Legality
Redflex is in the business of installing Red light systems. Interesting that they would arrive at that conclusion aye?
and why would Redlight systems say such a thing:
It would appear that MR. Menedez is a little light on the constitution also with what may be the second scariest part of this "ordinance":
Note however I said second scariest part of the ordinance. The scariest part of the ordinance is of particular concern to motorcyclists. RED LIGHT CAMERAS INCREASE FATALITIES!!!
A collection of red light camera studies over the last decade shows red light cameras have serious side-effects.
Over the past decade, a number of studies have examined the use of red light cameras. The most relevant studies examined the devices in light of changes in traffic and engineering conditions made at intersections during the study period and pulled actual police reports to examine the particular causes of each collision. The following studies are the most comprehensive available:
The importance of the yellow warning signal time in reducing the instances of red light running is found in the following reports:
Check out the last two links. Need we say more Tallahassee than, SCREWED AGAIN. Who will be the first to die as a result of the actions of the commision and the inaction of the people?
Want to check out a few of our three pages of posts on Red Light Camera's (cause obvioulsy we have been watching this more than the Democrat) click here.
Now are we are going to send this to the Tallahassee Democrat with the hopes that they may look a little further into the subject as opposed to regurgitating the pablum of local officials. We will not hold our breath.Add to Technorati Favorites
We are not surprised that Tallahassee is the next city to jump on the gravy train. After all they do have to make some money to cover the consequences of the death of Rachel Hoffman killed after being delivered into the hand of drug dealers by detectives. Which still leaves us "detecting" a very fishy odor.
However it would appear that, as usual, greed has won out over common sense, which is going to come back and bite Tallahassee right on the ass. And we can't think of a better ass to get snake bit either.
So Tallahasseans get ready once again to pay for the mistakes, whoops excuse me, the ignorance of your Leaders.
Cause here's the gig:
As the Tallahassee Democrat reports:
The city of Tallahassee still plans to install red-light cameras by the beginning of next year despite civil lawsuits filed against five Florida cities that are using the devices.
The lawsuits have been filed against Pembroke Pines; Temple Terrace, a Tampa suburb; Orlando; Miami Gardens; and Aventura, a Miami suburb. Attorneys for the plaintiffs are trying to get class-action certification in at least two of the lawsuits, and the city of Tallahassee could wind up in the litigation. If the plaintiffs prevail, they could be reimbursed for fines they've paid, said Tallahassee City Attorney Jim English.
"We are concerned," English said. "You just don't like to be involved in litigation. We'd obviously like to avoid that."
But, he said, the benefits from the red-light cameras are worth pursuing.
The cameras are expected to raise $800,000 in their first year of use. Some residents aren't happy that the city is turning to the cameras as a revenue source.
"This is all about revenue and nothing about safety," said Nick Providakis, 35.
Note that Tallahassee could wind up being a litigant in a class action lawsuit. That will cost money, lots of money to fight the lawsuit. Even more should they lose and have to return the fines collected
and eat the cost of the cameras and the the time spent having them monitored (we must note here that we do not know the specifics of the contract with ACS State & Local Solutions).
What we do know is the following:
"Legal opinions indicate that automated enforcement in the state of Florida remains illegal," Redflex Traffic Systems explained in an Australian Securities Exchange filing (view statement, page 6, 1.8mb PDF). "Some competitors have proceeded at risk with early programs."
Found here: Florida: Lawsuits Challenge Red Light Camera Legality
Redflex is in the business of installing Red light systems. Interesting that they would arrive at that conclusion aye?
and why would Redlight systems say such a thing:
"The decision to allow or not allow the use of Red Light Running Cameras is determined by the Florida Legislature and Governor Crist," wrote Deputy State Traffic Operations Engineer Mark C. Wilson. "Current Florida Law does not allow the use of Red Light Running Cameras for the enforcement of a traffic violation. The Florida Department of Transportation does not allow the use of Red Light Running Cameras on any of our intersections on the State Highway System. We do know that some Florida cities are using Red Light Running Cameras for enforcement of a violation of a local city ordinance."and need we be reminded that the individuals right to due process is in question:
From the Democrat: Here's how the program would work: The cameras would take two images of cars running red lights, which would be reviewed by reserve Tallahassee police officers. If they determine a violation occurred, a ticket will be mailed to the owner of the vehicle — even if the owner wasn't behind the wheel at the time. (emphasis ours)And the legal interpretation of that little conundrum as per the director of the City of Public Works:
"That's what's got some people concerned," said Gabriel Menendez, director of city Public Works. "But you are responsible for your car."O.K. Mr. Menendez? Mom and Pop let kid borrow the car. Kid runs red light. Mom and Pop get a ticket/fine fo sitting at home watching T.V. Kid, perpetrator of the crime, gets off scott free????????
It would appear that MR. Menedez is a little light on the constitution also with what may be the second scariest part of this "ordinance":
The ticket wouldn't count against someone's driving record. If the violator doesn't pay within a year, a lien would be placed against the vehicle owner's property.Yep, revolutions have been fought over the above.
Note however I said second scariest part of the ordinance. The scariest part of the ordinance is of particular concern to motorcyclists. RED LIGHT CAMERAS INCREASE FATALITIES!!!
5/31/2005
Red Light Camera Studies RoundupA collection of red light camera studies over the last decade shows red light cameras have serious side-effects.
Over the past decade, a number of studies have examined the use of red light cameras. The most relevant studies examined the devices in light of changes in traffic and engineering conditions made at intersections during the study period and pulled actual police reports to examine the particular causes of each collision. The following studies are the most comprehensive available:
- A 2008 University of South Florida report found:
"Comprehensive studies conclude cameras actually increase crashes and injuries, providing a safety argument not to install them.... public policy should avoid conflicts of interest that enhance revenues for government and private interests at the risk of public safety."
Read a summary
Full copy, 80k pdf - A 2007 Virginia Department of Transportation study found:
"The cameras were associated with an increase in total crashes... The aggregate EB results suggested that this increase was 29%... The cameras were associated with an increase in the frequency of injury crashes... The aggregate EB results suggested an 18% increase, although the point estimates for individual jurisdictions were substantially higher (59%, 79%, or 89% increases) or lower (6% increase or a 5% decrease)."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1mb pdf - A 2006 Winnipeg, Canada city audit found:
"The graph shows an increase of 58% in the number of traffic collisions from 2003 to 2004.... Contrary to long-term expectations, the chart shows an increase in claims at each level of damage with the largest percentage increase appearing at the highest dollar value."
Read a summary
Full copy, 541k pdf - A 2005 Virginia DOT study found:
"The cameras are correlated with an increase in total crashes of 8% to 17%."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1.7mb pdf - In 2005, The Washington Post found:
"The analysis shows that the number of crashes at locations with cameras more than doubled, from 365 collisions in 1998 to 755 last year. Injury and fatal crashes climbed 81 percent, from 144 such wrecks to 262. Broadside crashes, also known as right-angle or T-bone collisions, rose 30 percent, from 81 to 106 during that time frame."
Read a summary
Full article on the Post website - A 2004 North Carolina A&T University study found:
"Our findings are more pessimistic, finding no change in angle accidents and large increases in rear-end crashes and many other types of crashes relative to other intersections."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1.7mb pdf - A 2003 Ontario Ministry of Transportation study found:
"Compared to the average number of reported collisions occurring in the before period, the average yearly number of reported collisions increased 15.1 per cent in the after period."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1.5mb pdf - A 1995 Australian Road Research Board study found:
"The results of this study suggest that the installation of the RLC at these sites did not provide any reduction in accidents, rather there has been increases in rear end and adjacent approaches accidents on a before and after basis and also by comparison with the changes in accidents at intersection signals."
Read a summary
Full copy, 2.4mb pdf - A 1995 Monash University (Australia) study found:
"a simple correlation analysis was undertaken for red light running data in the current study and revealed no significant relationship between the frequency of crashes at RLC and non-RLC sites and differences in red light running behaviour."
Read a summary
The importance of the yellow warning signal time in reducing the instances of red light running is found in the following reports:
- A 2004 Texas Transportation Institute study found:
"An increase in yellow duration of 1.0 seconds is associated with a [crash frequency] of about 0.6, which corresponds to a 40 percent reduction in crashes."
Read a summary
Full copy, 1.5mb pdf - A 2001 report by the Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives found:
"The changes in the yellow signal timing regulations have resulted in the inadequate yellow times. And these inadequate yellow times are the likely cause of almost 80 percent of red light entries."
Full version with summary
Check out the last two links. Need we say more Tallahassee than, SCREWED AGAIN. Who will be the first to die as a result of the actions of the commision and the inaction of the people?
Want to check out a few of our three pages of posts on Red Light Camera's (cause obvioulsy we have been watching this more than the Democrat) click here.
Now are we are going to send this to the Tallahassee Democrat with the hopes that they may look a little further into the subject as opposed to regurgitating the pablum of local officials. We will not hold our breath.Add to Technorati Favorites
Montana Attorney General looking at the American Police Force
FROM THE BILLINGS MONTANA GAZETTE
Matthew Brown
Albert Peterson with the Two Rivers Authority in Hardin, MT, stands outside an empty jail the city built for $27 million, on Friday, September 24, 2009. The authority wants a California security company, American Police Force, to take over the facility.
(AP Photo)JENNIFER McKEE Gazette State Bureau | Posted: Thursday, October 1, 2009 5:40 pm
HELENA - Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock launched an investigation Thursday into American Police Force, the California company founded by a Serbian immigrant with a lengthy criminal history that is seeking to run an empty, 464-bed jail in Hardin.
Bullock sent a nine-page demand letter late Thursday afternoon to Becky Shay, the spokeswoman for APF and the company's only Montana employee.
Shay did not immediately respond to phone calls Thursday.
According to the document, Bullock is launching the civil investigation into APF over concerns that the company might be violating the Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.
Among other things, Bullock demanded that the company provide proof for many statements about the company included on APF's Web site. The site says that the company frequently has contracts with the U.S. government and has operations in all 50 states.
Research into the company has turned up no record of APF contracting with the federal government. Bullock has requested that the company provide proof of its federal contracts and operations in other states.
Bullock also requested a copy of the contract between APF and Two Rivers Authority, the economic development arm of the city of Hardin, which built the jail two years ago.
The contract is reportedly a 10-year, multimillion-dollar deal with APF to run the jail.
Although Michael Hilton, the man behind APF, and local officials say the deal is as good as done, US Bank, the trustee for the bonds sold to build the jail, has never signed off on it.
Bullock further requested that the company disclose any lawsuits filed against the company or Hilton and provide the state with any correspondence between APF and any government agency that has accused the company of being deceptive.
Bullock also sent a letter Thursday to Gary Arneson and Al Peterson, leaders of Two Rivers Authority. Peterson could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Both letters were sent the day after The Billings Gazette and Associated Press reported that Hilton has an extensive criminal past with $1.1 million in outstanding civil judgments against him. Hilton, who has a long list of aliases, left his native Serbia in the 1970s and has served time in U.S. prisons.
Hilton uses the military title "captain," but said this week it does not refer to an actual military rank. Hilton has claimed he has military experience, but no record of such experience has been found.
Also on Thursday, Montana's three-man congressional delegation all said they have questions about APF, even as they support Hardin's efforts to drum up jobs for its people.
"Like many Montanans, Max is keeping an eye on the situation in Hardin," said Ty Matsdorf, a spokesman for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Aaron Murphy, a spokesman for Sen. Jon Tester, also a Democrat, said Tester has "a lot of questions" about APF. "Hardin and all of Montana need to benefit from whatever's in store for the Two Rivers jail."
A spokesman for Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican, said "important questions need to be answered," and added "any deal that creates jobs and economic prosperity without putting Montanans at risk is something Denny would support in any way he can."
Rehberg in May wrote a letter to state officials urging Montana to consider placing its own inmates at the jail if the state needed more prison cells.
AND NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE PRISON IN QUESTION
CLICK HERE. RIGHT PRETTY MUSIC.
Then check out our post showing the original American Police Force Advertising Kidnapping for hire????
Bullock sent a nine-page demand letter late Thursday afternoon to Becky Shay, the spokeswoman for APF and the company's only Montana employee.
Shay did not immediately respond to phone calls Thursday.
According to the document, Bullock is launching the civil investigation into APF over concerns that the company might be violating the Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.
Among other things, Bullock demanded that the company provide proof for many statements about the company included on APF's Web site. The site says that the company frequently has contracts with the U.S. government and has operations in all 50 states.
Research into the company has turned up no record of APF contracting with the federal government. Bullock has requested that the company provide proof of its federal contracts and operations in other states.
Bullock also requested a copy of the contract between APF and Two Rivers Authority, the economic development arm of the city of Hardin, which built the jail two years ago.
The contract is reportedly a 10-year, multimillion-dollar deal with APF to run the jail.
Although Michael Hilton, the man behind APF, and local officials say the deal is as good as done, US Bank, the trustee for the bonds sold to build the jail, has never signed off on it.
Bullock further requested that the company disclose any lawsuits filed against the company or Hilton and provide the state with any correspondence between APF and any government agency that has accused the company of being deceptive.
Bullock also sent a letter Thursday to Gary Arneson and Al Peterson, leaders of Two Rivers Authority. Peterson could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Both letters were sent the day after The Billings Gazette and Associated Press reported that Hilton has an extensive criminal past with $1.1 million in outstanding civil judgments against him. Hilton, who has a long list of aliases, left his native Serbia in the 1970s and has served time in U.S. prisons.
Hilton uses the military title "captain," but said this week it does not refer to an actual military rank. Hilton has claimed he has military experience, but no record of such experience has been found.
Also on Thursday, Montana's three-man congressional delegation all said they have questions about APF, even as they support Hardin's efforts to drum up jobs for its people.
"Like many Montanans, Max is keeping an eye on the situation in Hardin," said Ty Matsdorf, a spokesman for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Aaron Murphy, a spokesman for Sen. Jon Tester, also a Democrat, said Tester has "a lot of questions" about APF. "Hardin and all of Montana need to benefit from whatever's in store for the Two Rivers jail."
A spokesman for Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican, said "important questions need to be answered," and added "any deal that creates jobs and economic prosperity without putting Montanans at risk is something Denny would support in any way he can."
Rehberg in May wrote a letter to state officials urging Montana to consider placing its own inmates at the jail if the state needed more prison cells.
AND NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE PRISON IN QUESTION
CLICK HERE. RIGHT PRETTY MUSIC.
Then check out our post showing the original American Police Force Advertising Kidnapping for hire????
Hardin Montana and the American Police Force: Who is scamming Who?
Now when will they be arrested for impersonating a police officer?Add to Technorati Favorites
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