New traffic ticket cameras set to be placed in busy intersections in Carol Stream are raising a host of questions about their safety and legality. The cameras could also add fuel to the fire of local motorists who complain about the number of citations handed out by Carol Stream law enforcement along North Avenue. The complaints may not just be sour grapes from lead-footed drivers.

Safety first or speed trap? Red light cameras raising eyebrows

Q: Is there any law against driving barefoot? Second, is it legal to exceed the speed limit when passing another vehicle?

A: “After researching the subject, there appears to be no specific section of the Montana Code Annotated that specifically addresses wearing shoes and driving. While driving without shoes on does not seem to be codified (lawyer talk for illegal), should driving without shoes cause one to drive unsafely or if the same interferes with one’s driving, (it) still could be grounds for the issuance of a citation.”

Driving with no shoes barely legal

If you are on a North Carolina public highway, don’t call the police officer that pulls you over a “dickhead” or a “fucking asshole” unless you’re looking for a cheap place to sleep for the night—jail. A North Carolina law prohibiting “profane” or “indecent” language on public highways does not violate the First Amendment, a federal judge ruled recently in the case of an intoxicated individual who yelled at police officers.

Highway profanity lands partygoers in jail

Thirty-five-watt light bulbs may become the Police Department’s biggest ally in catching red-light violators at two troublesome Burnsville intersections. Police and state transportation officials plan to install “white lights” on traffic signals at Highway 13/ County Road 5 and Highway 13/County Road 11. The white light is wired into the red circuit of the signal head and activated when the traffic light turns red. The white light is behind the signal light. From various “downstream” vantage points, officers can see vehicles going through the intersection when the white light is on. Busted.

‘White lights’ will give cops new tool for catching red-light violators

“The Houston Police Department was filmed  testing an unmanned aircraft in a secretive gathering on Wednesday. The media were not allowed into the event; however they were told that the aircraft would be used for ‘mobility’ and ‘tactical’ issues, and possibly even for writing traffic tickets. The aircraft has a wingspan of 10 feet and is said to cost from $30K to $1M. Pictures and video are available at the link.”

Houston Police Test Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft

Two safety experts ticketed for speeding in Ann Arbor this year are urging a judge to dismiss the citations, arguing that the city’s speed limits are unsafe and illegal under state law.  They did not argue that a statute allows a city to supersede state law in setting limits. But they did assert that “the only logical method for determining a safe speed limit on an urban roadway … under the jurisdiction of a local authority like the city of Ann Arbor is to allow that local authority to make individualized determinations based on the recommendations of its traffic engineers.”

Safety experts fight tickets

A Northampton County, Virginia resident decided to lower the speed limit outside his home by 20 MPH, and for more than six months police went along with it. Because Granville Hogg was upset at the legal 55 MPH pace on Townville Drive near Cherrystone campground, the elderly farmer decided to post his own authentic-looking 35 MPH speed limit signs nearly one year ago.

Bogus Speed Limit Signs Generate Real Tickets

The Arizona Department of Public Safety unveiled a new tool on Thursday that will help them bust speeders.  Mobile radar units will now be popping up all over the state.

DPS has new way to catch drivers speeding in AZ

An I-team investigation found a traffic light malfunction at a major red-light camera intersection.  Those are the cameras that record drivers running red lights, but you don’t know you’re busted until you receive a $100.00 fine in the mail.  You’d think the malfunction would have translated into money back for motorists. But when the I-team’s went looking for refunds, that is not what she heard.

Red Light Cameras — Safety Or Entrapment?

“What I and Utah Highway Patrol Superintendent Lance Davenport do not agree with, however, is the idea of enforcing speed limits with no cushion. Believe it or not, increased speed limits on our highways have not resulted in increased highway deaths.”

Fudging speed limit