Motorists in Court—Latest Court Case Updates from Around the Country: NMA E-Newsletter #544
This time of year, many state legislatures have wrapped up their yearly bills, but courts never stop. Here are just some of the cases we have been tracking. The Colorado Supreme Court recently declared that an alert by a drug-sniffing police dog to detect marijuana and other drugs no longer provides probable cause for a […]
Officer Frank: NMA E-Newsletter #538
Editor’s Note: Over the years, the NMA has received occasional contact from law enforcement officers who have complained about department policies, sometimes crafted to avoid direct violation of state anti-ticket-quota laws, which force officers to write a predetermined number of citations during each work shift. The following commentary recently submitted to us by “Officer Frank” […]
Again, The Lines are Drawn in Ohio: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #536
In early April, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine approved an $8 billion, two-year transportation budget that included a 10.5 cents-per-gallon gas tax hike and a 19 cent hike on diesel fuel. Raising taxes is always controversial but what has the state’s mayors in a tizzy is something entirely different. When the governor signed off on the […]
NMA Principle Number 2: Traffic Laws Fairly Written and Reasonably Enforced
The Driving in America Blog was started a year ago to bring more information to those who are beginning their journey as motorists’ rights advocates. Over the next several months, I will be working with each of the seven NMA principles to give readers of this weekly blog some idea of what we all are working towards […]
On the 2019 Legislative Agenda–Red-Light Cameras: NMA E-Newsletter #526
January and February are the heart of activity for many state legislative sessions across the country. Red-light cameras (RLCs) have certainly been the focus in a number of states. Bills in Colorado, Florida and Illinois are calling for outright bans. Legislators in Texas want to ban new camera programs while allowing existing installations to finish […]
Are Cyclists Vision Zero Zealots—Readers’ Responses: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #525
Last week, we emailed and posted on our website a guest newsletter entitled Are Cyclists Vision Zero Zealots? written by Eric Berg, an NMA Board Member, an NMA Life Member, an avid sport bicyclist, and a staunch defender of motorists’ rights. Readers, including some of whom (like Eric) are bicyclists, responded with interesting perspectives which […]
Texas Traffic Ticket System – Hidden Ticket Surcharges: A Fight Your Ticket Story
From Texas NMA Member Ted Levitt On late Sunday afternoon, December 2, 2018 I was involved in a traffic accident. I haven’t been in an accident in over 39 years. Who was at fault is still not clear but I was given a ticket for failing to yield the right of way to the other […]
The Next Ten Years: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #520
We wanted to do something special for Issue #520 because it marks ten years of uninterrupted weekly NMA e-newsletters that, we hope, have provided entertaining (if not thought-provoking) perspectives. To carry on that tradition, NMA and NMA Foundation directors were asked to provide mini essays for the occasion. No one likes homework but they tackled […]
Political Interference in Setting Speed Limits Shouldn’t Happen: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #518
From guest writer Ian Tootill, who is co-founder of the grassroots British Columbia motorists advocacy group SENSE BC (or Safety by Education and Not Speed Enforcement). SENSE BC and the NMA are kindred spirits, with SENSE advocating for sensible driving standards for more than 23 years and the NMA for over 36. The issues facing […]
How to Fight School Bus Stop Arm Camera Programs in Your City
In 2014, Texas NMA Member Ted Levitt had the opportunity to advocate against school bus stop arm cameras and school zone speed cameras in a county adjacent to his. With this written testimony (that he also read at the meeting), he was able to help convince the county commissioners to NOT install the cameras after […]