$5.00 gasoline?

2222NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION NEWS

MAY/JUNE 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTSVOLUME 16 • ISSUE 3

$5.00 Gasoline?...............................................2NMA Washington Report................................3NHTSA Targeting Speeders...........................4Red Light Camera Recap ...............................4Taking The Fight To Them .............................6The NMA’s 2005 Legislative Agenda ............6Your Chance To Win A Trip And Help The NMA..................................................7Lane Courtesy: It’s Time For People ToMove Over ........................................................8Speedtraps Do Exist .....................................10Do As We Say, Not As We Do......................11Not Driving? No Problem!...........................11News From Around The Country ................12Members Write ..............................................13The Experts’ Corner......................................14NMA Items For Purchase .............................15State Chapter Coordinators and Activists. 16

Copyright © 2005 by National Motorists Association Foundation.All rights reserved.

NMAF NEWS (permit # 0716556-KWP) is theofficial publication of the National MotoristsAssociation Foundation, Inc. NMAF NEWS ispublished bimonthly by the National MotoristsAssociation Foundation, Inc., 402 W. 2nd St.,Waunakee, WI 53597. (608/849-6000) Email:[email protected] Web site: www.motorists.orgNonprofit bulk permit paid Madison, WI. Annualmembership in the National Motorists Associationincludes a subscription to NMAF NEWS.

$5.00 Gasoline?by James J. Baxter, President, NMA

EDITORIAL STAFFManaging Editor:........................Eric SkrumEditorial Assistant: ..............Heidi KatchkeyGuest Writer: ..........................John HolevoetGuest Writer: ..............................Dave Barry

COVER“Lane Courtesy”

t was about a year ago when Iwrote Buy Oil, an articlediscussing the rising demand

for petroleum products. In the inter-vening time span unfolding eventshave made it look like I actually calledit right. Those with a longer memorymight be saying under their breath"even a blind pig can occasionally finda nut." Regardless of my predictiveskills there is little doubt that fuelprices are on their way to historic highsand even a new 55-MPH NationalMaximum Speed Limit will not stem this trend (a little tongue-in-cheek here).

Will gasoline really reach $5.00 a gallon? Sure, just don't ask me to say when. These events do not takeplace in a vacuum and as fuel pricesrise countervailing actions accelerate to push fuel prices in the oppositedirection. We are already seeing theeffects in the auto industry; SUVsstacking up in inventories andcustomers standing in line to buyhybrids. I'm sure individuals aremaking moves to use the moreeconomical vehicles they own,combining trips, buying and actuallyusing tire gauges, and perhaps being alittle lighter on the throttle foot. Ofcourse, with rising fuel prices wesuffer the pandemic of panderingpoliticians who are going to "fix theproblem" with new public policies. Inthis spirit I'd like to offer a few sugges-tions on how government can actuallyreduce fuel consumption and therebyreduce fuel prices and fuel costs.

While we were successful inrepealing the worst of the politicalexcesses that emanated from the lastoil crisis, e.g. price controls and the 55-MPH Speed Limit, we didn't touch"Right Turn on Red." In one year RightTurn on Red probably saved more fuelthan 21 years worth of silly speedlimits. Therein lies the strategy thatcould save millions of gallons ofgasoline every single day while saving

time and money for everyone. We needto keep traffic moving.

Fuel consumption is dramaticallyrelated to the rate and frequency ofacceleration. A car that can cruisedown the highway at 70 MPH andobtain 30 MPG can have its fueleconomy cut in half in an urbanenvironment. Why? It's the stopping,idling, and then accelerating back tocruising speed that drinks the fuel.Therefore, if the traffic can be keptmoving with minimal interruptionthere will be significant improvementsin fuel economy.

Recently, the Institute forTransportation Engineers issued areport card for the condition of trafficsignals in the US. Overall, they issueda grade of D minus. They wereprobably being kind. The same poorly located, poorly maintained, and poorly operated traffic signals thathave made red light ticket cameras sopopular among ethically challengedpublic officials are also responsible forwasting huge quantities of gasoline anddiesel fuel. Removing unnecessarylights and properly timing andcoordinating the remainder wouldimmediately result in a payback interms of reduced accidents, reducedcommute times, reduced air pollution,and reduced fuel consumption. This is such a no-brainer that it isdisheartening wondering why it isn't being done.

While in the removing mode, local and state governments shouldestablish solid standards on stop signinstallations. For starters, any stopsign that isn't in place to provideneeded right-of-way guidance shouldbe jerked out of the ground andrecycled into Yield signs that canreplace other stop signs in rural andlow traffic locations. Any stop signinstalled for speed control or to disrupt,

continued on page three

II

NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION NEWS 3333

MAY/JUNE 2005

ne of the more pressingmotorist-related debatescurrently underway in

Washington D.C. is the effort to turndrivers' licenses into a national IDcard. The House-passed provision,the REAL ID Act, is part of theSupplemental Spending provision forthe funding of military operationsoverseas. This effort is cloakedunder the guise of homeland security.We are concerned that this initiativewould change the driver's licenseinto a national I.D. card that wouldcreate extensive red tape andperpetuate enforcement abuses.

NMA has joined a coalition ofentities with an objective to preventthe Senate from passing a similarprovision and ultimately to preventthe provision from becoming law.We have brought to the coalition acritical new justification for arguingour collective objective—theinterests of motorists and drivers and the practical impact that theproposal would have on them. This had been completely lackingprior to our involvement. We havehad a measure of success and theoutlook is improving, but thepressure to address this issue hasshamefully been injected into thedebate over funding overseas

military operations which has been sidetracked into a debate over the immigration policy of theUnited States.

The coalition continues to pressits case that the creation of a nationalID is inappropriate and as the NMAhas argued, state-based drivers'licenses are the wrong mechanism topursue the overriding objective. Wehave endorsed a bipartisan Senateamendment that would provide abias against the REAL ID Act whenit is considered in the ConferenceCommittee: the legislative processwhere the House-passed legislationwill be merged with the Senateprovisions, prior to becoming law.

The REAL ID Act is not the onlyarea of concern at this time. Theexpanding threat of governmentalintervention into our daily lives inthe name of "homeland security"continues unabated. Most recently,the House of RepresentativesHomeland Security Committeebegan consideration of a proposal bythe administration to require trackingdevices in all commercial vehicles.These devices would enable thegovernment to determine, at anytime, the exact location andmovement of any commercialvehicle.

The step from trackingcommercial vehicles to trackingpassenger vehicles is not particularlylarge when you consider that manycommercial fleets include apercentage of passenger vehicles.Indeed, many passenger vehiclesalready carry GPS tracking systemsas part of a security package or anavigation system.

However, once the governmentjustifies the need to establish asystem for tracking vehicles usingcommercial vehicles as the "hook,"the step to a system for tracking allvehicles is incrementally miniscule.As this technology enters intowidespread use, there is little to stoplaw enforcement or insurers fromseeking access to the information.This potential application isextremely disturbing—speed traps based on satellite data?

We are working to educate thecommittee as to the real perils ofinitiating this program. At aminimum, if we are unable toprevent further progress on this issue in Congress, there must beclear parameters regarding the use of data developed under such a program to prevent intrusion intothe rights of drivers.

divert, and inconvenience motoristsshould be eliminated. In so doing, wewould realize the same kind of benefitsderived from improving traffic signallights. Again, the costs would beinsignificant and in the long run therewould be direct savings by avoiding

counterproductive stop signinstallations.

Finally, just think how higher, morereasonable speed limits that actuallyreflect current traffic speeds couldsmooth traffic flow, especially whencoordinated with properly timed trafficlights. I know that in these times it'sconsidered radical to suggest that

traffic laws in general and speed limitsin particular actually condone whatmost normal responsible people aredoing, but we really ought to give it atry. Maybe, with $5.00 a gallongasoline, it might seem like aworthwhile experiment.

NMA Washington Reportby Robert Talley, NMA Lobbyist

OO

Gasoline?continued from page two

NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION NEWS

MAY/JUNE 2005

4444NHTSA Targeting Speedersby Eric Skrum, Managing Editor

he National Highway TrafficSafety Administration(NHTSA) wants to "crack

down" on speeders in 2005 and 2006.And, they aren't the only ones. All theusual suspects (Federal HighwayAdministration, Federal Motor CarrierSafety Administration, the GovernorsHighway Safety Association, andAdvocates for Highway and AutoSafety) are lining up and saying it'sabout time officials focused on this"major safety problem."

Why is NHTSA and companyfocussing on speeding when we havethe lowest fatality rates in the historyof our nation? For the answer to thatquestion, motorists should look tophoto enforcement and the amount ofmoney it can make.

Officials have been salivating overphoto enforcement for years.However, the ghost of "Big Brother"made implementation difficult. So,how do you get the public to docilelyaccept it?

The answer: Implement it in stages.The slippery slope is a tactic they haveused successfully numerous times inthe past.

Safety officials decided to start with red light cameras. "Everybody"could agree that red light runners were dangerous and deserved all thepenalties and punishments you couldthrow at them. If you put up a camera,these individuals could be easilycaught and given everything theydeserve. Lives are at stake and weneed to put a stop to these people nowbefore they kill again!

How can anyone argue against this?Once red light cameras became

commonplace, officials assumed theskids were greased for photo radar. If anyone complained about "BigBrother," officials can point to theintersection cameras and claim it is thesame technology. How can the publicargue against the use of radar cameraswhen the public approved the red light

cameras? Combine this argument withstreams of bogus data implying thatspeeders are making our highways ascene of carnage, and photo radarshould be a sure thing.

That's the gist of their overall plan. This brings me to why they arerushing to implement "stage two." Aphenomenon is occurring on whichnone of the safety officials planned.The public is catching on. Not onlyhave studies shown that red lightcameras make intersections moredangerous, the public is also becominganti-camera.

This means NHTSA and companyhave to make a push for photo radarbefore more states act against thedevices. Already, there is a growinglist of states that are becoming anti-camera. Wisconsin and New Jerseyhave long banned photo enforcement.A proposed ban is currently movingquickly through both the Texas and theOhio legislatures. Furthermore, Utah,Indiana, and New Hampshire recentlyrejected legislation that would haveallowed the use of cameras in their

state. Even Virginia, which had one ofthe first red light camera programs inthe country, will be removing itscameras later this summer.

All this adds up to the fact thatNHTSA sees the opportunity for photoradar dwindling quickly. They need tomake a concentrated push before moreinformation emerges about photoenforcement, and they are gearing upto make this a year of ticket writingthat we haven't seen since the 55 mphNational Maximum Speed Limit.

They aren't the only ones gearing upthough. The NMA has positioneditself as the most prominent anti-redlight camera organization in thecountry. We are going to do the samewith photo radar. Our WashingtonD.C. lobbyist, Robert Tally, will alsobe working on this issue.

It isn't going to be easy, but we havemore tools at our disposal than everbefore. Expect updates from the NMAconcerning its ongoing efforts againstphoto enforcement and how you canhelp in your area.

TT

In the last issue, we focused onred light camera legislation.Here's an update on a number ofrelated bills:

Indiana—SB 570 would haveestablished a "pilot" program forticket cameras. Although defeatedin committee, it was brought backfor consideration. It didn't fareany better the second time andwas quickly killed.

New Hampshire—HB 679would have permitted red lightcameras. It was defeated and can'tbe proposed as a bill for anothertwo years.

Utah—HB 219 would haveremoved restrictions on photoenforcement. This bill has been defeated!

In all three cases, the NMAwas active in providing criticalinformation against the devices.There are also significant bills ofnote in the following legislatures.

Texas—Sponsored byRepresentative Elkins, HB 259would close a loophole that allowscities to use cameras. This billhas passed the House and iscurrently in the Senate.

Ohio—Representative Raussenintroduced HB 56, which prohibitsticket camera use. This is steadilytraveling through various housecommittees.

In both cases, the NMA isworking closely with the billsponsors to ensure the passing ofthis very important legislation.

Red Light Camera Recap


MAY/JUNE 2005

5555

Passport 8500 X50 Blue $339.95Passport 8500 X50 Red $299.95Plus S&H. OH residents add 6.5% sales tax

Escort Inc. 5440 West Chester RoadWest Chester, Ohio 45069513-870-8500 • Fax 513-870-8509Department 431094

D E T E C T T H E D I F F E R E N C Ewww.escortradar.com

©2004 Escort Inc.

Call Toll Free 1-888-8 ESCORT1-888-837-2678

effective counter measure to the newest trafficmonitoring technology

• X-tremely quiet…our patentedAutoSensitivity™ virtually eliminates falsealarms

There’s never been a detector like the Passport8500 X50. It is in a class of its own. And, it’savailable with a high-intensity red or new brilliant blue display.

The World’s Best Just Got Better– Guaranteed!

No other detector on the planet gives youthis level of performance. The new

Passport 8500 X50 is the mostadvanced and the most sophisticatedradar/laser system ever created. Order

yours today. We’re so confident that you’ll loveit, we’ll let you drive it for 30 days-completelyrisk free!

The all new, technologically advanced Passport8500 X50 from ESCORT. The legend lives on.

The Passport 8500 has been hailed as the mostrevolutionary radar/laser detector ever.Forbes.com said, “it might be the best radardetector ever made!” Popular Mechanics calledit “state of the art.” Radartest.com named it“The World’s Best!”

For more than 25 years ESCORT has set thestandard. Now, we’re raising the bar…again.Introducing the all new Passport 8500 X50…the most advanced andmost sophisticateddetector ever!

The Passport 8500 X50takes radar/laser perfor-mance to the X-treme:• X-treme radar

range…up to 50% more rangeon the all-important K and Ka bands

• X-treme laser response…high perfor-mance circuitry that provides maximum laserwarning and superior off-axis protection

• X-treme POP protection…the most

Introducing The All New Passport 8500 X50

NEW!


MAY/JUNE 2005

6666

s it stands now, the HouseTransportation Bill contains all sortsof provisions that would expand

tolling. Proposals that would allow highertolls for peak driving times, let states convertinterstates built and maintained with gastaxes into toll roads, and permit tolling tocontinue indefinitely with no guarantees thatrevenues are used on roads.

Apparently, our legislators don't feel that paying for roads once is enough—inaddition to already high gas taxes they wantus paying tolls too! Luckily, there is strongopposition to these measures. Through thework of our D.C. Lobbyist, Rob Talley, theNMA has joined with a number of othernational organizations to stop the senselessexpansion of tolling.

This is but one of the many initiativesalready underway thanks to your support.Rob is busy with numerous efforts to makesure that motorists' concerns are addressedand our rights are safeguarded. We've set anambitious agenda for legislative work in2005 and beyond, and we're dedicated toproducing results for NMA Members and all motorists.

Despite our well-funded opposition, 2005has already been a year of many successesfor the NMA. Everyday, our positions onkey issues like photo enforcement aregaining traction. Our impact is being felt,and it's critically important that we keep ourmomentum going.

There are even greater achievementsahead of us. Please donate today to showyour support for our future progress. Wewant to be your voice, but we need yourhelp to do it. Please, take a few moments tocomplete and return the reply form on theopposite page. The NMA is making realprogress and with your help, we can do even more!

Taking The FightTo Them... The NMA’s 2005

Legislative Agenda

1. Continue our work to stop the expansion of toll roads.This is perhaps the worst insult to tax-paying motorists. We've already paid for these roads with our gas-tax dollars, now we're being asked to "pay for" them again. Enough is enough!

2. Stop the reinstatement of federal authority over speed limits. As you probably know, the NMA was the driving force behind the repeal of the National Maximum Speed Limit of 55 mph. We beat the "Double Nickel" once, and we don't ever want to see it again!

3. Ensure the highway bill actually deals with our highways!We'll work to eliminate its anti-motorist provisions, such as funding for speed enforcement, roadblock promotions, primary belt laws, and the purchase of ticket cameras.

4. End vehicle emission inspections.These programs are a proven waste of money, which do not result in air quality improvements. The only "benefit" associated with these tests are the money companies make doing the inspections.

5. Prevent the government from suspending a motorist's driver's license for non-driving offenses.A license is meant to indicate that the holder is capable of driving. This should be its only function. It shouldn't be used to enforce unrelated laws.

6. Protect motorists' privacy in light of new technological devices. It's our intention to pass legislation that prohibits "black box" data or GPS tracking from being used to spy on you!

7. Fight government bribes and blackmail. The federal government uses the promise of financial rewards or the threat of financial sanctions to push its transportation agenda on your state. It's time to stop this unethical practice.

AA

For more details on our 2005 Driving Tour Sweepstakes,

See the opposite page!

* You will automatically be entered to win a fantastic European Driving Tour for every increment of $30 you donate.The more you donate, the greater the chance you’ll win!


MAY/JUNE 2005

7777To show support for our efforts, the travel experts atwww.driveeurope.com have again agreed to donate a terrificdriving tour to be given away to one lucky donor. In fact,you will receive one entry for every $30 you contribute.

As an added bonus: If we're able to surpass last year'sfundraising totals by the sweepstakes deadline, the peoplesupplying the tour have agreed to donate not one, but twogreat trips! We'll double your chances of winning!

Be dazzled by Paris, the "City ofLights." Explore the best thiscity has to offer, and take time toalso visit Normandy's famedshores and the lovely LoireRiver valley.

Experience Germany's stunningBlack Forest. Travel the famedGerman Autobahn, whileenjoying the majesty of one ofEurope's most breathtakingnatural areas.

Roam the beautiful Irishcountryside. Last year's winnerenjoyed Ireland's scenery somuch that we wanted to give you the option of experiencing it yourself.

Your Chance To Win A Trip And Help The NMA

Yes! I know we've got challenges ahead of us, but I want to do my part to make sure the NMA is wellequipped to fight for my rights. I would like to make the following donation:

Credit Card InformationCard Type: Visa MasterCard

_______________________________________ __________Card Number Exp. Date

___________________________________________________Name On Card

___________________________________________________Signature of Card Holder

Your Information

_____________________________________ ____________Name Member No.

___________________________________________________Address

_______________________________ _______ _________City State Zip

The winner of the 2005 sweepstakes will have his or her choice of these three great tours:The deadline for entry is June 15, 2005. Don't miss out on your chance. Respond Today!

$5,000 $1,000 $500 $250 $100 $75 $50 $30* Other $________

I prefer to use my credit card.I prefer to write a check (Payable to NMA)

France Germany Ireland

The NMA Foundation is askingmotorists to "DRIVE RIGHT" in Juneas a part of its annual Lane CourtesyCampaign. In addition to using a new

slogan, the NMAFoundation has launched a website, www.lanecourtesy.org, to push this campaign.

For the third consecutive year, we're promotingthis important aspect of driving. Lane courtesy, alsocalled lane discipline, strongly influences highwaysafety, traffic flow, congestion, and the entire drivingenvironment.

When lane courtesy is ignored, the result is an increase in congestion and frustration. Theinstances of tailgating, weaving in-and-out of traffic,and speed fluctuations increase—all of which hindersafety. When motorists DRIVE RIGHT and yieldthe left lane, these situations diminish and everyonebenefits. Traffic flow increases, fewer accidentsoccur, and driving can be more enjoyable.

Safety is not the only reason motorists shouldDRIVE RIGHT. There are also state laws requiringslower traffic to keep right. State and Federalagencies spend billions of dollars on campaigns to

promote compliance with speed limits, seat beltusage, and construction zone safety, while lanecourtesy is largely ignored. The majority ofmotorists agree on the need for lane courtesy, so a small investment to promote it would pay major dividends.

The aspect that seems to resonate the most withmotorists is left lane hogs who putter along andobstruct traffic. They consistently show disregardfor safety and common courtesy. These people use avariety of excuses to justify their poor-drivingbehavior, including, "I'm driving the speed limit. Ishouldn't have to move over."

There is no legitimate excuse for obstructingtraffic in the left lane. Just because a motorist isdriving the speed limit doesn't mean they are correct to stay in the left lane. Blocking the left lane can cause accidents, hinder emergencyvehicles, or interfere with someone responding to a personal emergency.

Please visit www.lanecourtesy.org to find outwhat you can do to help promote lane courtesy inyour community.


MAY/JUNE 2005

8888Lane Courtesy: It’s Time

Drive Right!

SLOWERTRAFFIC

KEEPRIGHT

For the first time in a long time, lanecourtesy is in the news. Here are some ofthe stories being covered.

There is a new left lane law in Wyoming. Senate President Grant Larson sponsored a bill that prohibits vehicles from blocking the far left-hand lane of controlled-access highways. It was signed into law by Governor Dave Freudenthal and will go into effect July 1, 2005.

The "Road Rage Reduction Act" (HB 157) is in the news in Florida. This bill, introduced by Senator Mike Bennett, would make it illegal to hold up traffic in the left lane. The police

will be able to issue a $60 ticket and four points on your license. This is working its way through the legislature.

And, lastly, it seems that Coloradopolice are making a concentrated effort to ticket left-lane hogs. This applies only in zones with 65 mph speed limits and higher. The state patrol began to focus on this in January 2005 and have thus far issued 460 tickets. Tickets can be as high as $41 and put three points on your license.

These are just a few of the places theNMA is going to reach with its lanecourtesy message. And, it looks like wewill have a very receptive audience.

Left Lane Laws In The News

NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION NEWS 9999

MAY/JUNE 2005

For People To Move Over SLOWERTRAFFIC

KEEPRIGHT

Here’s To Life In The Fast Laneby Dave Barry, Humor Columnist

How do you rate yourself as a driver?

No, that's a stupid question. Yourate yourself above average. It's awell-known fact that all humansconsider themselves to be above-average drivers, including primitiveAmazonian mud people who havenot yet discovered the wheel.

No amount of physical evidencewill convince a bad driver that he orshe is a bad driver. You take amotorist who, while attempting topull out of a parking space, mistakes''forward'' for ''reverse,'' then, in aneffort to correct this error, mistakesthe accelerator for the brake andsends his car (an Oldsmobile CutlassSupreme) lunging across a sidewalkand into a restaurant, attaining aspeed of 37 miles per hour by thetime it rams the salad bar and isengulfed by a wave of the housedressing (a creamy Italian). Even asthe paramedics are tweezing chickpeas from the ears of this motorist,he will loudly insist that (a) therestaurant was not there before; and(b) there are PLENTY of people onthe road who do not drive as well as he does.

And the scary thing is: He's right!There are LOTS of worse drivers outthere! In fact, a whopping 93 percentof all drivers are below average. Andif you believe this is statisticallyimpossible, you have not spent much time watching motoristswhipping around on our nation'shighways. Certainly you have neverdriven in my state, Florida, whichautomatically issues a driver'slicense to every new arrival,including stranded whales. We haveso many motorists driving intobuildings down here that in some

areas you're safer standing in themiddle of the street, where they'reless likely to hit you.

But getting back to your drivingability: I can tell from the perceptiveway you're reading this article thatyou truly are above average. So amI, of course. I took Drivers Educationat Pleasantville (N.Y.) High School;we did our road training in a 1962Plymouth Inertia, creeping aroundgreater Pleasantville at minus twomiles per hour, signaling our turnsand always maintaining a SafeFollowing Distance. This classtaught me many important drivinglessons, the main one being that ifyou ever find yourself stuck behind adrivers-ed car, you MUST get past it,no matter how many innocent livesyou endanger.

Anyway, since you and I are suchsuperior drivers, I wanted to sharewith you an excellent idea that wassent in to me by Florida motoristDamara Hutchins, who is also aboveaverage. She begins by noting theannoying behavior of certainmotorists, especially the ones whodrift along in the left, or ''passing,''lane, mile after clueless mile, neverpassing anybody, and also nevernoticing the line of motorists behindthem flashing their lights, honkingtheir horns, making explicit handgestures, firing marine flares, etc.This is not a problem in Europe. Ifyou get into the passing lane inEurope, you'd better passimmediately and get back over,because otherwise you will needsurgery to have Ferrari grill shardsremoved from your buttocks.

So anyway, here is DamaraHutchins' idea: powerful bumper-mounted sucker-dart guns. You

would shoot these atother motorists whenthey did somethingstupid. Ideally, you could fire severaldifferent colors of darts, to indicatethe type of infraction. This would bea big help to the police, who coulduse the darts as evidence:

OFFICER: Sir, do you know whyI pulled you over?

MOTORIST: No, why?OFFICER: I count 17 red sucker

darts on your rear bumper, whichmeans you've been blocking the left lane.

MOTORIST: But I'm going thespeed limit!

OFFICER (sighing): Sir, we onlypretend that's the speed limit. Ingood weather and light traffic, thereal speed limit is about 10 miles perhour faster, which is the speed 80percent of the other drivers aregoing. If you don't want to go thatfast, you need to get over, OK? Also,I count five yellow darts, indicatingyou swerved between lanes whiledialing your cellphone; and onebrown dart you got for driving aPontiac Aztek, a vehicle ugly enoughto cause retinal damage.

MOTORIST: Will I get a ticket?OFFICER: I'm giving you a

warning on those infractions, sir. ButI'm afraid I have to cite you for thegreen dart.

MOTORIST: What's that for?OFFICER: Flagrant nosepicking.Of course only good drivers

would be allowed to participate inthe car-dart program; otherwise, we'dwind up with darts all overpedestrians, salad bars, etc. Butassuming we can work out thedetails, I think this is a terrific idea.If you agree, get out of my way.


MAY/JUNE 2005

11001100Speed Traps Do Existby John Holevoet, Director of Development

his isn't news to NMAmembers, but it appears thatothers need to be better

informed. It's not unusual for NMAstaff monitoring www.speedtrap.org toreceive dozens of emails disputing theexistence of speed traps. After all,they argue, speed enforcement is aboutsafety, not money.

It might be easier just to deletethese messages as they come in, buttypically someone from the NMAresponds and tries to educate thesemisguided souls. There is no shortageof glaringly obvious speed traps, whichmakes it easy to prove our point.

Coburg, Oregon is such a place. Infact, Coburg may be one of the mostinfamous speed traps ever! This smallOregon town is located just off a busystretch of Interstate 5. Despite muchhigher average speeds, Oregon remainsthe only western state to still have aninterstate speed limit of 65 mph. Thisgives the Coburg Police plenty ofvictims from which to choose.

The town's former police chief,Mike Hudson, is largely responsiblefor turning this quiet rural town into anobject of loathing for out-of-townmotorists. Hudson's officers havewritten millions of dollars worth ofspeeding tickets. Money that was then used to fund the town's and police department's extravagantspending, including Chief Hudson'sannual salary of $125,000 (more thanthe superintendent of the Oregon StatePolice earns).

The department also purchased avariety of novelties and sophisticatedgear that was far beyond the needs of atown with fewer than 1,000 people.Chief Hudson's new "toys" includedHeckler & Koch MP5 machine gunswith silencers, customized BMWmotorcycles, wristwatches with theCoburg police emblem, and baseball-style photo cards of the chief and hisfellow officers, and more. The

department even spent $20,000 to lease a computer simulator that trainsofficers on how to handle armedconfrontations, even though the townhas reported just ten violent crimes inthe last three years.

The town did absolutely everythingto maximize ticket revenue. Itswitched distributors for its citationbooks so no one would question why such a small department neededso many. One of the town's sevenofficers started writing out ticketsbefore he even left the police stationand tried to requisition a "rubberstamp" for his signature.

With such blatant abuses takingplace, complaints soon reached the ear of State Representative FloydProzanski. Prozanski investigated and

The town did absolutely everything tomaximize ticket revenue.

discovered that Coburg's officers were sending most of their tickets into municipal court in an effort tokeep the maximum amount of moneyfrom each ticket.

In response, he drafted House Bill2733 to stop towns like Coburg fromfleecing responsible motorists.Prozanski's bill restricts municipalcourts to only hearing cases that aregenerated within their community, thuseliminating a large part of the incentivethe officers in Coburg have to ticketingpeople on I-5.

The governor signed the legislation,which has become known as the"Coburg law," in July 2003, although itdidn't take effect until January 2004.Coburg's Police Department spent theintervening months writing thousandsof tickets—a total of 3,913 worth over$1 million in fines.

After the law took effect, Coburg'sticket revenue slowed to a trickle and

the town plunged into a financial crisis.The City Council fired staff in the faceof a $500,000 deficit. Even ChiefHudson was pushed into resigning,although he did get an overly generous$120,000 severance package.

Teetering on the brink of insolvencyhasn't stopped the Coubrug's leader-ship from searching for a way to tapback into their former ticket-writinggold mine. They've annexed 26 acreson the east side of I-5 to bring thespeed trap back under municipaljurisdiction, and the town's police are on a pace to write more than$700,000 in traffic tickets on theinterstate this year.

Floyd Prozanski, who is now a state senator, hasn't given up on hiscrusade to put an end to this speed trap.New legislation, Senate Bill 295, isintended to kill the profit motive forOregon municipalities to ticketmotorists on interstate highways.Also, he is looking into still other ways to curb Coburg's abusivebehavior permanently.

This includes reviewing a Missourilaw that states any city, town, orvillage that receives more than 45percent of its revenue from traffic fines on state highways must forfeitfines over that amount to the state forschools. "I'm not set right now at 45percent," Prozanski said. "I think thatmight be too high." It's good to knowwe have some public servants who areconcerned with protecting motorists.If you live in Oregon, feel free tocontact Senator Prozanski and thankhim for his efforts.

TT

Have a friend join theNMA and you’ll get an

extra three monthsof membership

FREE!


MAY/JUNE 2005

11111111

he day has finally come, andmotorists throughout Canadaand the United States should

take note. Korylea Lebray, a 25-year-old Edmonton, Albertawoman has been charged inrelation to a March 7th pedestrianhit-and-run, even though she wasn'tdriving the vehicle.

Using the same provision thatallows police to issue photo radarand red light camera tickets,prosecutors say they can nowcharge otherwise innocent vehicleowners for crimes committed withtheir automobiles.

The victim, an 85-year-old man,was jaywalking when Lebray'sHonda Accord struck him. The

driver of the Honda reportedlydrove off without checking on thewelfare of the man. He remains inserious, but stable condition at alocal hospital. A concerned citizenfollowed the Honda for a fewblocks and then saw two malesrunning from the car.

The police continue to seekinformation on the male suspectthey believe was driving the carwhen the hit-and-run occurred, butthis hasn't stopped them fromcharging the car's owner.

Lebray's unwillingness to helppolice find the man who is actuallyresponsible for the hit-and-run isdisturbing and unacceptable.However, she has not been charged

with obstructing justice orhindering a police investigation,instead she has been directlycharged with failing to remain atthe scene of a collision, eventhough there is no evidence tosuggest she was ever at the scene!

The case marks a disturbinglegal development in which unjustphoto enforcement laws are beingused as a justification for evenmore unreasonable prosecutions.

This comes at a time whenAlberta is considering expandingphoto radar's use outside of urbanjurisdictions. As photo enforce-ment spreads, there is no doubt thatthe judicial abuses it encourageswill do the same.

Not Driving? No Problem!

Do As We Say, Not As We Doby Eric Skrum, Managing Editor

ver four years ago, we wrote anNMAF NEWS article aboutAcme Rent-A-Car in

Connecticut. The company was usinga global positioning satellite system totrack their vehicles. This wouldn't beso unusual if they hadn't been using itto track their customers' speed. Eachtime the client exceeded the speedlimit for more than two minutes, Acmewould automatically charge them$150. If the renter had used a debit orcharge card, the $150 fee wasautomatically processed without thecustomer's knowledge.

The Connecticut Attorney GeneralOffice took Acme to court sayingAcme's actions were illegal. The casereached the Connecticut SupremeCourt and in April, it upheld thedecision of lower courts, whichprohibited companies from finingcustomers for speeding.

This is great news for motorists as it

prevents other rental companies fromgouging their clients in the samemanner. It also brought to light somevery interesting quotes that highlightthe government's hypocrisy when itcomes to the speeding ticket racket.

First, Acme's attorney, MaxBrunswick, trotted out safety as ajustification for his client's actions. Hesaid, "They didn't do this to makemoney on the fees. They did it to holdspeeding down to prevent accidents…"

Sound familiar? Keep reading... It gets better.

In response State Attorney GeneralBlumenthal said, "The state can'tcondone speeding, but it condemnsmoneymaking schemes designed assafety measures."

Isn't that the whole foundation ofspeed limits and speeding tickets?Every day, the NMA confrontsgovernment officials with the idea thatspeeding tickets are nothing but a

revenue generator. Their response?Same justification as Acme's. Safety,not money, motivates their actions.

"You cannot secretly track drivers'speeds and gouge them under the guiseof safety or vehicle expense," stateAttorney General Richard Blumenthalsaid. "No logic or law warrants aprivate company ambushingconsumers with a $150 fee forexceeding a random speed limit."

If you substitute "private company"with the word "government,"Blumenthal makes our argument for us. This is the same line ofreasoning the NMA has used against arbitrarily low speed limitsused to generate revenue.

Apparently Connecticut won't standfor any competition when it comes toexploiting motorists. Only the state isallowed to ambush people withunwarranted fees "for exceeding arandom speed limit."

TT

OO


MAY/JUNE 2005

11221122News From Around The Country

t the time of printing, thelegislative information iscorrect. To track the progress

of these bills or for contact informationfor your legislators, you can visit theSpeak Out! section of the NMA website at www.motorists.org/speakout/state.html.

You can also find NMA positionson any of these topics that you can usewhen contacting your legislators onthese issues at www.motorists.org/issues/index.html.

ArizonaThe Arizona State Senate rejected a

bill that would have required thedepartment of transportation to setspeed limits at or below the speed 85percent of drivers are traveling. Thisaction comes even though the 85thpercentile is recognized as the safestlevel at which to set the speed limit.

CaliforniaSome city officials would like to

make San Francisco the first city in thenation to charge drivers for driving inits downtown. The San FranciscoTransportation Authority has appliedfor federal aid to study the effects ofthe proposal, which faces strongopposition from the public.

The California DMV has released anew study on ignition interlockdevices, a mechanism used to preventdrivers whose blood alcohol level isnear the legal limit from starting theircars. The study stated ignition deviceshave no statistically significant effectin preventing subsequent drunk drivingconvictions. These devices were alsofound to increase their users' generalcrash risks by up to 130 percent!

District of ColumbiaD.C. is trying to sell the idea of red

light cameras with a new ad campaign.The Metropolitan Police Departmenthas turned to Flash, "the world's fastestman," who claims the District's photoenforcement even "slows him down."

IllinoisSpeed camera vans will patrol

highway work zones in July and takepictures of drivers violating the 45mph speed limit, announced theIllinois DOT. Fortunately, there will be signs posted to warn drivers thatphoto radar is being used.

IowaOn July 1, highway speed limits

will change from 65 mph to 70 mph inIowa. Governor Tom Vilsack signedthe bill that allowed the speed limitchange, as well as double the fines forspeeding. This increase in fines isexpected to bring seven million dollarsin revenue to the state.

MassachusettsNew screens are being used on

highways to obscure accidents andkeep traffic moving. These seven-foot-tall by 10-foot-wide screens are madeof piping and vinyl material. Theyhave been in use for about a year andseem to reduce congestion caused bymotorists who gawk at accidents.

MinnesotaThe good news is Minnesota's

Department of Transportation is goingto raise the speed limit from 55 mph to60 mph on some urban and rural stateroads. The bad news is this change isbeing used to justify serious speedenforcement efforts on these roads.

North DakotaSB 2200 would prohibit insurance

companies from using informationfrom the "black box" to set insurancerates. The black box is a device thatstores a variety of information, such asvehicle speed and occupant seat beltuse. The measure also requires cardealers to better inform buyers abouttheir vehicles' black boxes.

OregonPortland school zones will be

monitored for eight weeks startingApril 4, with photo radar. The National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) is using Portland to test theeffect of photo radar in school zones.The citation for speeding in a schoolzone starts at $390. This is the first ofmany similar tests NHTSA would liketo perform.

PennsylvaniaAfter years of feet dragging on

the part of Pennsylvania Turnpikeofficials, motorists can now drive auniform 65 mph on the road, except inmountainous areas. The new speedlimit went into effect shortly before thestart of Memorial Day weekend.

TennesseeThe Tennessee Department of

Transportation is reducing the speed limit to 55 mph for commercialtrucks in Shelby County. The DOT is lowering speed limits to reducevehicle emissions, despite the fact that experience has shown that posted speed limits have little effect on actual travel speeds.

TexasA recent study by the Texas

Transportation Institute has found thatcarpool lanes that are not separatedfrom regular lanes with a physicalbarrier increase accidents by over 40percent. The problem occurs whenother motorists try to merge into thecarpool lane at a much slower speedand the carpool motorists cannot slowdown in time to avoid an accident.

VermontIf HB 421 is approved,

motorcyclists would be restricted as to which roads and trails they canuse in Vermont. It would also requiremotorcycle event sponsors to get apermit from each city through which arally or ride would travel. Failure tocomply with road restrictions wouldresult in a fine of up to $1000 pluscosts incurred by the city.

AA


MAY/JUNE 2005

11331133

Your letters are welcomed and appreciated. This is a forum for diverse opinions, different perspectives, andpersonal experiences. Letters may be edited for length or clarity. Letters should not exceed 300 words inlength. Full-length articles will also be considered for publication in the NMAF NEWS. Articles should notexceed 600 words in length. Positions and opinions expressed in letters and NMA member-authored articlesare those of the author and do not necessarily reflect NMA Foundation policies or objectives. To submit, youcan email us at [email protected] or mail to our NMA Foundation Office.

MEMBERS WRITE

I realize we have plenty ofmotorist issues to keep us all busy,but I would like to mention one thatI have not heard much talk about buthas been on my mind for awhile,and that is the use of unmarkedhighway patrol cars.

Using unmarked police vehiclesfor traffic enforcement is anothersymptom of enforcement forrevenue, and not safety. If the police truly want traffic to flow atthe posted speed limit and behavewithout aggression, then a clearlymarked police car with light bar on top, and a uniformed officer isextremely effective at making thathappen. However, if what they want is revenue and easy tickets,then sneaking around in unmarkedvehicles is the answer.

Unmarked police vehicles also cause mistrust andmisunderstanding between motorists and officers, as moreincidents are reported about psychos impersonating policepulling over victims with just acolored dash-mounted light.Unmarked vehicles make sense for detectives and undercover cops,but traffic enforcement calls forclearly marked vehicles anduniformed personnel.

Terry Lilly Barboursville, VA

I just learned that speed bumpsare illegal on Army installations,and thought I would pass theinformation along. Army Regulation

420-72, 1 May 2000, FacilitiesEngineering/TransportationInfrastructure and Dams, Chapter 2(Pavements), Paragraph 2-17.b(Safety), reads as follows:

"Safety hazards. Hazardousfeatures such as transverse ridges,speed bumps, or dips on pavementsurfaces will not be installed ormaintained as a means of con-trolling or reducing the speed of traffic."

The Army hospital in which Iwork had speed bumps in itsparking lot, until a snow and icestorm during the Christmas holidayswhen the plowers asked to havethem removed. They haven't beenreplaced, thank goodness. Nobodyslowed for the bumps in themorning before the patients arrived.All the early arrival employeessimply sped around them.

I don't know if there are otherspeed bumps at other posts, but nowthat I know about this regulation, I'llkeep my eyes peeled. I hope otherNMA members serving in the Armywill do the same.

Eric Berg, MDClarksville, TN

I just got a red-light ticket inScottsdale, Arizona. Now I don'tcondone wild driving or running red lights. I know there are otherson the road who are not the best of drivers so those who areexperienced drivers need to bepatient with those who aren't.

My criteria for a summons being

just and/or fair is when given the same situation, would I actdifferently or would I do the samething? My answer in this case isthat I would do exactly the samething. I was travelling the 40 mphspeed limit. My wife and son were with me. As I was justentering the intersection, the lightturned red. If I slammed on thebrakes (Chevy Suburban), I couldinjure my family and possibly thecar. Plus I'd end up in the middleof the intersection, which veryeasily could create an accident!

I'm sure you know why thishappened—the yellow light wasextremely short. If it were just one second longer, this would nothave happened.

Of course poor Scottsdale wouldbe out of a lot of revenue, as well.

Andras NevaiSedona, AZ

Visit one of the NMAweb sites for more

motorist information.

www.motorists.org

www.speedtrap.org

www.roadblock.org


MAY/JUNE 2005

11441144

o you have a question thatonly an expert can answer?If so, look no further. We

have many NMA members withspecial fields of expertise. Thisfeature was created to assistmembers with answers to bothpractical and technical questions.

This sharing of knowledge isanother benefit of belonging to theNMA. Please indicate that you arean NMA member when calling alisted “Expert.”

Can you help? Please contact uswith your field of expertise andprovide us with a contact address.

A telephone number would be veryhelpful, but is not required. Feelfree to list preferred contact times ifyou do provide a telephone number.

PLEASE NOTE: This is notintended for listing of commercialbusiness services.

DDThe Experts’ Corner

As an NMA member, the Experts’ Corner is available to you online at

http://www.motorists.org/join/membersonly/experts.html


MAY/JUNE 2005

11551155

I prefer to use my: VISA MasterCard ___________________________________Signature

______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ___________Credit Card Account Number: Expiration Date

NMA MEMBER: yes no MEMBER #_______________________

NAME ___________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________________

CITY______________________________________ STATE ___________ ZIP _________________

DAYTIME PHONE (_______)______________E-MAIL ____________________________________

• Please Print Clearly • • Make checks payable to: NMA • • CANADA: Visa or MasterCard ONLY •

MAIL TO: NMAF, 402 West 2nd Street, Waunakee, WI 53597• Order toll free: 1-800-882-2785 • FAX: 1-608-849-8697 • Web Site: www.motorists.org

• Motorist Marketplace •

U.S. Shipping & Handling Charges

Up to $5.00 S/H incl 5.01 - 15.00 4.00 15.01 - 25.00 5.00 25.01 - 35.00 6.00 35.01 - 50.00 7.00 50.01 - 75.00 8.00 75.01 - 100.00 9.00 over 100.00 10.00

If your merchandisetotal is:

Pleaseadd:

Subtotal __________S/H (see chart below) __________Total __________

This is a brief list of products available to you. For a complete list, visitour Motorist Marketplace at www.motorists.org or call 800-882-2785.

Every Woman’s Car CareMany motorists don’t have useful knowledge about the vehicles they drive.This book can help. While it was written by and for women, this book is anasset for anyone. Its 262 pages cover everything from how to read gauges to"jump starting" and trouble shooting. Its convenient size means you can easilykeep it in the car for quick reference, if the need arises.

Member Price: $14.95Non-Member Price: $19.95Quantity________________$ Amount_______________

Beat The CopsNMA Member Alex Carroll has refined and published a great little ticket-fighter's book entitled Beat the Cops. Alex is not a lawyer and the book doesn'tread like it was written by one. Its easy reading and casual style convey a lot ofgood information for anyone who wants to fight his/her ticket. It gives a goodoverview of the traffic ticket industry and the best strategies of how to avoidgetting a traffic ticket. But, its real emphasis is on what to do after you've beenstopped and issued a citation.


Legal Research: How To Find & Understand The LawMany laws and statutes that you need to prepare your case are state specific,which means that you will have to do the research. This book gives you thebasic understanding of how to conduct legal research. The book explainseverything in easy-to-understand terms. It also uses many examples to explainits points. The examples are issues that most people have heard of and can relateto such as wills, small claims, and fighting tickets.


Guerilla Ticket FighterNow, while you're driving, you can learn how to fight traffic tickets and win. By purchasing this tape package, you will make an important first step towardbeing a victor instead of a victim. Guerilla Ticket Fighter will tell you how todefend yourself against traffic tickets using strategies that have provensuccessful for other motorists, just like you.


NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION NEWS

NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION402 West 2nd Street, Waunakee, Wisconsin 53597

If your NMA membership expiration date is on (or before) 07/01/05,this is your last issue of NMAF NEWS.PLEASE RENEW NOW TO AVOID ANY LAPSE!!!

State Chapter Coordinators and Activists

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDMadison, WI

Permit No 168

As an NMA member, the State Chapter Coordinators and Activists are available

to you online at http://www.motorists.org/join/membersonly/sccact.html

edicated volunteers who monitor, publicize, and lobby critical motorists’ issues, for you, within your state.They can also provide insights on how to best fight a traffic ticket in your state.DD

$5.00 gasoline?

Documents