Three Strikes DUI Bill Passes Legislature, Headed for Governor’s Desk
August 24, 2010 by HaloPlyr · 4 Comments
A new DUI bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Jerry Hill, has passed through the Legislature and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in September. AB 1601 will give judges the authority to revoke the driver’s licenses of three-time DUI offenders for up to a decade. Current law allows such a offenders to lose their licenses for three years. The bill is actually a watered down version of the original proposal, which advocated revoking driver’s licenses of three time offenders for life. However, an analysis showed that version would have increased prison populations and actually cost taxpayers more money.
Legislators, Lawyers Winning Fight to Render Red Light Cameras Useless
June 28, 2010 by HaloPlyr · 3 Comments
Legal battles against the use of evidence provided by red-light cameras continue to sway in favor of motorists throughout California. In May, a three-judge panel in Orange County declared that red-light photos “are hearsay, rather than direct, evidence and therefore inadmissible.” Now, the state senate has approved a bill written by Senator Joe Simitian, which would make the devices “all but worthless as a source of evidence.” In a 13-1 vote, the bill would impose stricter guidelines on local governments which use private firms to run their photo-enforcement programs. The measure was temporarily stalled, however, as government officials claim that it would “effectively wipe out the cameras’ use by giving motorists additional weapons to fight their tickets.” A separate bill was approved which would lower the fines for ‘rolling right-turns’ on red lights – which make up the bulk of all red-light camera tickets.
Should DUI Checkpoints Trap Unlicensed Drivers?
February 16, 2010 by HaloPlyr · 6 Comments
An article on the New York Times on Sunday has created whirlwind of discussion, regarding the practice of authorities, in many California cities, of seizing vehicles from unlicensed drivers at DUI checkpoints. Although authorities claim the checkpoints are to catch drunk drivers, they tend to catch more unlicensed drivers than anything. If a driver is caught operating a vehicle without a license, their car is impounded, at the owner’s expense. Last year, California collected about $40 million in revenue from fees and fines. Passionate emails came in, some of which are posted in this article, from people in both camps: those that believe the seizure of such cars is just – since there are laws being broke, and those that feel it’s an unfair practice by local governments, taking advantage of the vulnerability of these people.
Oakland First City to Get Smart Boot
November 13, 2009 by HaloPlyr · 3 Comments
Smart Boots have been provided to the city for free by Smart Boot maker Pay-Lock. And why not? Pay-Lock is going to make a bundle. Pay-Lock has also provided the city with three police vans affixed with cameras that recognize license plates and alert officers if a car has been stolen, is boot-eligible or is otherwise wanted. The device is smaller and lighter than a regular boot and can be released when the unlucky motorists pay their overdue tickets – plus a $140 processing fee – via credit card or check through a 24-hour hot line. After paying the tickets, the motorist gets a six-digit code to enter on a keypad on the boot, and voila, the boot unlocks. The motorist then has 24 hours to return the 16-pound boot to either of two locations in Oakland or incur a $25-per-day charge on his or her credit card. The city, which has 90 Smart Boots, will tow the car if the owner doesn’t remove the boot within 24 hours.
Oakland Parking Upsets This Oaklander; She’s Shopping in Walnut Creek
April 8, 2009 by HaloPlyr · 7 Comments
A woman has written into a Yahoo! message board explaining why she will no longer shop in Oakland, and will instead go to Walnut Creek to do so. Her reasoning is that the parking enforcement in Oakland “has gotten a little out of hand” and also notes the “plentiful” and inexpensive parking in Walnut Creek.
