Monthly Archives: July 2013

Another Maryland Town To Refund Illegal Speed Camera Tickets

"Greenbelt, Maryland admitted Monday that 664 illegally issued speed camera tickets would be refunded because the for-profit vendor Brekford failed to meet the certification requirements set by state law. The same calibration problem was revealed in the city of Hagerstown in May. Brekford imported its speed cameras from Sweden, where the radar manufacturer Sensys self-certified the equipment after it came off the assembly line. Brekford and the cities that allow the company to operate their speed camera programs face additional legal jeopardy because the law specifies an independent calibration lab, not the camera manufacturer, must certify the devices." Continue reading →

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Police serving search warrant at home of pro-gun activist Adam Kokesh

"FOX 5 has confirmed that U.S. Park Police along with Herndon Police are serving a search warrant at the home of Adam Kokesh, a pro-gun activist who was seen on a YouTube video posted on July 4th loading a shotgun in Freedom Plaza. Roads have been blocked off in the area of the 1500 block of Snow Flake Court in Herndon and residents have been told to stay indoors while police serve the warrant. Darryl Young, Kokesh's roommate and a political activist, defended Kokesh's actions. 'The point is we have the right to bear arms in all states,' he said." Continue reading →

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Police Using ‘Seatbelt Checkpoints’ to Search Cars Without Warrants, Make Drug Arrests

"Police are increasingly using seatbelt checkpoints in Tennessee, Louisiana and New York as a way to search vehicles without a warrant. Mayfield Heights, Ohio police even set up a fake checkpoint along I-271, noted Cleveland.com. How are police allowed to do these types of warrantless searches? Many states do not consider a checkpoint an actual 'traffic stop' by police. The checkpoints are legal as long as the primary purpose is 'regulatory' instead of 'general criminal enforcement,' which is what police departments often claim in press releases, such as the one above." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Using ‘Seatbelt Checkpoints’ to Search Cars Without Warrants, Make Drug Arrests

Blood, spit and cops: Nationwide drug roadblocks raise eyebrows

"The roadblocks are part of a national study led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is trying to determine how many drivers are on the road with drugs or alcohol in their systems. Similar roadblocks will be erected in dozens of communities across the nation this year, according to the agency. It's been going on for decades. Previous surveys date to the 1970s. The last one was run in 2007, and it included the collection of blood and saliva samples without apparent controversy, sheriff's spokesmen in both Alabama counties said. Gov. Robert Bentley complained that his office had not been notified that the surveys were going to be conducted." Continue reading →

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Audited Virginia farmer faces more thuggery

"Martha's disputes brought her national attention because of her willingness to stand up to ridiculousness. She was cited and threatened with $5,000 fines for hosting a birthday party for eight 10-year-old girls without an 'events' permit from the county. A Fauquier County supervisor blabbed about her IRS audit two days after the notice was signed at the IRS and six days before Boneta received it. That shows collusion. Then in 2011 the county concocted an ordinance restricting farm sales that was enforced only against Boneta. She was cited for selling such things as emu-feather necklaces and homemade pies without a 'special administrative farm sales permit.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAudited Virginia farmer faces more thuggery

Hacking Law and Governance with Startup Cities

"Startup Cities compete to provide new and better functions—in this case, to provide citizens with services they want and need. One new zone hosting a Startup City might pioneer different environmental law or tax policy. Another may offer a custom-tailored regulatory environment for finance or universities. Still another may try a new model for funding social services. Startup Cities are a powerful alternative to risky, difficult, and politically improbable national reform. If bad social techs lead a zone to fail, we don’t gamble the entire nation’s livelihood. People can easily exit a Startup City—effectively putting the project 'out of business.'" Continue reading →

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Walmart may cancel three planned D.C. stores over ‘livable wage’ act

"The District will have three fewer Walmart stores if the city's liveable wage act passes on Wednesday. The number has been cut from six to three, due to the District’s own doing. Councilwoman Yvette Alexander oversees Ward 7, where two of the three proposed Walmarts may no longer be built. Legislation that is supposed to pass on Wednesday requires big box stores like Walmart to start employee salaries at $12.50 – well above the District’s $8.25 minimum wage. Unfortunately, pulling the plug on these locations allegedly means pulling the plug on approximately 900 jobs as well." Continue reading →

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Egypt tells obama , to stay out of their country.

Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2013 1:54 PM Subject: Egyptian Tells Obama To Leave Them Alone – Stop Supporting Radical Islamists – July 2013 Citizens for the Constitution; 9 July, 2013 On 5 July, 2013, I sent out a report on the current ‘revolution’ in Egypt, stating that it was not, repeat not, a ‘Military Coup’. […]

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China Now General Motors’ Biggest Market

"GM and its Chinese joint venture partners saw sales surge by 10.6 percent during the first half of 2013, to nearly 1.6 million vehicles, an all-time record that positions it as the booming Asian nation's No. 2 automotive manufacturer. It sold just over 1.4 million vehicles in the U.S. during the same period. GM isn't the only American maker outpacing the growth of the overall Chinese market. Rival Ford set its own record for the first half, with sales surging 47 percent there and demand up 44 percent in June. While several makers have yet to report their final numbers, it appears that the two American makers significantly outperformed the overall Chinese market." Continue reading →

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Riot after Chinese teachers try to stop pupils cheating

"Last year, the city received a slap on the wrist from the province's Education department after it discovered 99 identical papers in one subject. Forty five examiners were 'harshly criticised' for allowing cheats to prosper. So this year, a new pilot scheme was introduced to strictly enforce the rules. By late afternoon, the invigilators were trapped in a set of school offices, as groups of students pelted the windows with rocks. Outside, an angry mob of more than 2,000 people had gathered to vent its rage, smashing cars and chanting: 'We want fairness. There is no fairness if you do not let us cheat.'" Continue reading →

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