We all knew the average citizen was irate over speed cameras blossoming up around the country, but in Maryland atleast, the growing number of anti-speed camera fans is growing, within the police force! The Washington Post reports of many Montgomery Country police officers refusing to pay speed camera tickets received while driving in their government issued vehicles. The local police union advised its officers to not pay the fines since the regulation in moco states the owner of the car is responsible for the fine…and well since the county owns the cars, the officers don’t think they should pay.
Objectively speaking that sounds like a pile of horse crap…we all know if we rent cars on vacation or lease our current vehicles the rental company of automobile finance group will send us the bill because it was the drivers of the car who comitted the violation.
From a citizen standpoint, how awesome is this!? The police refuse to follow the laws they are meant to enforce! HA! Perhaps we should all give Hertz and BMW Finance the finger too! We might have that luxury sooner than we think as a bill might be passed to allow speed cameras across the state….including Annapolis! If we do get the cameras here is where I think they will be placed:
- Rt. 2/South River bridge: I think the speed limit it 50MPH but you can easily hit 80MPH without causing a fuss
- 650 East/West: too straight and when the traffic is gone, you might mistake it for an extension of 97 North or Rt.50
- Backroads near the Anne Arundel Hospital: wide, smooth and untrafficked
- West street towards downtown: these inner city low speed limited roads are prime targets for speed cameras where the difference to a driver between 15 and 17 MPH is hardly felt
Thoughts/comments/criticisms/pet peeves?
Photo courtesy of Kecko on Flickr.
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Yes, this will most likely be added to the many things you can be prosecuted for in the State of Maryland. While it sounds stupid, to text someone using your cell while driving, it is most likely that all of us have done, even if it was only once. Every time you do it, a feeling of stupidity overwhelms you and the following races through your mind:
- should I wait until the next red light?
- why are the buttons so close together? Now I have to delete everything!
- can I react quickly enough if the car in front of me serves?
- if I look up after hitting the “space” bar, will I be greeted with the rear bumper of a Ford pickup?
Yes, stupid indeed. I say ban it, and talking on the phone without a headset as well. Its bad enough we have to deal with virtual people in the car when we drive, but to take both hands off the wheel, its asking a little too much, or is it?
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So this bit of news, is quite weak. Pregnancy centers will have to be more honest? What does that mean?
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Maryland is doing its part to fight the new crazy insano bee virus, yes, that deadly virus that has all the honeybees in this country dying like, umm, chocolate flowers in front of Augustus Gloop. The House of Delegates approved a bill last Wednesday that allows the Department of Agriculture to give grants to Marylanders planting native plants. Sounds like another whodunit. What does that mean exactly? Well, according to the bill, under the program the Department shall:
- increase awareness among nurseries and land managers of non-invasive plants that are pollinator friendly; and
- provide grants to increase the availability of seed and nursery stock for non-invasive plants that are pollinator friendly
Jeez do any of you still not understand wtf this is for? How do governments get work done!? Do us MD’ers get cash out of this, or is it for the retailers? Gosh, it really is in the details.
Picture courtesy of Wikimedia
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Lawson Software purchased Annapolis based VasTech last Friday. Congrats to the VasTech owners! We suggest you head to your nearest BMW or Mercedes Benz dealership to celebrate.
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This city really is the hotbed of breaking news! Child porn lovers beware, the stakes just go higher for your despicable craft. Our lawmakers downtown voted to make possession of child porn a felony. It used to be a misdemeanor and only carried a $2,500 fine and two years in jail. Besides being a felony now, it is also mandatory for sex offenders to have their pictures taken more frequently and to have their online screen names registered with the local authorities.
So whom does this law affect? Well I am sure all of you would be very surprised. A website called Family Watchdog allows you to search sex offenders by state, city, zip, and street name. In the 21401 zip code alone we have 57 offenders with at least 15 convicted of child-related crimes. Scary huh? I do believe in second chances, but the stigma surrounding child porn is so strong I am not sure if its something we will someday be able to sweep under a rug.
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In a bit of different news, a high school student in Glen Burnie set off some kind of explosive device in the bed of his truck yesterday…and is being charged with a couple felonies as a result. I don’t know about this post 9/11 stuff…I remember when bringing firecrackers/cherry bombs to school was funny and when everyone you knew pulled the fire alarm or flooded the toilets. Felonies? Was there really ill-will here? Could this just be a teenager being a teenager? I would like to think so. I mean heblew something up in his car…what idiot would do that?
Image courtesy of Fotosearch.
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For those of you living in a cage, MMA or mixed martial arts, is a new sport that makes professional boxing look like pre-school kids playing jump rope. Two men (usually) fight inside a caged ring (yes, just like in the movies) using a combination of different martial arts styles. The two prevailing styles are Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (ground control), and Muay Thai Kickboxing (striking). Throughout the years this sport grown its reputation throughout the US and the rest of the world. Most likely its recent surge in popularity can be attributed to the reality TV series, The Ultimate Fighter, on Spike TV.
As states around the country embraced the sport with tougher regulations as opposed to an outright ban, state revenues have grown from this. Maryland has avoided this subject until now. Apparently someone in Annapolis has seen the light ($$$$$$$$$$), and wants to pass legislation allowing MMA fights to be hosted in MD. Could this become a new gym class sport in the local high schools?
Image courtesy of Bodogbeat.
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If any of you have visited the local SPCA, you might be aware of the large number of pit-bulls that are discarded in the area (very sad). Where do they all come from? Do we have a local dog fight scene? Perhaps its no coincidence that Maryland is trying to pass dog-fighting legislation that would make it a misdemeanor, NOT a felony, to attend dog or cock fighting. The House and the Senate are both in agreement on this point. The fine for the misdemeanor is at a maximum of $2,500. Who of you can afford this expensive spectator event?
Image courtesy of Missouri Pitbull Rescue
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It seems the state politicians are trying to rally votes for the upcoming elections with a “plan” to assist people who didn’t read the fine print of their mortgages and are now close or currently in foreclosure. Has anyone gone through this process yet? Success/failure?
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