Archive for the ‘Law Enforcement’ Category

Does High-Tech Safety Actually Increase Car Danger

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

People who love driving and worship cars regularly trot this theory out, and there's certainly something to be said for some of their points. But it's worth remembering that many more people died when cars were a lot more dangerous and the roads weren't as well-designed. There are some tips ...

BBB: Probably Best Not To Buy Auto Warranty By Phone

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

The key tip to this story is to avoid buying auto warranty extensions if someone calls you and tells you that you need to extend your coverage.

When Do You Take Keys From Alzheimer Sufferers?

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

At some time it will be just too dangerous to let Alzheimer sufferers take out the family car, and figuring out when that should be is a growing issue.

Service Will Do The Paper Work When You Get A Ticket

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

They won't fight the ticket on your behalf or anything, but a new online service will do a lot of the administrative work associated with moving citations. 

Cell Phones And iPods Can Make Walking Dangerous

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

You don't have to be in a car to be a counted as a traffic fatality, as being hit by a car gets you on the list as well. That becomes a more likely happening if you tune out the traffic around you by talking on the phone or listening ...

First-Hand Example Of How Thieves Get Purses From Cars

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

A reporter in Orlando made a small mistake the other day regarding the safety integrity around her car and is paying a big price for it. The best part is she can now help other people avoid the same problem.

World’s Longest Finger Nails Broken In A Car Crash

Friday, February 13th, 2009

Her life may not be in danger, but Lee Redmond's status in the Guinness Book Of World Record may in jeopardy following a car crash in Utah. Mostly the injuries came because she wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the car. The longest nail was about 3.4 inches ...

Three Women Plead Guilty To Staging Car Wrecks

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

After staging these crashes, the women went on to claim insurance payments for things that didn't happen, which of course all the other patrons of the company would have to pay for.

Comprehensive Used Car Information Is Almost Here

Friday, January 30th, 2009

As this story mentions in passing, none of the firms that sell you used car reports (Carfax et al) have all of the information that you need to make an informed choice. But a government-mandated data base is finally getting off the ground, and in due course it will deliver ...

Sometimes There Are Good Reasons To Hate Lawyers

Friday, January 30th, 2009

The glee in this press release about a method for overturning DUI charges from a British law firm is not quite typical of the kind of thing you see from American law firms when they think they've done something clever, but it's close enough to give you the creeps.

Elvis Statue Saves Parking Space Or Else In Boston

Friday, January 30th, 2009

This type of thing may happen in other parts of the continent, but somehow it isn't surprising that it's pretty common in Boston, particularly the south side. If you don't life there, this kind of behavior might be viewed as comical. 

Nice-Looking Cars Should Get Preferential Parking Spaces

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

The craziest auto writer in the English-speaking world is back recommending a Volvo smart shoppers should avoid and suggesting that attractive cars should get preferential treatment. We think it's supposed to be a joke, but who knows?

“Safekeeping” Tow Leads To Extra Trouble For Woman

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

By far the most important lesson of this story is that you should NEVER leave anything on view inside your car since it can lead to a break-in and endless residual trouble. From there on, it probably depends upon where you live, since not all police departments will behave the ...

Ralph Nader Asks Obama To Upgrade Consumer Safety

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Ralph Nader is probably more responsible for the launch of automotive safety than any person in the world, and he's still out there doing what he can to encourage consumer protection on all fronts. With George Bush gone, Nader believes the new president has a chance to make things better ...

Tickets Per Car Chart Has Some Head-Scratchers

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

As entertaining as a list like this can be, the truth is that it's drivers who get tickets, not the cars themselves. There is sometimes a co-relation between the driver and his car that results in tickets (young men and cheap sportscars), but more often the causal relationship is not ...

One In Six Drivers May Be Uninsured By 2010: Study

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

The continuing growth in the number of people who are driving around without car insurance is a huge financial problem for the people who are insured, since their rates will probably be going up. But there are various issues associated with this and you should check with your agent to ...

This Story Should Remind Us Of How Risky Driving Is

Monday, January 19th, 2009

Most people take being in a car for granted, especially if they've been doing it for years with no untoward results. But this story shows how close to disaster you can come every time you get into a vehicle. This situation will play out in these people's lives forever and ...

Fatality Rate For Oldest Drivers Continues To Drop

Monday, January 19th, 2009

No one seems to be sure why exactly, but the number of drivers over 70 who die in car crashes has dropped significantly in recent years. This press release from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) delivers the hard facts and the soft speculation on the matter.

Female Thief Run Over Twice By Her Getaway Car

Monday, January 19th, 2009

This is the kind of thing you might find hysterical in a film, but it makes you shake your head when you know it happened in real life. Especially when you consider the part about the check.

Elderly Woman Leaves Crash For Hair Appointment

Monday, January 19th, 2009

A 77-year-old Florida woman crashed into someone on a scooter and then left the scene to get to her hairdresser's on time. And it wasn't as if she didn't know the crash happened, since the guy on the scooter was thrown onto the hood of her car and hit the ...

Car Crashes The Biggest Source Of Court Cases Today

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

This short story in Time Magazine might be enough to stop you from ever getting behind the wheel of a car again and using the money you save to send your children to law school so they can cash in on the poor folks who still go out on the ...

Safety Council Calls For Cell Phone Ban In Moving Cars

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

Not sure how much weight this will carry with lawmakers, but the idea that you shouldn't be able to talk on a cell phone with a headset or through the car's stereo system or indeed through any method at all unless the car is stopped will surely irritate a lot ...

Woman Gets Life For Running Into And Killing A Mother

Saturday, January 10th, 2009

Not only did she do it on purpose and not show much emotion at being sentenced, but it seems to have happened because of a man and an injury to an innocent dog. For reasons that defy explanation, it seems even worse because it happened in Scotland.

Some Stats On Teen Drivers And Vehicle Crashes

Saturday, January 10th, 2009

Not much of this will be new to the concerned parent, but it's always good to have the truths and dangers of teen driving brought up for reconsideration.

Is This The Future Of Parking Meters In North America?

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

As this story shows, the Brits are worried about the advent of sophisticated parking meters in their country, following a successful launch in France. It's not hard to see how some people would be upset that the meter notifies the traffic wardens when the time runs out, but there seem ...

Man Says He Thought His Mother Bought His Insurance

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

In an effort to avoid prosecution for driving without insurance, a 24-year-old Welsh man told the court he thought his mother had looked after getting it for him. Though guys like him would never get married and have children in a just world, it's likely he'll be blaming his wife ...

Six-Year-Old Uses Video Skills To Steal Parents’ Car

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

When he missed his bus to school, a little boy in Virginia decided to use skills he garnered playing Grand Theft Auto to take the family sedan instead. Technophobes everywhere will be delighted by this story.

Toyota/Lexus To Offer “Light” Versions Of OnStar

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

The OnStar system that GM offers on most of its cars is one of the greatest safety/security/convenience features in the world, and at long last Toyota is set to offer its own system. As the following press release makes clear, there'll be separate iterations for Toyota (Safety Connect) and Lexus ...

Detroit Car Insurance Rates Could Be Subject Of Suit

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

One of the people running for major of Detroit is promising to take legal action against the Motor City's car insurance rates, which are often among the worst in the country. Indeed, insurance rates are often one of the chief reasons people give for leaving the city.

Will Using Breathalyzer To Start Car Ruin A First Date?

Monday, January 5th, 2009

This is the kind of social etiquette question you can only see in a tech-infested world like ours, but it could make for an interesting coffee break chat. The rest of this column has some interesting comments on the women with the princess syndrome.

Mother And Unborn Child Die In Hit-And-Run And Theft

Monday, January 5th, 2009

As depressing as this story is for the obvious reasons, the worst of it may be what some passer-by did before leaving the scene. The crash, even the hit-and-run is sadly familiar, but that second guy...

Mom Charged With Leaving 2-Year-Old In Car Outside Bar

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009

This is one of those stories that's simply hard for most people to believe, but unfortunately it's true. At least the authorities seem more disposed to doing something about them now.

Uninsured Drivers Watch As Their Cars Are Towed Away

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009

Dallas police decided to get tough with a new policy on uninsured drivers, and as a result a bunch of people were left without their cars on New Year's Day. There's still some flexibility for safety reasons, but the cars are still being towed away.

Case Shows Importance Of Getting Car’s Title Right Away

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009

No matter where you live, this story out of California has amazingly important information for you to bear in mind if you're in the market for a used car. If you haven't got time to read it, here's the key message -- be sure you get the title of the ...

Two Women Arrested In Car-Jacking Of UK Mother

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009

This story you would have to say is an unfortunate consequence in the increasing levels of equality and opportunity for women in various countries of the world.