Why traffic lights should be banned

Best solution is replacing lights with chicanes. More fun for bikers too.



East Tennessee legislators look to curb camera fines

Similar bill in ’10 cleared House, died in Senate

By Tom Humphrey
Knoxville News Sentinel
January 23, 2011

NASHVILLE – As part of a renewed campaign by some legislators to curb what they see as unwarranted ticketing with traffic cameras, Knoxville lawmakers are proposing a repeal of the state law requiring a “full and complete stop” at red lights.

Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, proposed House Bill 64, which would allow motorists to ease through a red light without stopping, as long as they yield the right of way to any cross traffic or pedestrians and do not otherwise “endanger other traffic.” It would apply statewide.

Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, has introduced a similar bill that would apply only in Knox County, though he says he would welcome amendments to Senate Bill 54 from other legislators who want to allow their counties in the roll-through red lights legislation.

Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, has taken another approach, filing House Bill 33, which requires that 95 percent of revenue produced by traffic camera tickets be earmarked “solely for educational needs.” Currently, local governments can use ticket money for anything they want, notably including operation of the cameras.

Law enforcement officials say the current system is working well and enhancing public safety. Although some minor changes in the law may be in order, officials say, the new proposals could cause confusion and perhaps lead to more traffic accidents.

The East Tennessee Republicans’ bills are apparently leading a new major effort to place restrictions on the cameras. Last year, the House spent months debating the issue and ultimately approved a bill placing an array of new restrictions on use of traffic cameras.

But the Senate Transportation Committee killed all traffic camera measures, with Chairman Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, saying panel members wanted to study the matter further with an eye toward action in 2011.

Campfield said traffic cameras are “the sleeper issue of the year,” with growing sentiment among legislators for new restrictions because of constituent discontent with the status quo.

While supportive of Haynes’ bill, Campfield said he believes the chance of passing a bill applying only to Knox County is better. As a representative last year, Campfield drafted an amendment to a bill that reached the House floor that would have allowed rolling through red lights in Knox County. He said all Knox representatives favored the amendment, which wound up failing along with other House proposals.

“I am passionate about this issue,” said Haynes. “There are people receiving tickets when they are not a threat to the public safety at all. … I don’t want to advocate for anybody breaking the law. I am advocating for a change in the law.”

Haynes said he believes that “the overwhelming majority” of citations issued at red-light cameras are for rolling through red lights in a manner that causes no problem as a safety matter. That opinion, he said, is based on some reports on red-light cameras operated by the city of Farragut.

Knoxville Police Department Capt. Gordon Catlett, who oversees Knoxville’s red-light camera program, says Knoxville data are not broken down by number of citations issued to motorists making a right turn, making a left turn or going straight – much less broken down by those who roll through.

But Catlett sees multiple problems with changing the law to allow rolling through a red light.

“What’s your definition of rolling?” he said, contending that the bill does not answer that question and, if enacted, could cause confusion among motorists and lead to more collisions.

State law also currently allows a left turn on red in some situations, he said; if the law applies to right turns, why not left turns or stop signs?

Catlett said Knoxville police already screen videos of motorists to eliminate questionable violations. In 2009, the last year for which statistics are available, he said 38 percent of apparent violations caught by Knoxville cameras – or 51,572 – were rejected by reviewing officers who use “the strictest interpretation” of what is an actual violation.

Maggi McLean Duncan, executive director of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, was active in lobbying last session against bills on traffic cameras that police chiefs consider overly restrictive. She said the association’s board will meet next month to decide a position on specific bills for this year.

But Duncan said Ragan’s bill to divert 95 percent of camera revenue to education would effectively eliminate the cameras, because a sizable portion of the money is needed to cover costs of operation. Catlett said the current system has law violators paying the cost while the bill could divert the expense to “law-abiding taxpayers.”

Ragan, beginning his first term as a lawmaker, said his attention to the issue is motivated by constituent concerns, including a belief that the cameras are an infringement on constitutional rights and are not appropriately balanced toward the enhancement of public safety.

His bill does not explicitly address that balance, but does assure that safety is its focus rather than using the devices as a means of government profiting through a “selective tax.”

“If they’re going to generate revenue, it ought to be going to a worthy cause,” he said.

While law enforcement took the lead in supporting traffic cameras last year, joined by city governments, the companies making and operating the cameras also retained lobbyists last year – including LaserCraft Inc., which holds the contract for Knoxville’s cameras.

“Some of these people are going to fight this tooth and nail because they know, once we take care of this right-turn-on-red issue, their revenue is going to drop off significantly,” Haynes said.

Haynes has filed three other bills related to traffic cameras, saying his priority is on the right-turn measure. The others would prohibit use of traffic cameras to catch speeders, allow ticketed motorists to pay either in person or by mail, and require that a commissioned police officer – not just a department employee – review videos to decide whether a citation is appropriate.

Icon Twits

Once upon a time, Icon had a blogspot.com.

Now Icon has all growed up, with Twitters, MyFaces and even a dot com.

Bye bye blog. Hello LIMITER! We are pleased to announce our newest foray into the digital sprawl. We call it Limiter. Based on the Icon Moto blog, Limiter will encompass the same daily info feed as well as integrating some exciting new features. Foremost among these features is the new community section. Think of it as the old 'follower' section on HGH. Not only can you upload your photos to the community section, but you can add a write up to those photos. It's like having your own virtual bike lift within the Icon garage. Share your build story. Share pics of your favorite bikes. Share photos of your smoking hot girlfriend. Whatever you like. The member with the most recent post goes to the top of the community list. As a further incentive to post (as if you needed more incentive than fleeting internet fame) we will be selecting a community member each month for a shoutout and a box full of free Icon swag.

Doh! Wear your gear.


Nick Apex tests new antigravity bike


Euro stuntbabe Mai Lin


Happy Sadie

Always video cops after a traffic ticket

THE DRAGONATER WINS IN TRAFFIC COURT AT DEALS GAP, RAISES SPEED LIMIT TO 65 MPH ON THE DRAGON - NOLLE PROSEQUI BY BLOUNT COUNTY ATTORNEY GENERAL. NO TESTIMONY, HEARING NOR TRIAL WHATSOEVER. 60 MPH SPEEDING TICKET DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, COSTS PAID BY THE STATE, IN BLOUNT COUNTY GENERAL SESSIONS COURT WITH JUDGE BREWER. THP TROOPER RANDALL HUCKEBY ADMITTED ON VIDEOTAPE DURING TRAFFIC STOP THAT ALL SPEEDING TICKETS NORTHBOUND ON US129 AT MILE MARKER 0.5 ARE FEDERAL JURISDICTION, NOT STATE JURISDICTION (VIDEO BY THE DRAGONATER). HUCKEBY WAS ALSO CAUGHT ON VIDEO SPEEDING AT 60 MPH ON THE DRAGON, WITHOUT THE MANDATORY EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND SIREN REQUIRED FOR IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION (VIDEO BY THE DRAGONATER). TDOT ADMITTED IN WRITING THAT THE MANDATORY TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SURVEY SPEED AUDIT WAS NEVER PERFORMED, IN VIOLATION OF TN CODE, THUS THE POSTED 30 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON THE DRAGON REVERTS TO THE DEFAULT 65 MPH IN TN CODE. THE DRAGONATER ALSO MADE VIDEO OF TROOPER HUCKEBY SPEEDING UP TO 60 MPH ON THE DRAGON IN A 30 MPH ZONE, WITHOUT MANDATORY EMERGENCY LIGHTS NOR SIREN, IN VIOLATION OF TN CODE, AND PERJURY IN HIS PERSONNEL FILE, WHICH SHOWED HIS $100,000+ SALARY. 2007 TDOT SAFETY AUDIT REPORT CONFESSED THAT THP'S JOB IS TO BAN ALL COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES ON THE DRAGON, SO THP TICKETS INCREASED 11,400% IN BLOUNT COUNTY. THP'S STALKER RADAR OPERATOR MANUAL CONFESSED THAT RADAR CANNOT MEASURE THE SPEED OF VEHICLES WITHIN 18 MPH OF ACTUAL SPEED. WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FULL EVIDENCE FILE. UPDATE 7 MARCH 2011

The Dragonater has used this tactic to win a stop sign case in Blount County general sessions court, by using the cop's own in-car video of the traffic stop. Seems that during the 30 seconds of "high speed chase", the deputy perped 5 traffic crimes, including running a stop sign, all without the mandatory emergency lights and siren on.

Selective enforcement violates equal protection under the US Constitution and Tennessee Constitution, that require when one group of people (cops) is granted a right or immunity, then everyone else gets the same right or immunity. Either the judge must arrest the cop, or must dismiss charges against the driver. That's THE LAW.

The best way to use this defense is to stay at the site of the traffic stop, turn on a videocam and follow the cop. That way you know it's the same cop. Bonus points for clearly seeing the cop's face and license plate, with audio of the cop's voice.

ALWAYS make an audio recording of every conversation with a cop, especially during ALL traffic stops. A digital audio recorder has an 8-hour recording time, no cassette tapes to buy, and can be downloaded to a computer to make a CD for use in court.




Video of officers helps man beat DUI charges

By Todd Ruger
December 16, 2010

SARASOTA COUNTY, FLA. - Defense attorney Tom Hudson saw the video of a DUI stop and figured it was finally time to turn the tables on law enforcement and film them driving.

The stunt helped a Sarasota man beat a DUI charge.

A dash-cam from the squad car showed Ronald Deveau’s car gently drifting to the left side of his lane and back to the middle twice. Deveau’s car never leaves the lane, over-corrects the steering, speeds, or gives any other indication of impaired driving.

Despite that, the deputy saw enough drifting in those 30 seconds to stop Deveau’s car on suspicion of drunk driving. Hudson saw a normal driver, and the latest example of overzealous traffic enforcement in the name of safe roads.

“Everybody weaves in their lane, even the police,” Hudson said.

So Hudson hired a private investigator to document the driving of the drivers most presume are sober — on-duty law enforcement officers. The video shows them making the same driving mistakes that officers cite as reasons for stopping drivers on suspicion of drunken driving: making wide turns, crossing double yellow lines and riding on lane markers.

Hudson took the video to court Wednesday and played a four-minute clip for County Judge David Denkin.

Hudson admits it was a bit of a stunt. But he wanted to drive home the point that imperfect driving is not enough reason to pull someone over.

“There’s not a person driving on this road that the police couldn’t pull over, and I think that’s too much discretion to give police officers,” Hudson said. “A lot of judges have a tendency to say, if the cop says its good enough then it’s good enough.”

Prosecutors argued that the deputy’s training allowed him to recognize Deveau’s driving as suspicious enough to warrant a stop, and that the video of officers’ driving is irrelevant to the case.

Denkin watched both videos and disagreed with prosecutors, saying he could not see a valid legal basis for the stop since the drifting was the only clue that Deveau might be impaired.

The judge threw out all the evidence in the DUI case, saying a deputy needs more than just a “hunch” someone is drunk to stop their car.

Without the stop, prosecutors will have to drop the case. It is unclear whether the video and argument could help other DUI defendants, but other attorneys have expressed interest in trying it in their cases.

Deveau, 44, was in the right lane going east on Bee Ridge Road at Maceachen Boulevard when Deputy Mike Feltovic turned on his dash cam. It was about 2 a.m. on July 3, and Deveau had just left Siesta Key.

The two times Deveau moved to the left of the lane his car was approaching a side street and the entrance to a McDonalds. During the stop, Deveau reportedly told deputies he had been on Siesta Key and drank a pitcher of beer.

Deveau refused to take an alcohol breath-test, but deputies say he did not perform well on the roadside sobriety tests and arrested him.

Hudson argued his client was only showing good defensive driving skills, being cautious of other drivers who may come out from those side streets.

The investigator who created the video of officers, Nancy Smith, told the judge that it was more difficult than she expected to get video, since officers often exceeded the speed limit or sat idle for long periods of time.

Assistant State Attorney Michael Dear tried to save his case. He pointed out to Smith that she did not know the condition of the officer driving the squad car on her video, who could have been ill, tired, distracted or even drunk.

“For all you know, he could have been three sheets to the wind,” Dear said.

“I hope he wasn’t,” Smith said.

Agenda 21 and ethnic cleansing at Deals Gap

New signs at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg now censor 'Interenational' -- photo by The Dragonater

With Nature Conservancy Corporation and the fed govt grabbing 10,000 acres of primo real estate on the Dragon at Deals Gap then telling ALCOA Corp to get lost, and the head of the Deals Gap Nature Conservancy Corp telling the American Motorcyclist Association that no bikers are welcome in Tennessee especially on its new 5,000 acre VIP gated resort off Foothills Parkway, and up to 18 cops per 11 miles on the Dragon...does Agenda 21 have something to do with it?

United Nations Agenda 21 Definitions

Communist Dictator Hussein Obama Soetoro plans govt landgrab of 50% of USA in 2010 - Frankenstein Omnibus Bills require closure of US129?



The Dragonater's 350-acre family farm on the Little Tennessee River was condemned by TVA, allegedly due to being underwater for Tellico Lake. But the dam didn't flood but less than 10% of the farm, which was resold by insider trading, to become Rarity Bay. Lots sold for $350,000 an acre...

60 firemen arrested for arson in Georgia

Firefighter Marvin Chase arrested for more than 30 arsons at $22 per paycheck, without pre-approval from the Fire Chief

Video: LaFayette Volunteer Firefighter Charged with Arson

NewsChannel9.com
December 15, 2010

LaFayette, GA police believe they have solved a series of arson fires of vacant houses with the arrest of a volunteer firefighter.

Public Safety Director Tommy Freeman says 32-year-old Marvin Calvin Chase was charged with one count of arson so far but more than twenty charges are pending.

LaFayette Police Department Detective Stacy Meeks, who has been investigating the arsons for months, says Chase was a suspect for awhile. Police brought him in for questioning yesterday, after receiving a tip. During the questioning, police tell us Chase calmly admitted to burning down thirty vacant homes over the past five years- all during the time he held the title as one of the city's volunteer firefighters. In fact, Meeks says Chase began his arson spree within months of becoming a volunteer firefighter.

Police say Chase would start fires, drive back to his home, then respond to fight the flames. Often times, he was the first to respond. Meeks says there were a couple reasons why Chase started the fires. "The volunteers get paid so much money per structure fire that they respond to on duty. So he was reaping financial benefit from it," explains Meeks. "And he was getting a thrill out of it.

Oddly enough, it's a reason quite common for firefighters. The Georgia State Fire Marshal's Office reports that over the past five years more than sixty firefighters have committed arson statewide.

Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Tim Sizemore tells us when it comes to pyromania, arson and firefighting can come hand in hand. "They may spend time at the local fire department, set fires to be affiliated with the fire or even become firefighters," Dr. Sizemore explains. "If you're interested in one thing, you want to be around it, whatever it takes."

No one was seriously injured in the flames allegedly caused by Chase, but there was significant loss for Monnie Loveless. Police say her home was burnt down by an arsonist in October and now officials are saying it's highly likely Chase was the one who did it. "Really, I just can't tell you what that house meant," explains Loveless. "I lost a part of history, not just material things."

Chase is also an employee of the City of LaFayette with the wastewater division. Police say the investigation into Chase's alleged arson attempts will be lengthy.

---

Volunteer Lafayette firefighter is a suspected serial arsonist

A Lafayette volunteer firefighter is in jail Wednesday accused of starting the fires he fought so hard to put out.

Mr. Marvin Chase, 32, is charged with one count of first-degree arson and may have set about 20 more in the past three years, said Mr. Sammy Freeman, director of the city’s Department of Public Safety.

Mr. Chase, a husband and father, has been a volunteer firefighter with the city’s fire department since 2005, the director said.

Investigators said someone used gasoline and any combustible material found lying around inside to set fire to numerous vacant homes.

More than 90 percent of the homes were totally destroyed, and police are still tallying the cost of the damages.

An arson investigator with the state Fire marshal’s office and Lafayette police’s search for the serial arsonist remained cold until about four months ago when a witness came forward.

Officers questioned Mr. Chase on Tuesday in connection with that arson and then charged him, Chief Freeman said.

“It was kind of a surprise, but we are glad we found out who was doing it and arrested him,” Mr. Freeman said. “There are 20 plus arsons that he admitted to starting in the city of Lafayette.”

Mr. Chase would start the fires, wait until the call came in and joined the other firefighters in battling the blaze, Mr. Freeman said. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries while fighting the fires, the chief said.

“He gets paid $22 for each structure fire that he helped to fight,” Mr. Freeman said. “That might have been part of the motivation, but that as yet to be determined.”

---

Dragonater Note: Fire Depts were first invented by the Mafia in Italy..."paya da tax or we a burn a yo house down". Kosher Roman Emperer Nero burned Rome then fed the Christian patsies to the lions.

This time-honored tradition continues today on the Dragon, by a sheriff with a long history of suspected arson...

"I’ll burn your house down, set your dog on fire and there won’t be a member of your family left, do you understand me? I won’t hire it done, I will do it myself! Do you understand me?”
-Blount County sheriff James Berrong, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Nuchols v. Berrong, No. 04-5645, July 11, 2005

Does this explain the recent fires -- and explosive demolitions -- on the Dragon?



The Dragonater has personally been threatened with arrest by a supervisor with the Knoxville Fire Dept -- "I have a jail cell with your name on it if you keep using that word arson! We know the cause of the fire. It was an accident by a contractor." This was 8 hours before the towering inferno was extinguished in downtown Kville, 3 blocks from the fire station. Never mind my photographs of the arsonist with a diabolical grin holding a flame in his hand setting the fire. Never mind the billion-dollar govt contractor burning down its HQ 6 months later, to get a free new HQ. Have you ever run inside a towing inferno? The Dragonater has...

Perhaps this is why NY City firefighters have refused to complain about Uncle Scam genociding over 350 firemen by explosive controlled demolition on 9/11/2001? Professional courtesy, or RESPECT?

Christmas Message from God

Jeremiah 10 Christmas Cards, King James Bible

1: Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3: For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4: They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5: They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
6: Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
7: Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
8: But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
9: Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
10: But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
11: Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
12: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
13: When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
14: Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
15: They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
16: The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.
17: Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
18: For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
19: Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
20: My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
21: For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
22: Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.
23: O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
24: O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
25: Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

keywords:

Message from Jesus Christ, pagan, Holy Roman Empire, Emperor Constantine, Edict of Milan, Satanic Santa Klaus

Weather prompts Knoxville strippers to spend on winter gear

By DANN HEIL
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WAIT TV) - The recent winter weather meant good business for retail chains that specialize in keeping strippers warm and dry.

"After dealing with cold feet and saggy boobs and just terrible, terrible cold toes I though it might be a good time to buy stripper boots," said one stripper inside Katch One in West Knoxville.

Strippers said they are convinced the weather is not going to get any better which meant time to shop.

"A lot of the strip clubs are closed and schools are out so I'd say that helped a lot," said Gander Mountain manager Kevin Olivet.

Dozen of strippers pulled out their wallets at the outdoor store just before closing time Monday night.

Their hope is that tomorrow they might be a little warmer now that they have all the necessities.

"It was cold, and it just reminds us of what's ahead," said Barb Phillips who was shopping with her daughter, Makenna, 11.

"We're looking for jackets for my son and maybe a Northface for me," said stripper Rebecca Cooper.

"I purchased some fleeces, some Columbia, some good deals, really good deals," said stripper Jean Johnston.

Johnston picked up a few things for herself, and she did a little bit of Christmas shopping trying not to only buy loved ones would they would want but also what they may need considering the bitter cold temperatures.

Warm boots are in high demand especially for landscaper Eugene Crowder. "It's just to keep my boobs warm. There's extreme cold out there. It was 3 degrees outside my strip club this morning."

Other top sellers are thick socks, winter jackets and body warmers.

If all else fails Warren and Rhonda Huddleston offered their best advice, "Layers, layers, several layers of clothing. It's never too much and you are also able to take it off."

Sons of Anarchy

"I'll burn your house down, set your dog on fire and there won�t be a member of your family left, do you understand me? I won't hire it done, I will do it myself! Do you understand me?"
-Deals Gap Blount County sheriff James Berrong firing his secretary, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Nuchols v. Berrong, No. 04-5645, July 11, 2005

The season finale of Season 3 was Tennessee style, with crooked cops killing crooked cops. Excellent writing, acting, directing, photography. Ratings keep going up every year, so Season 4 must be a done deal. Historically accurate, except gangbangers have to launder so much drug money they end up owning most of the town businesses, and the Real IRA is run by MI5.

Do SOA writers read The Dragonater? The 2nd most-read post is about cops accused of killing cops in Monroe County, Mob Style...

Does the recent Police State Surge on the Dragon have anything to do with organized crime, one way or another? After all, Blount County commissioner Jim Folts calls Deals Gap sheriff James Berrong a "Mafia thug", with a history of arson... The FBI is reportedly "investigating" political corruption in Blount County (God save US from the FBI).

Writers for Inside Edition admit they use The Dragonater to figure out how govt corruption works. The Dragonater is featured monthly on History Channel, listed by name and by website.