THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Wednesday February 2, 2011
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Happy Ground Hog Day!
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
.
Squawk Box
F
Big Brother is here
Par t II
Traffic Cameras, Continued from 1-26-11
Some argue that slight increases
in the duration of yellow lights at intersec-
tions is a more effective and less costly
way to increase traffic safety than safety
cameras. One Dunnellon driver claims that
the duration of the yellow light is actual-
ly shorter by one second since the traffic
light cameras have been placed resulting
in “more violations.” Another driver stated
that he didn’t believe the charges against
him until he went to the Dunnellon Police
Department and viewed their video, which
proved he was guilty.
A seven-year study in six Virgin-
ia jurisdictions led the Virginia Transpor-
tation Research Council to conclude that
traffic cameras were associated with an
increase in rear-end collisions. However,
the use of the traffic cameras was aban-
doned by Norcross, Georgia in 2009, be-
cause violations dropped to the point that
the privately-owned camera systems were
costing the city revenue.
Aerial Photo over Kings Bay - Staff from the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge conducted an aerial survey of manatees on January 24,
The legality of the traffic light
2011. This survey was conducted as part of the statewide synoptic survey coordinated by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis-
cameras has been challenged, and several
sion. A total of 541 manatees was counted along the survey route, stretching from the Suwannee River south to the Weeki Wachee River.
cities in various states have abandoned
“Bath salts” Homosassa Springs postal worker
Chassahowitzka NWR Photo - Continued on page 4.
the use of them due to legal challenges. In
general, those opposed to the cameras say
that they deny alleged violators the right
jailed on scheme to defraud charge
to confront their accusers and violate a
now illegal
person’s rights to privacy and due process.
Many drivers feel victimized by automat-
Homosassa Springs Post
ed monitoring and ticketing, feeling that it
rom Citrus County Sheriff's Dept.
Office on Dec. 14, but the
leaves them with little defense against be-
An employee of the Homosassa
IPD & LSCO have plans to
watch never arrived at its
ing ticketed.
Springs Post Office was arrested by the Cit-
educate community
destination. The couple
Although the tickets generated by
rus County Sheriff’s Office, Jan. 27, charged
Over the coming days, Inglis Police
provided the sales receipt
the camera generally do not add points to
with scheme to defraud (less than $20,000).
Chief Steve Dixon says that the Inglis Police
of the watch, along with a
a person’s driving record, they can effect a
According to the arrest report, on Jan. 5, a
Department, with the assistance of the Levy
copy of the mailing receipt
person’s ability to register their car or ob-
woman filed a complaint about the theft of
County Sheriff’s Office, will work hard to
and the insurance receipt.
tain/renew a license plate.
two gift cards that she’d sent to Illinois by
educate store owners, managers and employ-
The mail receipt showed
At the the Crystal River City
way of U.S. Mail at the Homosassa Springs
ees about the new emergency rule that will
Riggeal
that operator number two
Council meeting, Jan. 24, the council dis-
Post Office. The woman had learned that
add substances containing Methylenedioxy-
performed the post office transaction.
cussed, but took no action, on having the
both cards had been spent, one at the In-
pyrovalerone (“MDPV”), along with Meth-
Another postal customer reported
cameras installed at six major intersec-
verness Walmart on Dec. 22, and the other
ylenedioxymethcathinone (“Methylone”),
the theft of gift cards in the amount of $400
tions to address the running of red lights.
at an unknown location. She had her mail
Methylmethcathinone
(“Mephedrone”),
that were mailed to New York at the Homo-
They discussed that the legality of the
receipt and the purchase receipt of the gift
Methoxymethcathinone and Fluorometh-
sassa Springs Post Office, as the package
red light cameras was addressed by the
cards. The post office receipt showed that
cathinone, commonly known as “bath salts”
containing the gift cards had never reached
Florida Legislature in several provisions
operator number two performed the post of-
to the schedule of controlled substances.
its destination. The customer’s mail receipt
of HB325, which went into effect in July
fice transaction.
The new rule was announced by Florida At-
showed that operator number two performed
2010. One camera vendor, ATS, has de-
On Jan. 20, two people reported the
torney General Pam Bondi on Jan. 26.
the post office transaction.
veloped a statistical model called Site Lo-
theft of a Rolex watch they had purchased
To help, members of the Inglis Po-
According to her arrest report, op-
cation System, or SLS, and will submit
by mail at a local jewelry store. They paid
lice Department will visit stores throughout
erator number two at the Homosassa Springs
cost estimates for two options, one which
$4,000 for the watch, which was appraised
the Town of Inglis to educate store owners
Post Office is 50 year-old Ruth Paris Rig-
assumes the City would not enforce right
at $9,000. The couple’s check was mailed to
and managers on the legal and illegal ele-
geal, 221 W. Sugarmaple Ln, Beverly Hills.
on red light violations and one which as-
the jeweler on Dec. 10, and the watch was
ments of having the bath salts. Officers will
Continued on page 2 - Squawk Box
mailed by the jewelry store owner at the
Continued on page 3 -Bath Salts
Continued on page 3 -Scheme to Defraud