Sundries:
On this file I’ll post random information that is of
interest to visitors.
Washington DC
has become notorious for its strict traffic law enforcement with cameras. The
District of Columbia Police Department is now willing (as of Feb 2006) to publish
the locations of cameras and other information on the Internet. So no one is
trying to get past law enforcement. If you drive in the District, review these
links and beware!
DC Red light cameras
http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1240,q,548257,mpdcNav_GID,1552,mpdcNav,%7C31885%7C.asp
Tips for motorists in
Washington DC,
called by the AAA the strictest traffic
enforcement jurisdiction in the nation:
There is an extra light at 3rd
St NE on New York Ave,
just before New Jersey Ave,
to allow Metro Transit busses to enter. If it is red, you must stop at the
extra line, about 40 feet or so before NJ avenue, or you could be
ticketed. It may be confusing and hard
to see.
On North Capitol Street,
just above Rhode Island Ave.,
there is a signal that sometimes blinks yellow (proceed with caution) and
suddenly changes to yellow and red without going through green (so that the
motorist realizes that this is a normal light to be obeyed. If you see a
blinking yellow light in the District, be aware that it could change to red
suddenly.
The standard speed limit is 25 mph (unless otherwise
marked), which applies on some divided streets (MacArthur Blvd) that may seem
unreasonably low to some motorists, but speed cameras do enforce these. Some
portions of I-395 are just 40 mph.
DC Speed cameras
(fixed and mobile)
http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1240,q,548201,mpdcNav_GID,1552,mpdcNav,|31886|.asp
I hope this fits a libertarian spirit.
VA and MD
Maryland is
using red light and speed cameras in Montgomery
County and I believe Baltimore.
Maryland is emphasizing
residential areas and especially intersections near schools.
Virginia has
approved reintroducing cameras, which are slowly phasing in. In Arlington,
the strictest speed enforcement seems to be on Carlin
Springs Road, George
Mason Blvd, and Lee Highway.
Northern
VA Remote Emissions
Testing
In Northern Virginia, the state is conducting roving random
laser emissions inspections, and mailing drivers who fail notices requiring emissions
testing and repair within 30 days, despite the fact that the normal emissions
cycle testing in northern Virginia is every two years. It would not be
surprising that DC and Maryland
follow suit soon. Several high-tech companies (check Google) make this
equipment. Story the the DC Examiner by Christie
Goodman (July 20, 2006):
http://www.examiner.com/a-184399~Drivers_could_face_hundreds_of_dollars_in_fines.html
Here is the official Department of Environmental Quality
Regulation: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/air/pdf/airregs/C091.pdf A search of “remote
emissions testing” on the DEQ site does not yet return results.
The DMV rules do not yet mention remote emissions: http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/citizen/vehicles/emissions.asp
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