Driving in Arizona

No, this isn’t to let you know where I am. Nor is it to post photos taken on an drive through Arizona.

The masked speeder: Photo-radar scofflaw is a beast at the wheel

Speed-camera photos of the man in the monkey and giraffe masks have generated lots of chuckles. But the cops aren’t laughing.

Dave VonTesmar, 47, started getting the $181.50 tickets last year, but it took Department of Public Safety officials several months to realize the same driver was repeatedly triggering speed cameras and refusing to pay the fines. By the time they did, more than 50 of the tickets had become invalid because the deadline for prosecution had passed.

[…]

In Arizona, people who get photo-enforcement tickets in the mail have four options: agree they were driving and pay the fine; say they weren’t driving and send in their driver’s license photo as proof; request a court date and fight the ticket; simply ignore the ticket because law enforcement can’t prove alleged violators received it. The ticket becomes invalid if a violator who ignores it isn’t served in person within three months.

That last provision is extremely interesting (and amazing) to me. So if I’m driving home to Oregon from a visit to Mexico and get in photo speeding ticket while transiting Arizona, I don’t have to pay it…unless they serve me the ticket in person?

And that’s the way their photo radar law is set up?

Well, anyway, the story continues:

VonTesmar, who said he simply drives with the flow of traffic, said that if the DPS does have surveillance photos of him on the road, it proves he’s not a danger to other drivers. If he were, the DPS would have pulled him over, he said.

Because the speed cameras begin snapping photos of drivers going 11 mph or more over the limit, the backlash against them has been fairly constant. Arizonans have used sticky notes, Silly String and even a pickax to sabotage the cameras.

I am very picky about staying within the speed limit. I believe that’s how Christians should drive. So the presence of photo radar cameras doesn’t affect my driving. Even so, something about their use just doesn’t seem right.

Oh. And if you were a law breaker and got a ticket, pay it.

PS: This guy works as a flight attendant for which airline? Southwest? Their stewards tend to be clowns. I think.

Oh…and another thing: To get to the full story, you’ll need to go to

Good’s Stores and the American Flag

Google alerted me to this story:

Controversy is surrounding a popular general store in Lancaster County because of its decision to not sell American flags.

A number of viewers have contacted News 8 about this decision, wondering if it was true.

News 8 asked employees of Good’s Store about the decision. They said that the owners are of the Anabaptist faith, which includes Mennonites and Amish. Their beliefs follow the teachings of love your enemies and non-violence.

But that statement is not good enough for some of Good’s customers, like Mary Elen Rice, of Holtwood.

She thinks that Good’s should sell the flags no matter what the owners believe.

“They were persecuted from wherever they came from for their religious beliefs. So, they came here for their freedom,” said Rice. “So, they should be proud to be an American, and the flag represents America as far as I’m concerned.”

Rice said that she vows not to shop at Good’s again.

The owners said that they accept any consequences of their faith and respect other people’s viewpoints, but they will not sell the flag.

I strongly and heartily and publicly commend Good’s Stores for their stance on this issue.

I have a question for them, though. The story above is headlined this way by WGAL: Local General Store Stops Sale Of American Flags.

To the folks at Good’s — Is that headline accurate? Having formerly sold American flags, have you discontinued selling them? (Maybe they will reply in the comments below!)

September 11: Eight Years Ago

The Roth Report
US Terror
Report #1

Tuesday, September 11, 2001
7:30 a.m. Pacific

A phone call a few minutes ago alerted me to turn on my radio.

Not much detail yet, but….

New York City and Washington, DC, have been hit by major terrorist strikes.

Hijacked planes crashed into both World Trade Center towers (around 9:00 am Eastern) and into the Pentagon. Possibly also the State Department.

One of the trade center towers collapsed half an hour or so ago.

No-fly zone established in NYC, at least over Manhattan Island. Air force fighters aloft with shoot-down orders.

Nationwide air travel system shut down.

Too early for casualty counts.

Haven’t heard of claims of responsibility.

I used to produce a daily and/or weekly and/or otherwise email news report: The Roth Report. Here are more of that day’s reporting to my subscriber base: Read it all

“Go to a Grocery Store”

That’s what she said to me. 🙄

When she asked, I told the Key Bank account manager who called about two reasons why I was considering switching to West Coast Bank.

One is the fees I have to pay when I use my debit card for cash withdrawals at non-Key banks. I have to pay the ATM bank a fee. I have to pay Key a fee.

The first solution she offered is stated in this post’s title. Yup, that’s right. If there’s no Key Bank in the town where I wish to get cash, go to a grocery store, buy something, pay with my debit card, and get cash back.

Presto! Problem solved. 😯

I was amazed. All I said in reply was that I already do that.

But, seriously, is that a Key-endorsed solution?

Oh well. 😆

At least she’s going to check to see if there’s a free, fee-free checking account option.

But to say to go to a grocery store….

Maybe that will entice me to stay with Key Bank instead of going to West Coast Bank. Ya think? 😉

Above all, love God!

since November 9, 2005