millerboycott.com

If only this cop was the rare exception to the norm.  What makes it newsworthy is that the prosecutors finally did something about this one….

Transferred for Bad DUI Arrests, Pinellas Deputy Fighting to Get Old Job Back

Largo, FL.  July 30 – Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy John Hubbard is fighting to get his old job back after being transferred from patrol to bailiff last year.

That happened after an internal affairs investigation determined Hubbard’s DUI investigations "lacked important/sufficient information to prosecute the cases."

"Upon review of the COBAN videos relating to several of your DUI cases, you were found to be demeaning and abrasive towards citizens," Hubbard was told in a disciplinary memo. "… During meetings with Assistant State Attorneys, you made inappropriate and unprofessional comments."

Hubbard is appealing those findings and has a hearing scheduled for Aug. 9. He told Bay News 9 there are many reasons why he wants to get back to "keeping the streets safe."

“One, I’m very effective there, and two, I make a lot more money,” Hubbard said. “I had a take-home car, which was taken from me. I made 10 percent differential and I made a lot of overtime.”

According to an inter-office disciplinary memo, Hubbard was also suspended for 160 hours and had to undergo a fitness-for-duty evaluation.

Internal affairs officials investigated 38 arrests deputy Hubbard made between January 2010 and June 2011, all but one of which was for DUI. In 24 of those cases, the investigation found, the DUI charge was either dropped or reduced because either the suspect’s blood-alcohol content was barely at or under the legal limit of .08 or the driver refused the tests after interacting with Hubbard…

According to the report, internal affairs began investigating Hubbard when the assistant state attorney in charge of misdemeanors at the time, Holly Grissinger, called Lt. Glenn Luben at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and notified him of a list of cases that were "either refusals or a low blow."…

Grissinger said prosecutors were not comfortable playing Hubbard’s videos for a jury because of Hubbard’s demeanor, according to the deposition.

"I felt that if those videos were broadcast, if the public saw those videos, that they would have a huge problem with his behavior and how he treated the people during a criminal investigation, whether they should have been arrested or not," she said…

Internal affairs investigators interviewed a couple more assistant state attorneys who complained about Hubbard.

According to the report, while assistant state attorney Dyana Sisti and Hubbard were watching a video together of a woman he arrested for DUI, the deputy said, “Yeah, yeah, shake your (expletive) honey,” as the woman stood in front of the cruiser…

According to the report, assistant state attorney Tony Carlow told investigators Hubbard told him he relies solely on the HGN test to determine sobriety in all his DUI investigations. "He does not care about the outcome of the field sobriety exercises," Carlow is quoted as saying…

During the investigated period, the report found, Hubbard arrested six drivers for DUI whose blood-alcohol content was under .08 and urine tests results for drugs came back clean. On the videos, Hubbard can be seen telling three of those drivers he believes they’re impaired based on their eyes.

"Well, the HGN that I checked your eyes … you miserably failed that," Hubbard said to one of those drivers.

According to the report, DUI expert Capt. Teresa Dioquino and Carlow both said Hubbard was doing the HGN test wrong.

“Deputy Hubbard is moving his pen from side to side too quickly to do the test properly,” Carlow said…

“I do feel like I do know what I’m doing,” Hubbard said. “I can check your eyes, a lot of people’s eyes, and I can tell … if it’s alcohol only and what their breath result will be.”

Dioquino, however, doesn’t agree.

"The training deficiencies are quite evident," she said…

This is the second time Hubbard has been demoted in his 24-year career with the sheriff’s office. According to reports, Hubbard was demoted from sergeant to patrol deputy in 2009 after it was determined he created a hostile work environment…

Sounds like this cop creates a hostile investigating environment, too.
  

DUI BLOG

A bill proposed by Minnesota state representative Phyllis Khan (DFL-Minneapolis) would enable 18-year-olds to consume alcohol in bars and restaurants but not purchase liquor in stores. Kahn speaks of her motive for proposing this bill:

I’m totally appalled by people going out on their 21st birthday and getting totally smashed.

Khan also argues that the 21-year-old drinking age has led to higher rates of binge drinking. Read the full article on Khan’s bill and reactions from college students here.

Choose Responsibility Blog

Governor Rick Scott and other legislators are currently supporting HB 119, a proposed law which would require anyone injured in a Florida car accident to seek an evaluation at a hospital or clinic. The proposed law is aimed to help reduce the instances of insurance fraud, which according to the Insurance Institute total billion annually. Florida has been noted to be one of the leading locations in the country for insurance fraud, with more instances of car insurance fraud occurring here than anywhere else.

The new proposed law would take aim at insurance fraudsters in a number of ways. The law would limit the choices those injured in car accidents would have about where to seek medical treatment. This is significant because in Florida instances of insurance fraud have been found to involve large networks of unscrupulous doctors and other professionals. Fraudsters work with clinics and medical professionals who overcharge for routine exams and charge for medical exams and treatments not given. Advocates of HB 119 claim the new law would eliminate these medical fraudsters by forcing victims to go to legitimate clinics and hospitals, making it harder for overcharging to work.

There is no doubt that car insurance fraud is a serious problem. In addition to the high cost of fraud – which is passed down to all drivers in the form of increased insurance premiums – insurance fraud in Florida can be a threat to public safety, as well. In some cases, fraudsters cause a minor accident, such as a rear-end collision – in order to claim an injury. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous game, and bystanders could be seriously injured in Medley car accidents or Medley pedestrian accidents caused by a fraudster looking to cause an accident in order to make a fraudulent claim.

In addition, the instances of insurance fraud in the state are negatively affecting those who are legitimately injured in Florida traffic accidents. Some residents of Medley, for example, find that their claims are treated with some suspicion and it can take some time for legitimate claimants to get their claim amounts, even if they are genuinely injured. Some victims have worked with Medley personal injury attorneys to negotiate with insurance carriers in order to ensure a fair, on-time claim recovery.

Opponents of the law, however, claim that the new law might not be the best solution. They point out that not every car accident victim with a minor injury can afford a visit to a hospital emergency room or a clinic, and this will especially be a cost concern for those without insurance. They also note that those who really want to defraud the system will still find ways to do so. Further, opponents of the bill have expressed concerns that having car accident victims with minor injuries report to hospital emergency rooms could potentially clog up emergency departments and make it harder for those who are seriously ill to get medical care.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Currently, Florida is one of only three states with no booster seat laws. Most other states have legislation in place making it mandatory for parents to place children over the age of four in booster seats. California has one of the toughest laws, requiring children over the age of four to use booster seats until they are 4 feet 9 inches high or until they are eight years old (whichever comes first). The car club AAA and legislators have been pressuring Florida to pass a booster seat law, arguing that such legislation would help prevent injuries to children involved in car accidents.

The idea behind age-appropriate safety restraints is based on the premise that car safety systems – including car seat belts and air bags – are designed for adults. In fact, these same safety systems, which can help prevent an Aventura brain injury for an adult victim of a car accident, can be life-threatening to children. Since children are smaller, air bags that deflate in an accident can easily suffocate them or cause head injuries. In an Aventura car accident, seat belts can cut into a child’s neck and cause serious injuries. That is why age-appropriate safety restraints are needed.

However, the laws surrounding child safety restraints can be confusing. Small babies are placed in rear-facing infant car seat. Eventually, a child is graduated to a harnessed rear-facing seat and then to a forward-facing seat. However, when children should move from one restraint system to another is not entirely clear. Car seats are based on height, weight, and the age of a child. Since children grow at very varied rates, a child may exceed the weight measurements for a safety seat but still meet the age and height requirements for a different seat. This can be quite confusing to parents trying to make the safest choice for their children.

Most experts agree that children at some point should be placed in a booster seat. This is a cushion that elevates the child so that airbags and seatbelts cannot harm the child in the event of an accident. Some booster seats also come with backrests and armrests. All models are strapped into the car with the car’s seat belt. However, there is a wide range of disagreement about how long a child should be placed in a booster seat. Georgia has a law requiring all children between the ages of four and eight to be placed in a booster seat while in a car. Some experts, however, argue that children do not fit correctly and safely into an adult seat belt until they are ten or even twelve years old.

An adult seat belt that fits correctly goes across the thighs. If a seatbelt cuts across the stomach, as it does on many children, and the car is involved in an Aventura car accident, the belt can cause internal injuries. The upper part of the seat belt should be positioned across cross the center of the wearer’s chest. For smaller adults and children, the seat belt cuts across the neck, potentially causing life-threatening injuries if the car is in an Aventura traffic accident. A booster seat raises a child so that the seat belt is positioned safely. Models with head rests and back rests also cushion the head and protect it in an accident. According to SafetyBeltSafe USA, correct booster seat use for a child who does not fit correctly into a seat with a seatbelt can help reduce childhood Aventura personal injuries by as much as 45 percent in the event of an accident.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Between 2000 and 2010, the number of fatal Florida car collisions has dropped. In 2002, 3,143 individuals were killed in Florida car accidents. By 2010, that number had declined to 2,563. This is despite the fact that the population of the state has climbed 18 percent and despite the fact that during this period drivers have been more distracted than ever before, with DVD players, GPS devices, texting, mobile devices, and other technology.

In 1995, only about 13 percent of Americans owned cell phones. Today, 80 percent of Americans own them, and this has led to quite a debate about cell phone safety behind the wheel. Many studies have been done proving that cell phone use while driving is risky and increases the risk of a car accident. However, there is no doubt that overall traffic fatalities have been dropping.

What is going on?

Part of the answer may lie in the fact that highway safety systems and laws have improved in the same time period. Seat belt laws, for example, have become stricter in the past two years. Now, police can give out tickets if a driver is not wearing a seatbelt. In fact, drivers can now be pulled over even if that is their only violation.

However, does that mean that drivers are safer – even with cell phones and mobile devices – or do the numbers hide the dangers of distracted driving? Even cell phone companies are advertising that drivers should not use their products while driving. A number of bills have been introduced in Florida, which would make texting and driving or cell phone use while driving illegal. However, none of these bills have passed so far. They have certainly created a lot of debate about the topic of distracted driving. Currently, Florida is one of only two states to have no rules at all about mobile device use. The state does not even require the reporting of cell phone use in Florida car accidents.

According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers who text have a 23 times greater risk of being in a car crash than non-distracted drivers. As well, drivers spend an average of 5 seconds looking at mobile devices when using these devices on the road. On a highway, this means that drivers take their eyes off the road for about the length of a football field – plenty of time to cause a Florida pedestrian accident or car crash.

If mobile devices were banned or restricted, would it make Florida roads safer? Those who believe so point to studies like the one completed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Those who disagree with proposed bills point to the dropping rate of Florida car accidents and to other studies, which suggest that car accidents stayed static in states that have passed cell phone bans.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

1. Politicians would not be in the pockets of rich individuals or corporations when deciding what’s best for the people
2. Voters would have to watch debates, read up on the candidates and otherwise become more infomed to make their voting decisions. Less informed voters would either have to get informed, or pass & not vote, which would be one less un-informed vote
3. Less chances of voters deciding based on slick advertising campaigns, which are notoriously deceptive anyway. People shouldn’t be picking their candidate the same way the pick their laundry detergent, should they?
4. We would do away with an insane waste of money which could be better used just about anywhere else
5. We wouldn’t have to listen to campaign ads 24/7 or deal with road sign pollution.

Just a little theory of mine. What are your thoughts?

That’s my theory, but I’ll let you share it:

One of the greatest atrocities in the U.S. is that our "elected" officials can be swayed by campaign financing from lobbyists of large companies with a vested interest (cigarette, automakers, banks, pharmaceutical, defense contractors, you name it). If they give a large enough amount of money to a senator’s campaign, you KNOW that senator will be "inclined" to vote in favor of any bill that will favor that company or industry.

If you agree that "pay-to-play" is not fair, write your federal Congressmen, and the President, and ask them to sponsor a bill to restrict campaign contributions from any single person or company (maybe 0?) . To enact this, one alternative might be for the government to give anyone who wants to run a set amount of money (say million for a congressional seat and million for President). Then they would all have the same amount of money to spend on advertising, and not be beholden to anyone for votes.

Also, term limits (maybe 12 years) on Congressmen would prevent them from becoming so powerful and potentially corrupt.

Or, does anyone have a better idea?
Thanks.

Political Campaign Advertising

Artifacts meaning anything from movies, advertising campaign, political speeches, books, etc. that would relate to communications: eloquence, gender communication, language identity, relational comm, etc.

I’m not sure I understand your objective. I’ve always understood artifacts as being the supporting materials in the creation of a media projects.

For an ad campaign, artifacts might include storyboards, props, scripts or copy summaries.

For a web site, artifacts would include sitemaps, task flowcharts, storyboards, wireframes and Photoshop comps.

Please clarify your request by giving an example.

Political Campaign Advertising

Cash Crunch: Senate Dems Scale Back Ad Campaign in Pennsylvania

According to a source in Pennsylvania who tracks television advertising by political campaigns, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee bought only 0,000 in TV ads this week in Pennsylvania–about a 50 percent drop from the 0,000 or more the DSCC has been spending on TV ads each week for the past five weeks in the state.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/09/29/cash-crunch-senate-dems-scale-back-ad-campaign-in-pennsylvania/#ixzz10×7Xt4We

PollDateSampleToomey (R)Sestak (D)Spread
RCP Average9/15 – 9/27–46.339.8Toomey +6.5

Sestak must be really proud to have Obama campaign for him.

Who’s next?

Why not ask me if I need a big case of smallpox?

Political Campaign Advertising

Christine Roberton was prepared for the sentence. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept.

Winnipeg Sun – Manitoba

John Quiñones Co-Anchor of ABC News Magazine show Primetime has been hosting a segment called “What would you do?” which tests how individuals respond to ethical dilemmas through hidden camera scenarios. Last Friday night, his test involved a woman asking passerbys to blow into a ignition interlock for her.

The segment perpetuated some common misnomers:

• Blowing into the device isn’t simple. It usually involves performance of a specific sequence of exercises that are taught to offenders and not easily replicated to just any passerby.
• Many new devices include cameras. The device takes a picture of the person blowing into the device. This information is transmitted to probation officers as part of their monthly report.
• Most devices require running retests. Driver must often provide breath tests at regular intervals, preventing drivers from asking a sober friend to start the car. If a driver fails a running retest, the vehicle’s horn will honk and/or the lights will flash to alert law enforcement.

The failure to make these points aside, the segment provided stunning proof that some people still treat drunk driving cavalierly. It also proved that laws and enforcement of those laws remain a major deterrent to this crime.

Blog to Eliminate Drunk Driving