Cities of Phoenix and Tempe re-start photo enforcement

The city administration last year produced this look at the impact of automated traffic enforcement devices when they were deployed in Phoenix between 2011-2019 – and what happened after the council shut down the program.
(File graphic; Ahwatukee Foothill News)

What goes around comes around? After ending all photo enforcement several years ago, the Cities of Phoenix will soon re-start and Tempe started a month ago.

 

And behind the scenes, the Republican controlled legislature has tried and failed year-after-year-after-year, for over a decade, to ban all photo enforcement anywhere in Arizona. Some years, the ban gets passed, and the governor (when Democrat) vetoes it. Most recently, Democrat gov Hobbs vetoed it (twice if i recall correctly). Other years, the bill dies, saving the embarrassment of having a Republican governor from vetoing it (e.g. SB1419 in 2021).  Continue reading “Cities of Phoenix and Tempe re-start photo enforcement”

Arizona Legislative Immunity, yes again

The drama about the legislative session is that legislators finally produced a budget, and that was signed by the governor, thus averting a state government shutdown.

Now that the legislative session is over, we can ask/ponder a bunch of questions regarding Legislative Immunity (scroll down to the original article for references): Continue reading “Arizona Legislative Immunity, yes again”

Magnus White’s killer sentenced to prison

In a Colorado case that garnered national attention, the driver who killed pro cyclist Magnus White was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

The driver who hit and killed Magnus told Colorado State Patrol investigators on the scene that she had an issue with her steering that caused her to veer off the road. Colorado State Patrol told CBS Colorado there were no indicators of impairment, and she was never tested for any substances.
“The very first thing that Colorado State Patrol said to us was the driver did everything right,” said Jill. “That raised a question mark in our heads. ‘Really? Our son is dead. How did the driver do everything right?'”
Text messages and cell phone videos presented at trial revealed that the driver, 24-year-old Yeva Smilianska, had been drinking, washing down prescription medications with whiskey, and staying up until the early morning hours the day of the crash. — CBS News

Yikes, police initially said “driver did everything right”. Phew. I wonder how they (the police?) dug up all this evidence? Continue reading “Magnus White’s killer sentenced to prison”

What happens when a Waymo is at fault in a crash?

On May 1, 2025, AZfamily’s investigative reporter Derek Staal did a piece about Waymo; it of course piqued my interest… What happens when a Waymo is at fault in a crash? , here’s an excerpt

Federal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows Waymo vehicles were involved in at least 202 crashes in Arizona between 2021 and 2024, ranging from minor scrapes and door dings to 31 crashes that resulted in injuries. But the records are heavily redacted and do not indicate who was at fault.

Arizona’s Family Investigates spent six months collecting and reviewing police reports on Waymo crashes in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, Mesa and Tempe. Of the 71 police-documented crashes involving Waymos, officers determined the self-driving car was not at fault 87% of the time. In 13% of cases, however, police blamed the Waymo vehicle.

Continue reading “What happens when a Waymo is at fault in a crash?”

Vision Zero is trying to take away our gas stoves

Arizona has had a significant increase in traffic deaths over the past 10 years or so… where deaths were around 800/yr in the period 2010-2014; they had increased to nearly 1,000 pre-pandemic (2019). Deaths spiked in 2020 and again 2021 with various pandemic-related excuses. Deaths in 2023 stand at 1307. So a 60% increase, far outstripping population growth. Details at [1] Continue reading “Vision Zero is trying to take away our gas stoves”

Jogger killed by hit and run pickup driver in New River takes plea

surveillance image of suspect vehicle. source: MSCO

Feb. 24, 2024 around 10am. eastbound Cloud near 7th Ave, New River. Pedestrian (jogger) killed.

The driver of a massive pickup truck was somehow driving along the shoulder when they struck and killed a jogger. Cloud Road there is a two lane road with a massively wide gravel shoulder (the google street view of Feb ’25 shows the Mancuso’s memorial). It is highly unlikely a jogger jogging along Cloud Road would be anywhere near the fog line. Anyway, here’s azfamily’s account of crash, which is helpful in understanding the timeline of events: Continue reading “Jogger killed by hit and run pickup driver in New River takes plea”

What’s going on with Scottsdale?

Scottsdale City Council repeals ‘sustainability plan’

Jan 11, 2025 As noted by Bike Scottsdale: “The plan doesn’t just benefit our environment—it improves healthier streets for pedestrians and cyclists, cooler neighborhoods with tree canopy and shade, and better air quality for everyone. Repealing it would waste taxpayer dollars and undermine years of effort to build a vibrant, resilient future for all Scottsdale residents and visitors” Continue reading “What’s going on with Scottsdale?”

Habitual bad driver in jail (for now)

Man charged in deadly US 60 crash will not be released from jail before trial. Case lookup reveals around TWENTY driving violations over the last ten years or so: speeding, bad lane change, etc, always including no license, no insurance… apparently escaped any sort significant punishment for his ongoing crimes.

Continue reading “Habitual bad driver in jail (for now)”

13-year-old dies nearly 2 weeks after hit-and-run in Glendale

47th and Northern Avenues: google maps

4/11/2024 bicyclist NB crosswalk 47th Ave was struck by an suv driver WB on Northern Ave. The bicyclists, 13 yo Elias Bizzle. The crash database indicate the bicyclist was crossing against the signal.

Police say the driver is 27 yo Joshua Holbert who according to police and court records fled the scene and then tried to hide his damaged vehicle, which was tracked down by using available surveillance video.

Hit and run w/fatal is a felony regardless of fault, but is often results in rather light sentences. He has a 2020 drugs case in Superior Court that might have had something to do with why he fled(?)

Later new reporting claims the suspect “has a history of reckless driving”; we don’t know what that’s about.

Northern Ave is pretty ugly; there are three westbound through lanes (two eastbound). 47th is a collector.

Continue reading “13-year-old dies nearly 2 weeks after hit-and-run in Glendale”

Bicyclist killed in Phoenix crash; driver suspected of impairment, speeding

8/12/2024 11:35p Cave creek near Dynamite.

Phoenix police are for whatever reason keeping the name of the driver a secret. This was 6 months ago; why no follow up? was anyone ever charged? good luck finding out because PPD won’t say.

This is way out there; I would have thought this was Scottsdale, but it’s city of Phoenix. The underage (for alcohol) driver is suspected of excessive speed and impairment; he may or may hot have been arrested(?). (Police normally release the name of someone who’s been arrested; investigation is ongoing in either case; whatever, not having the name of the suspect makes it difficult to look up outcomes. See this one for a driver who was arrested but name was never released; I had to dig it up by buying the police report)(orthisone.Whyasecret?) Continue reading “Bicyclist killed in Phoenix crash; driver suspected of impairment, speeding”

Tempe teen bicyclist hurt after crash with alleged red light runner

McClintock at Watson. (Watson is just north of Guadalupe). It appears driver ran a red along McClintock while the teen cyclist was crossing in a crosswalk at Watson. https://www.azfamily.com/video/2025/02/09/teen-bicyclist-hurt-after-crash-with-alleged-red-light-runner/

Recall that Jay fretz was killed in 2010 by a red light runner along McClintock at Alameda. https://azbikelaw.org/commuter-cyclist-killed-in-tempe/

Bicyclist struck and killed ‘crossing’ Van Buren

2025-02-11 856p Bicyclist was struck by an eastbound driver while ‘crossing’ Van Buren in the vicinity of 19th Ave, Phoenix.

While the term ‘crossing’ is confusing with regard to a bicyclist; it implies the bicyclist was behaving as a pedestrian (“pedestrian on wheels”), rather than operating vehicularly which may or may not be true. This area (sample location) has a profusion of driveways where vehicles (or bicyclists) may enter the roadway but only after yielding to traffic moving along the street (Van Buren). It makes little or no difference in determining fault; I  point it out only because it makes it harder to categorize the crash… and Phoenix in particular does seem to have a lot of such crashes resulting in bicyclist fatalities.
Continue reading “Bicyclist struck and killed ‘crossing’ Van Buren”