Fatal Motorcycle Accident In Dunedin, Florida

On Saturday, January 30, 2016, a collision occurred at approximately 9:23 p.m. in the area of County Road 1 and Burnham Lane in Dunedin, Florida.  First responders arrived on scene to find a 38-year-old man seriously injured after being ejected from his 2005 Honda VT Motorcycle in a vehicle crash. 

Bayflite was immediately requested to rapidly transport the victim to a local trauma center due to the extent of his injuries.  According to Cristen Smith, Public Information Officer at the Pinellas County Sheriff�s Office (PCSO), the motorcycle rider later died^[1] from his injuries at the hospital.

According to investigators, the 40-year-old Clearwater driver of a 2004 Dodge Durango was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of County Road 1 when he hit a motorcyclist head on.  The investigators also reported that the motorcycle rider was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.  The vehicle driver showed signs of impairment and was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of DUI Manslaughter.

  

Clearwater Motorcycle Statistics

The Florida Highway Safety^[2] and Motor Vehicles provides that in 2013 there were 444 driver motorcycle fatalities.  Of those 444 fatalities, 204 drivers were not wearing helmets.  The department also provides that in 2013 there were 5,734 crashes statewide where alcohol was confirmed to be the cause or a contributing factor. 

Florida Helmet Law

The law in Florida^[3] provides as follows:

�a person over 21 years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle without wearing protective headgear securely fastened upon his or her head if such person is covered by an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle.�

While about half of states have such a partial helmet law, Florida and Michigan are the only states to require medical coverage.  Although the law does not require motorcycle riders over the age of 21 to wear a helmet, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ^[4] Highway Loss Data Institute provides that �because serious head injury is common among fatally injured motorcyclists, helmet use is important. Helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries.�

In 2000, Florida repealed its helmet law. In the 30-months after repeal, the number of riders under 21 who were killed, despite being legally required to wear a helmet, nearly tripled, from 35 to 101, according to the Centers for Disease Control ^[5] and Prevention. During that time, hospitalizations increased by 40 percent, and the cost of treating associated head injuries more than doubled, to $44 million.

According to the Hurt Report, a seminal study of motorcycle collisions completed in 1981, use of a helmet is the single critical factor in the prevention or reduction of head injury. Helmeted riders and passengers had significantly fewer and less serious head and neck injuries.  Additionally, the Hurt Report found no meaningful reduction in traffic sounds, pre-crash visual field, loss of attention or other accident causation related to helmet use. Nor was there any discernable increase in the risk of lower head or neck injuries as a result of helmet use.

Pinellas County Motorcycle Licensing

Motorcycle drivers in Florida must obtain either a motorcycle endorsement on the current driver�s license or a motorcycle-only license in order to operate a motorcycle whose engine is larger than 50 cc. Florida requires motorcycle drivers under the age of 21 to complete a motorcycle safety course before obtaining either the endorsement or the motorcycle license. If a driver is at or over age 21, he or she may opt to take the knowledge and skills test in lieu of the safety course. Though insurance is not required to register motorcycles in Florida, motorcyclists who are involved in an accident in the Sunshine State are liable for property damage and bodily injury incurred during the accident. They must also purchase personal injury insurance in order to keep their motorcycle endorsement and prevent tag suspension on their motorcycle.

Clearwater Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

If you or a loved one were injured in an accident involving a motorcycle, it is important to speak to a Clearwater motorcycle accident attorney.  At the Dolman Law Group, our skilled motorcycle accident attorneys investigate your case and protect your rights under Florida law to make sure you receive all of the compensation to which you are entitled.  Please call our office at 727-451-6900 today.

Dolman Law Group

800 North Belcher Road

Clearwater, FL 3375

(727) 451-6900

https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/motorcycle-accident-attorneys/

References:

[1] http://www.iontb.com/motorcyclist-dead-dunedin-dui-collision/15139

[2] https://firesportal.com/Pages/Public/DHSMVPublishedDocuments/Previous%20Years/Crash%20Facts%202013.pdf

[3] http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.211.html

[4] http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/motorcycles/fatalityfacts/motorcycles#cite-text-0-2

[5] http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/mc/index.html

Vehicle Driver Dies In Clearwater Collision Involving Two School Buses

On December 17, 2015, a driver involved in a Clearwater crash^[1] with a school bus at Missouri Avenue and Lotus Path died as a result of their injuries.  The crash happened around 7 a.m. as two school buses were heading south on Missouri.   The second bus stopped behind the first, and a 92-year-old man driving a Mini Cooper, ran into the back of the second bus.  The driver of the vehicle was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he later died. There were no students on the second bus.  The bus driver, who was not injured, had completed her high school run for the morning and was en route to pick up elementary school students.

Pinellas County School Bus Accidents

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 19,000 Americans are injured ^[2] in bus accidents in the United States every year. About 100 buses a year are involved in a fatal accident, often involving more than one fatality and many injuries. The US states of California, New York and Florida have the most bus accidents each year.  Further, school buses account for 39% of all bus fatalities. 

Injuries sustained in bus accidents are often more severe than those caused by other vehicular accidents. A lack of on board safety measures, such as seatbelts, can put riders at risk for serious injuries.  Florida only requires that public school buses have safety belts, but the law only applies to buses purchased brand new after December 30, 2001. Older school buses, or those used for private schools or church outings are exempt from the law.

Claims Against School Buses

Since school buses are typically operated by a school district, or by a company contracted to a school district, a claimant must go through several steps in order to pursue a claim. The doctrine of sovereign immunity normally prevents a person from suing a government agency, but governments make exceptions for certain types of claims. The Florida Tort Claims Act allows claims against government entities, including school districts, although it sets strict time limits and deadlines for filing claims, and it sets a cap on damages.  It is important to speak to a Clearwater school bus accident attorney to review these time limits and deadlines and determine how they apply to your case.

Florida School Bus Safety

The Florida Department of Highway and Motor Vehicles sets forth a listing of school bus safety^[3] rules for all Florida drivers:

�          When approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and its stop arms extended, motorists are required to STOP in nearly every instance. 

�                Be alert and watch for children at all times, but especially near schools, bus stops, school buses, and in school parking lots.

�                Obey all traffic laws and speed limits, paying extra attention to the lower speed limits in school zones.

�                Do not pass other vehicles in school zones or at crosswalks. Do not change lanes or make U-turns in school zones.

�                Watch for and obey signals from school crossing guards.

�                Do not text or use a cell phone while driving.

�                Only drive or park in authorized areas to drop off or pick up children at school.

Contact a Clearwater Accident Attorney

In some accidents involving a school bus, the accident may be caused by the driver of another car.  If the bus driver is at fault for an accident, however, the case may become complicated.  Most school buses are operated by governmental entities such as school districts and public transportation agencies.  Unfortunately, filing a claim against a governmental body can be more complicated that filing a more typical insurance claim.  Claims against Florida�s municipalities are often subject to stricter guidelines, including shorter time limits for taking legal action, and can present complications for individuals who are not familiar with the intricacies of the claims process.

If you or a loved one were injured in a collision involving a bus, either as a passenger on board or as a third party, you may be entitled to compensation for damages.  It is important to speak to a Clearwater accident attorney as soon as possible. Please call our office at 727-451-6900 today for a free consultation.

Dolman Law Group

800 North Belcher Road

Clearwater, FL 3375

(727) 451-6900

https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/auto-accidents-attorneys/

References:

[1] http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/local/2015/12/17/school-bus-involved-clearwater-crash/77470206/ 

[2] http://nlfunding.com/index.php/bus-accidents 

[3] http://www.flhsmv.gov/bussafety/SafetyTips.pdf

Police Shooting Update

We heard the scanner traffic played at roll call earlier. That dispatcher sucked. We understand being flustered by the chaos of a police shooting and the screaming going on, but to get an address wrong four times? Someone needs to go to a slower zone and learn the job before being thrown into the fire.

The scanner had a time clock attached to it - almost nine minutes to get an ambulance there.Not a calm nine minutes of waiting.

A pet peeve of ours, and evidently, many of our readers. The coppers wounds were described as "not life threatening" or "officers are expected to recover" or even "minor" in some media outlets.Points of order:

• One officer was struck in the vest, twice. Blunt trauma like that can result in an interruption of the heart rhythm. People have died from being punched in the chest or tackled or struck with a baseball. It's life threatening. Period.
• One officer was struck in the leg. It might not kill you, but damage like that can leave you with a permanent limp, multiple surgeries, months of physical therapy. It might not be "life threatening," but it is certainly "life altering."
• One officer was struck below the vest. The bullet actually traveled through his body and had to be extricated via an extensive surgical procedure. The concern now is a resultant infection due to the nature of the wound. That is definitely "life threatening" and the acting Superintendent's statement to the contrary is a disservice to the pain and suffering the officer, his family and co-workers are currently undergoing.

Describing these wounds are anything but "life threatening" also will come into play in any future lawsuit as a plaintiff attorney will undoubtedly claim that the lack of a "life-threatening injury" means the police must have overreacted.

90-Day Details

What's with the middle-of-the-police-period details of new sergeants to the west and south sides?

Speaking of that, what's with half-a-dozen or so new lieutenants being detailed to the same places? Eight lieutenants per district where there are only seven available slots? We haven't seen that in years.

They seem to have pulled a largish number of white shirts from the "quiet" districts and detailed them to the killing fields. Is this some type of "smoke-and-mirror" thing to fool the Department of Justice into thinking there's adequate supervision on the streets?

MAP #381 Statement

We have received from sources the letter that MAP #381 (Metropolitan Alliance of Police, representing the UIC rank-and-file) sent to the Chief of the UIC Police and the UIC Board regarding the unbelievable orders given by the UIC police brass to not arrest, to actively release arrestees, and pretty much stand-down, giving the Trump protesters what we'll refer to as "room to destroy."

• Date: 14 Mar 2016
  To: Chief Booker
  From: MAP 381
  Subj: Safety Issues at the University of Illinois at Chicago Police Department
  
  We�d like to begin by thanking you for taking the time to read our letter. We chose to draft this letter in order to address an issue that has been brought to our attention due the Donald Trump rally here on campus. We feel it is important that you be made aware of our concerns regarding some of your decisions and actions with respect to this event. More specifically, we are very concerned by the lack of preparation for and questionable decisions made during this event which expresses to us a complete disregard for our safety.
  
  We believe it's fair to say this event would have been strategically challenging for even the most highly regarded security experts. For this reason, planning for an event like this normally begins immediately after it is booked and always includes properly training and preparing the security/police personnel for the event specific concerns. It also includes having a contingency plan in place in case there is a riot or complete turmoil. This could be something as simple as making sure riot gear is on scene so that it is readily available in the event it is needed.  For some reason, none of this took place. For this event, the only guidance and instruction we received before it was the following:
  
  We were ordered to leave our O.C. Spray, a tool we have trained extensively with and that is extremely useful in crowd control situations, in our lockers. This order left us with our baton and handgun as the only tools available to us.
  
  We were ordered to leave our dark colored gloves in our lockers because they looked too aggressive. This meant our hands were left uncovered, much more easily cut/scraped, and exposed to any number of various fluids (blood, spit, etc.). We were not offered or supplied with any alternatives such as latex gloves which were readily available at the hospital or our station.
  
  We were told not to place our hands on anyone. Even when escorting out hostile attendees, we were advised to not make physical contact with them. This is contrary to our Controlled F.O.R.C.E. training which the department has invested a significant amount of money and time training us on. More importantly, it placed officers in a situation where they had to choose between their safety and following an order.
  
  We were given specific instructions on how to arrest someone, if we had to. We were told to have the hired security company ask troublemakers to leave first. If that did not work, Trump staffers were to then ask. If that did not work, we were to then ask them to leave. If they still refused, then we were to ask them to leave again and inform them that their failure to do so would constitute criminal trespass and they would be arrested. This was the only plan given to us and we followed these instructions as given. As a result, we arrested three individuals. Unfortunately, you later decided that you wanted no arrests and ordered that we release any and all arrestees. This created significant issues of liability for us (which are addressed below).
  
  While we find what we received before the event unacceptable, what happened during the event is equally as troubling. You, our leader, stayed far away from the actual event and never once thanked any officers for their hard work and effort, while CPD Commissioner Escalante was on scene assisting his officers, shaking their hands, and thanking them. However, at 8:40pm, you found the time to give a public statement about the event indicating that there was an orderly exit from the pavilion with no arrests or injuries. Putting aside that this statement is false, it was given at a time when we were radioing in an emergency situation to UICPD Dispatch and requesting any available additional units come to our aid. Unfortunately, there were no additional UICPD units available. This was due to the establishment of arrest teams and that caused what little manpower we had to be spread even thinner. We feel it is important to note that these �arrest teams� proved to be pointless as you later ordered all arrests be voided and arrestees released without ever informing us why. Additionally, at least eight of our specialty officers were ordered to be in plainclothes, when only two were requested by the secret service, thereby unnecessarily placing them in increased danger as combatants inside the event could not easily identify them as police officers. We feel that, at every single turn, what we, your officers, needed to perform our job safely and to the best of our abilities was disregarded and ignored. By allowing this, it also placed each and every attendee, student, and VIP in unnecessary danger as we could not provide the appropriate level of protection and safety they deserved. All of this is unacceptable.
  
  Still, there is another issue to address. It wasn't just our physical safety that was disregarded at this event; it was our economic security as well. We executed the arrest plan (described above) exactly as it was given to us. As a result, there were three arrests each of which was performed on signed complaints from victims. This means that several officers placed their hands on people, took away freedoms, and transported people from one place to another in accordance with the law. Then, you later ordered that each of these three people be let go. If there was a reason, it was not shared with us so that we could document it in the appropriate report and explain to each complainant why we were disregarding their signed complaints. As a result, any officer involved in the arrests of these individuals is now exposed to the possibility of a lawsuit for doing exactly what they were told to do.
  
  We hope it is understood that this email is not meant to be malicious and it is not an attack on you. It is an explanation of our frustration and concerns which came about as a result of what we believe is the constant disregard for our safety and security. It is also meant to create dialogue and give you an opportunity to respond to our concerns while having a better understanding of them. We hope this prompts a desire in you to explain to us what it is that we are missing. As always, we appreciate you taking our concerns in to consideration and for taking the time to understand what they are. We look forward to hearing from you and will be anxiously awaiting your response.
  
  Respectfully,
  MAP 381 Executive Board

It sure sounds like the Chief pretty much sold his officers outr and compromised the safety of everyone in the area, including citizens attending a political rally and the CPD and ISP contingents that were stuck with his bad decisions. This level of incompetence is unacceptable from someone tasked with maintaining order and public safety. We would hope that he is sent packing in short order.

Prickwrinkle Takes the Reins

"King" Rahm is dead, Long live Queen "Toni"

• Amid outrage over the response to the Laquan McDonald shooting and other cases involving police, Cook County voters ousted two-term state�s attorney Anita Alvarez on Tuesday.
  
  With 95 percent of precincts reporting, former prosecutor Kim Foxx had won 58 percent of the votes in the Democratic primary after campaigning on a promise to restore trust in the criminal justice system, which she said had been broken by Alvarez.
  

If you haven't gotten the message, this ought to be loud and clear.

Next stop, Baltimore.

Followed by Detroit.

And if we're really unlucky, Mogadishu.

Cook County "Justice"

Does anyone ever do any serious time in Cook County?

• Three Chicago police officers were shot Monday night by a reputed gang member who had been arrested more than 40 times since the 2000s for offenses ranging from drug dealing to violence against law enforcement, police said.
  
  The officers fatally shot 29-year-old Lamar Harris during a brief gun battle when they chased him into a dark courtyard outside an apartment building in the West Side's Homan Square neighborhood, police said. The officers had been investigating Harris, a reputed member of the Vice Lords, for "possible narcotics activity" when the shooting occurred shortly before 10 p.m., authorities said.
  
  [...]
  
  Harris' criminal history includes 43 arrests going back to at least 2004, including five felony and two misdemeanor convictions, according to police and court records. His most recent felony conviction was in January 2012 for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and resisting a peace officer causing injury. Records show he was sentenced to four years in prison in that case.
  
  That incident happened in July 2010 in the 5600 block of West Chicago Avenue after officers responded to a call of a "man with a gun," police said. Harris, stopped by officers because he matched the gunman's description, pushed one officer backward and struck another in the head while trying to flee, police said.
  
  While officers attempted to arrest him, Harris reached for his waistband and a handgun fell from his waist, police said. The officers recovered the gun and found marijuana in Harris' possession, police said.

All by the ripe old age of twenty-nine. And again, five different felony convictions, all precluding him from possessing a gun, but there he is lying dead on the pavement with a gun. Good riddance.

This is Normal?

Anyone know where people (or folks) get this idea?

• MIAMI (CBSMiami) � Relatives of a 17-year-old are angry the teenager was shot and killed by a homeowner who police say was protecting her property.
  
  The sister of the teen who died identified him as Trevon Johnson. She said he was a student at D. A. Dorsey Technical College.
  
  �I don�t care if she have her gun license or any of that. That is way beyond the law� way beyond,� said Johnson�s cousin Nautika Harris. �He was not supposed to die like this. He had a future ahead of him. Trevon had goals� he was a funny guy, very big on education, loved learning.�
  

And what was this particular altar boy's future full of?

• Relatives said they don�t believe Johnson stole anything from the home but detectives would not confirm that.
  
  �You have to look at it from every child�s point of view that was raised in the hood,� said Harris. �You have to understand� how he gonna get his money to have clothes to go to school? You have to look at it from his point-of-view.�

Well Sis, he could have gotten a job...flipping burgers, cold-calling magazine subscriptions, slinging dope, though the last two are usually performance-based with lousy hours. But getting a job might involve effort. We imagine the story will turn out to be he was just in the house picking up decorating tips.

We could have suggested the Keesing Bandit for that...and all that "gun play" would have been completely consensual.

Radio Security

If you have a $30 scanner you can listen to CPD radio traffic on twelve different zones, six different citywides, and if you know a Radio Shack geek, you can find the other frequencies set aside for other traffic.

For $80, you can buy a transceiver and broadcast on those frequencies. The FCC might catch you or they might not, depending on weather or not you move around when their triangulation attempts kick into gear.

In the meantime, this happens:

• Interim Police Supt. John Escalante has ordered an investigation into �absolutely unacceptable� racial slurs broadcast on a police frequency that was recorded and circulated online, a spokesman said.
  

 Of course it's unacceptable. But was it the police?

• But late Monday, a spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management and Communications said the broadcast doesn�t appear to have been made with the use of a �city-programmed� radio.

We won't go into the particulars, but everyone on the job knows that there are certain identifier codes that are transmitted with CPD-issued radios. This is how they know this isn't a Department issued radio. But that didn't stop this nonsense:

• Activist Will Calloway and reporter Brandon Smith, who pursued the legal case that got the Laquan McDonald video released, spoke out against police racism outside City Hall Monday.
  
  "I think it speaks for itself," Calloway said, citing the recording as proof of "systemic racism that's going on and that's present in the Police Department."

Really moron? We just explained how with $80 and some spare time, you can commit all sorts of mischief. We haven't even touched on the real damage someone with a real agenda could do....someone like....

But that wouldn't be possible - someone with a vested interest in maintaining high tensions to provoke incidents and provide "proof" of some practice, to spend $80 to make potentially millions.

Today's Left

Just a thought on the Trump-capades at UIC the other day.

You know who all those protesters reminded us of? This guy:

There's the intolerant left today.

Three Officers Shot

Breaking news tonight:

• Three Chicago Police officers were shot but were expected to survive their wounds and an attacker was shot to death in the Homan Square neighborhood Monday night while a woman who was with him was in custody, police said.

Updates as they become available.

UPDATE: One PO shot in the vest, one PO shot in the leg, one PO shot in the torso. No word on surgery, treatment, etc.

UPDATE: Check any of the media sites on the right - they all have what we have at the moment.

UPDATE: Moving this post to the top of the page for the day. Other stories posted below this one.

DOJ Ride-Alongs

Hey, the PAX 501 released by Mr Six says the DOJ is doing ride-alongs this week - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

What Districts were they going to?

Anyone want to tell us what they asked? What they observed? What they have decided the problem is? When are they going to "fix" it?

Morale Survey Released!

Not here though:

• The vast majority of NYPD officers who answered a new survey hate their jobs and believe they were a lot safer before Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton took office, according to a new survey by the city�s police union.
  
  The polling of more than 6,000 of the NYPD�s roughly 24,000 rank-and-file revealed a resounding lack of passion for the job, with cops on average rating morale at just 2.49 on a scale of 1 to 10.
  
  �The results of this survey prove what we�ve been hearing time and time again from members over the past two years � the job is more difficult than ever, the dangers are greater, and morale is extremely low,� said Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen�s Benevolent Association.
  
  Roughly 87 percent of cops said the Big Apple has become �less safe� since the new administration took over at the beginning of 2014, with 55 percent of those respondents describing New York City as �a lot less safe.�

We can only wonder what a survey of the CPD would reveal, especially with the homicide numbers skyrocketing, morons running the organization into the ground and the ACLU redecorating the room. Too bad they never released J-Fledger's survey.

Where Are the Three Names?

So who is the Police Board sending to be the next sacrificial....we mean Super-dooper-nintendo? Aren't they up against a deadline?

Rent is How Much?

Once again, why government is broke:

• After buying a home in Barrington Hills, Chaoshan Lai and his wife couldn�t unload the 15-year-old townhouse that they�d bought for $935,000 in Central Station, a taxpayer-subsidized development in the South Loop where former Mayor Richard M. Daley lived for years.
  
  Lai couldn�t even find anyone to rent the townhouse on South Prairie Avenue � until he got a call in 2013 about a woman who�d gotten a �housing choice voucher,� from the Chicago Housing Authority through a program that had long been called Section 8.
  
  Lai says the woman wanted to lease his three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home, which has a library and is within walking distance of Soldier Field and the lakefront.
  
  �I said, �You probably cannot afford the rent,� � Lai recalls. �But they said they have a special program in the �opportunity area� that pays much better. I said, �Let�s give it a shot.� �
  
  It ended up being a good deal for Lai. Since June 1, 2013, he�s collected more than $100,000 from the CHA, which administers public housing in Chicago for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The CHA pays him $3,911 a month in federal funds to lease his townhouse to the woman and three others in her household, including a child under the age of 6, records show.

Most coppers probably have a mortgage that is half of that $3,911 per month and they don't have a swanky million dollar Central Station townhouse. But the CHA is burning through $47 million A MONTH to subsidize this crazy type of crap.

Nothing like making it big.....without having to earn any of it.

Here's a Dumb Idea (UPDATE)

Hopefully, this is just a "demo" model and not something being actually sold:

That is a Glock Model 41 disguised as a Nintendo system gun. We used one like 20 years ago to play "Duck Hunt."

UPDATE: Another look - the Glock and the Nintendo:

Protest Video

Here's a link someone sent us of the "peaceful" protests.

Click Here.

It goes to a Facebook page, and you need an account to see it, so we can't. But if you're on social media,. perhaps you can spread it around. It's supposed to be 10 minutes long and shows most of what the media won't.

Scorched Earth

Ah, crime in Chicago:

• In the latest in a series of retaliatory shootings amid a South Side gang war, the father of Tyshawn Lee has been charged with shooting the girlfriend of one of the men in custody for the killing of his 9-year-old son, authorities said Sunday.
  
  A spokeswoman for the Cook County state's attorney's office confirmed that Pierre Stokes, 25, was charged with three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon for shooting a woman and two men at 5:45 Tuesday in the 7900 block of South Ashland Avenue.
  
  Law enforcement sources identified the woman as the girlfriend of Corey Morgan, who is in custody awaiting trial in connection with Tyshawn's killing. About three weeks before Tyshawn was lured from a Dawes Park play lot and executed, Morgan's brother was killed and mother wounded as part of a long-running gang feud, police have said.

Amazing how these felons keep getting guns, but if a law-abiding type wants a gun, it's mounds of paperwork and days of waiting. And these folks (or people) certainly aren't using them for self defense, but rather offense. And the deliberate targeting of non-combatants in the never ending ghetto thug life drama? No one seems bothered by that as long as those darn police are still employed.

Did You Spring Ahead?

If you didn't, you are now late for work.

Open post.

More "Protests"

Oh wait....our bad. There were exactly zero protests over this:

• Four men were killed and at least 12 other people have been wounded since late Friday morning in shootings across the city.

Just minorities killing minorities. No need to protest that, not when there are Trump rallies to riot at and ambulances to block and suburbanites to assault and highways to shut down.

Vote for This Guy

Will the media touch this one?

He's running for aldercreature

As a "pastor" and an "anti-violence" type.

Steal a flag, then punch the guy trying to get his property back.

Yup, makes perfect sense.

Detroit is only a few votes away.

Questions About Last Night

The post right below this one is filling up rapidly with comments, so we're starting a new thread:

First up, who was in charge? As far as we can tell, there was pretty much zero in terms of a unified Command Post.

Second, who wrote this plan? We've seen and heard reports that UIC was woefully unprepared for this. They had their own people and Monterey Security inside. The Secret Service had a presence, but they're restricted to dignitary protection. The ISP had a squad there. And CPD. So where were the people geared up for a riot? For NATO we had an entire strike force geared up and ready to go. We had the Mounted Unit up and running. Tens of dozens of bikes. Did no one see this coming?

Third, who evacuated the Pavilion, putting a few thousand people out on the street as targets? A bad decision, probably by the UIC people attempting to "protect" the building. Same with not securing the parking structure, leading to many confrontations and property damage in the lots. Dumb move.

Fourth......ah fuck it. There are a million "after action" questions that need to be asked and answered. Who gave up the expressway? Who let them block ambulances? Why did they not assemble citywide Incident Teams as soon as they knew the rally was canceled? Tact Teams? We even heard Mass Arrest kits weren't available and only one transport wagon on scene in case arrests were made.

Who ever drew up this order failed miserably. Whatever the Intelligence Section was doing wasn't nearly enough. The On Scene Incident Commander failed to anticipate even the best case scenario and every other appointee showed how incompetent they really were by not ordering up more reinforcements and more units on stand-by. McJerseyShore promoted people who owed him, people who were frightened of losing their posts if they didn't produce his numbers. And without the blustering New York loudmouth, they were reduced to phoning their clout to ask what they should do...but their clout was busy phoning their clout...and their clout was busy sleeping.

And so the scene was lost. And the streets. And 290.

We certainly hope that LOTS of ISR reports were generated by all the useless gold stars who might have seen the tiniest sliver of what the streets have become. After all, the ACLU was right there in the mix, making sure "protesters" didn't have their rights violated.

So Much for "Free Speech"

Free Speech looks pretty bloody to the thin blue line:

The media is downplaying the "protests" as isolated. It seems they aren't broadcasting footage of the debris being thrown across Harrison by Sanders/Hillary supporters at Trump fans.

They also aren't mentioning the hordes running through the UIC parking structure breaking the windows of cars with Trump 2016 stickers.

We haven't seen any mention of the Eisenhower takeover, nor the Incident Team call-outs from assorted Districts.

It's almost like they're ashamed that the UIC tradition of supporting leftist terrorists (Ayers and his spawn) has come home to roost.

Last report was at least two cops needed numerous stitches to close up wounds. A speedy recovery to the injured.

Ink Us Up!!!

The FOP wins a gimme:

• On May 21, 2015, the members from the Lodge as well as the Department attended a regularly scheduled Joint Uniform Committee meeting. It was at this meeting that the Lodge was informed the Department was planning to implement a brand new change in policy banning all visible tattoos. Although this issue was never discussed throughout during our Contact negotiation process, all of a sudden the City decided to drastically change the long-standing uniform policy. All attempts to address options fell on deaf ears and the Department was obvious in that they were not concerned with the Lodge representative�s input. The Department intention to just go forward with this new plan was never going to work for the FOP.
  
  The Lodge saw this as a unilateral change to working conditions and we were not going to stand by and allow the Department to arbitrarily harm the affected Members. This matter was sent to final and binding arbitration and a hearing that was held on September 9, 2015 before Arbitrator Jacalyn J. Zimmerman.
  
  We are extremely pleased to report that earlier this afternoon we were informed that the Lodge won the arbitration! As a matter of fact, Arbitrator Zimmerman accepted nearly all of our many arguments. She credited FOP First Vice-President Ray Casiano�s expert testimony concerning firearms safety in addressing the terms of how the changes to the Department policy could negatively affect our members� ability to utilize their firearms.
  
  The Award reads as follows:
  
  
  The grievance is sustained.  The Employer violated the agreement when it unilaterally implemented revisions to its Uniform and Property Order, U04-01, effective June 12, 2015, banning the display of visible tattoos.  The appropriate remedy is for the Department to rescind the revisions and restore the prior policy, rescind and make employees whole for any discipline issued pursuant to these revisions, and to make employees whole for their demonstrable losses resulting from compliance with the revisions.  The arbitrator will retain jurisdiction over this matter for a period of 60-days.
  
  There are several other key players who need to be thanked and acknowledged for their cooperation during the arbitration proceedings, including testimony, enduring interviews, sacrificing personal time and demonstrating tireless dedication to making this wrong, right.
  
  Firstly, the SCC blog....

We may have added that last part. In any event, a triumph for logical thinking in that you can't hire under one set of rules, and then change the rules mid-stream. The officers affected were fine police officers on 20 May 2015. Nothing changed on 21 May 2015 except that an arrogant asshole browbeat the pussified exempt staff into yet another abdication of their leadership responsibility to the officers under their commend.

Merit Pensions on the Block?

Forwarded to us by someone who knows what "tweets" are:

Nickeas, from what we've read, is a pretty good reporter. He plays fair, quotes accurately, and tells the unseen side of crime scenes too many other reporters don't. He is also NOT related to the Nickeas was is/was on the job. If he's hearing something like this that has bandied about on the blog for years, that could lead to some interesting times.

Shooting Up North

Copper confronts catalytic converter thieves, who try to hit him with their car:

• An off-duty officer fired his weapon at someone driving toward him Thursday morning after the officer found someone vandalizing his car, police said.
  
  The officer saw the man vandalizing a parked car in the 5500 block of North Neenah Avenue in the Union Ridge neighborhood about 5:55 a.m., police said.
  
  When the officer confronted the man, he fled to a waiting car driven by someone who accelerated toward the officer while trying to flee.

This is supposed to be a pattern up north according to e-mailers. Wishing a speedy recovery to the officer.

Pinellas County Driver Killed In Single Vehicle Crash

On January 19, 2016, a 43-year-old resident^[1] of St. Petersburg was driving a 2004 Infinity FX35 westbound on 18^th Avenue South at approximately 3:35 a.m.  The driver was approaching 49^thStreet South at a high rate of speed when he crossed over 49^thStreet, failing to stop at the stop sign and driving over the sidewalk onto the grass on the west side of 49^th Street, along Tangerine Avenue.  The vehicle continued through the grass and struck a tree causing the vehicle to overturn and causing fatal injuries to the driver. 

Clearwater Single Vehicle Accidents

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute provides that there were 2,228 fatal crashes in the State of Florida in 2013, resulting in 2,407 deaths.  Of those, 1,362 involved single-vehicle accidents^[2].  The driver in a single-vehicle accident is oftentimes at fault based upon any number of factors including:

�           Distracted driving: Talking or texting on a cell phone, drinking, eating, or talking to passengers may cause a driver to veer off the road or hit an object

�           Drowsy driving:  Falling asleep at the wheel can cause a driver to leave the roadway and crash.

�           Excessive speed: A driver who exceeds the allowable speed limit and causes a crash can be held responsible for the injuries and damages that result.

�           Weather: Poor weather conditions like rain, ice, snow and fog can all contribute to a single-vehicle accident.

When is a Clearwater Driver Not Liable in a Single-Vehicle Accident?

Even though a single vehicle accident involves only one automobile, there can be instances where the driver is not liable including:

�           Bad road conditions:  If a driver loses control of their vehicle and hits a tree due to bad road conditions, the driver, or their family, may be able to make a claim against the governmental agency that is responsible for maintaining the road.   State and local government entities are responsible for properly inspecting and maintaining the roads to keep them safe for motorists. If a driver suddenly hits a pothole, crack, break in the pavement, uneven pavement, or other hazardous condition, they can lose control of their vehicle and crash.

�           Equipment defect:  650 safety recalls^[3] of 17.8 million motor vehicles, pieces of motor vehicle equipment and child safety seats occurred in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A driver in a single vehicle accident may avoid liability where there was a sudden equipment failure.  When an auto manufacturer sells a defective car part, that part can suddenly malfunction and cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. Brakes, tires, axles, airbags, and steering systems are all examples of defects that can lead to single-car crashes.

�           Road Construction: Construction zones are everywhere throughout Florida. Accidents in these areas may have been caused by lack of warning signs, improperly diverted traffic, poor placement of cones and barriers, or other problems. When collisions occur in a work zone or construction area, negligent construction companies may be held accountable.

�           Road debris:  Debris tends to be a common occurrence on roadways, where car parts flying off vehicles, or loose cargo makes its way onto the roadway. Dead road kill animals, trash, and other debris can create a significant road impediment and one that causes drivers to swerve their cars in an effort to avoid hitting objects in the road.

            �           Second driver:  Drivers who are impaired or distracted may veer into your lane, cross the center line, or even cut you off, causing you to overcorrect or suddenly brake, which can lead to a collision.  Another type of interaction with a second driver could be caused by road rage, reckless driving, driving while under the influence, or through errors in judgment, such as going down the wrong side of a one-way street. 

Contact a Clearwater Single-Vehicle Accident Lawyer

After you have contacted the police and received any medical assistance that is required, you may want to consider contacting a single vehicle accident attorney to investigate your case.  At the Dolman Law Group, our skilled single vehicle accident attorneys investigate your case and protect your rights under Florida law to make sure you receive all of the compensation to which you are entitled.  Please call our office at 727-451-6900 today.

  

Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-451-6900

https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/auto-accidents-attorneys/

References:

[1] http://patch.com/florida/gulfport/fatal-crash-closes-tangerine-avenue-0

[2] http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/state-by-state-overview/2013

[3] http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/NHTSA+Announces+More+Than+17.8+Million+Products+Recalled+in+2012

Fatal Pedestrian Accident In Gulfport

On Wednesday, February 3, 2016, a 74-year-old pedestrian was struck^[1] and killed by an 86-year-old driver.  The accident occurred at approximately 6:36 p.m. at a time when the pedestrian was crossing Gulfport Boulevard, east of Beach Boulevard, in Gulfport, Florida.  The driver was traveling eastbound at the time of the incident.

Florida Pedestrian Fatalities Double the National Average

Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts reports, Florida had the highest pedestrian fatality rate^[2]among all states in 2011, 2.60 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 persons. Further, according to the Florida Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategic Safety Plan, prepared by The Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of Southern Florida, the 2011 Florida pedestrian fatality rates were nearly double the national average. In Pinellas County alone there were 483 accidents^[3] involving pedestrians resulting in the death of 36 individuals in 2015.  

Steps to Take After a Clearwater Pedestrian Accident

�       Medical Attention:  If you or anyone else is injured, contact the police and request medical assistance.  It is crucial to receive proper medical attention as soon as possible after an accident.

�       Claim Against the Driver:  If a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, the driver is often times considered to be at fault, even if the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk. 

�       Claim Against the Municipality:  Some vehicle-pedestrian accidents might be the fault of the city if there was a failure of traffic control devices such as stop lights.  

Pinellas County PIP Insurance

If a pedestrian involved in an accident owns a car and has Florida�s mandatory PIP insurance, their injuries and lost wages will be covered up to the sum of $10,000 dollars. If the pedestrian does not own a car, the driver�s PIP insurance will cover these expenses. Because pedestrian accidents can result in life-threatening injuries, it is possible that this insurance will not be sufficient to cover the total amount of your accident-related losses.

Florida Driver Negligence in Pedestrian Accidents

In some instances, a pedestrian injured by a vehicle driver can file a claim based on driver negligence.  It may be necessary to show the following:

            �           The driver of the vehicle owed the pedestrian a duty of care.

            �           The driver breached this duty, either by disregarding traffic laws, not          paying attention to their surroundings, or driving recklessly.

            �           The pedestrian sustained a serious injury as a result of this breach.

A driver may be considered negligent for any of the following:

?                Pre-occupation and failure to pay attention;

?                Failure to observe the speed limit;

?                Failure to yield the right of way at cross walks;

?                Failure to use turn signals;

?                Violating traffic laws, including neglecting to stop at light and stop signs; and

?                Driving under the influence.

It is important to remember that Florida is a comparative negligence state so each party involved in the accident can be financially responsible for a percentage of the damage, depending on the degree to which they were at fault.  An automobile driver involved in a pedestrian accident may try to prove that the pedestrian was partially at fault for the accident to mitigate damages.  Negligence on part of the pedestrian may refer to any of the following:

-           Darting out in front of cars;

-           Failing to use dedicated cross walks;

-           Failing to see if it is safe to cross the street;

-           Ignoring pedestrian signals at intersections.

Florida Wrongful Death

If a pedestrian does not survive an accident, their family members may bring a claim on behalf of their loved one to recover compensation for damages. They will be required to prove the same elements as pedestrians pursuing a negligence claim on their own behalf. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney will help family members who choose to file a suit hold the negligent party accountable for their actions.

Clearwater Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

If you or a loved one were injured in a pedestrian accident involving a motor vehicle, it is important to speak to a Clearwater pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible.  At the Dolman Law Group, our skilled accident attorneys investigate your case and protect your rights under Florida law. Please call our office at 727-451-6900 today.

Dolman Law Group

800 North Belcher Road

Clearwater, FL 3375

(727) 451-6900

https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/pedestrian-accident-attorneys/

References:

[1] http://www.pcsoweb.com/16-029-mait-investigates-fatal-vehicle-vs-pedestrian-crash-in-gulfport

[2] http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/6-Resources/FloridaPedestrianandBicycleStrategicSafetyPlan.pdf

[3] https://firesportal.com/Pages/Public/QuickStats.aspx