Disney doesn't allow the use of Segways at the Disney resorts

If you are an individual with a disability which substantially limits your ability to walk and you use a Segway as an assistive moblity device and intend to visit the Walt Disney World or Walt Disneyland Resorts the proposed settlement, if approved by the court, will allow Disney to continue to prohibit the use of Segways by those with disabilities.

You will be forever barred from contesting the fairness, reasonableness, or adequacy of the settlement or from pursuing any claims against Disney related to the use of Segways at the Disney Resorts.

United States Department of Justice

Joins DRAFT In Opposing Disney Settlement
The Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice files an amicus brief in a rare objection strongly opposing the proposed settlement as "fundamentally unfair" to people with disabilities.

Click on links below to view PDF's
DRAFT Press Release
DOJ Objections to Proposed Disney Settlement
DRAFT Objections to Proposed Disney Settlement
Disability Rights Advocates For Technology http://segs4vets.org/

How does this apply to you? Well, if you hapopen to be injured in a auto colliosion that is due to someone elses poor driving, you might need a wheelchair or a Segway for ambulkatory assistance. Wouldn't you like to use it if you went to Disney? Seems to me that if you use a wheeled chair, a seeing eye dog, or are married to, related to or become wheelchair bound, you might find this affects you too.

Did you know unpowered kart racing has been made illegal in Los Angeles county?

Via: http://gowjobs.blogspot.com/2010/03/illegal-soapbox-racing-turns-out-its.html
the County of Los Angeles has put a code into place forbidding the use of non-powered vehicles on county roads with a grade of more than 3%, including skateboards, street luges and our "box-car coasters"

So.Cal Illegal Soapbox Racers race the 3rd sunday of every month. Our gravity powered racers are fast, fun and not expensive to build or race!

Basically your cart needs four tires, brakes on two wheels, no weight or ballast, no weapons, and must be gravity powered (no engines or drivetrain of any type). We require all drivers to wear a helmet, and strongly suggest gloves and other protective gear.

http://www.scisr.org/

Two goups that have terrific naems and race downhill?

VULGR The Ventura Underground League of Gravity Racers

MISFITS Maryland Illegal Soapbox Federation & Incline Trials Society

See the Australian group AIGRF here: http://aigrf.blogspot.com/2009/08/race-21-hamptons.html

Skip the first 45 seconds

Did you hear about the idea from C.A.R.B. to make it illegal to have low air pressure in your tires?

"California Air Resources Board and who have strong influence over Arnold and the Democrats in the Legislature. They want to make it a crime to have low air pressure in your tires. They use a “scientist” with a mail-order degree to certify the legitimacy of their slanted research. They pursue a unilateral, California-only approach to global warming that will cripple our economy unless the rest of the world takes a similar approach."

http://www.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/americas-finest/2010/feb/04/crusade-against-free-parking-mania-keeps-spreading/

last incredibly unreal concept from the idiots at CARB (Calif Air Resource Board) was to make it illegal to have black roofs on cars because it absorbs solar heat, makes cars warmer inside, and cuases people to run their AC more, increasing the load on a cars engine, and then decreasing the engines efficiency. Except that it really doesn't have much effect to run your AC, these aren't 1963 air conditioning units.

Lane splitting, I was curious and wondering about it, here's what you might like to know

According to law enforcement agencies, the California Vehicle Code doesn’t specifically say that lane-splitting is illegal. That doesn’t mean a motorcyclist might not get ticketed for it, though.
Motorcyclists could still be cited for unsafe driving and it’s up to the discretion of the ticketing officer and the court to determine what’s safe.

The California Highway Patrol’s Web site says lane splitting “is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner,” while the DMV’s Motorcycle Handbook warns that lane sharing is dangerous.

San Diego police Lt. Tim Saelens, who works in the traffic division, said motorcyclists who split lanes are sometimes cited under three sections of the state Vehicle Code: Section 22350, the basic speed law; Section 21658, which governs lane changes; and Section 21755, that allows passing on the right only under safe conditions.
From http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/19/sign-of-trouble/ via a tip from Zina at http://piratemonkeycult.wordpress.com/2010/02/19/molesters-and-whatnots/

What's with California Senator Lowenthal? He wants to eliminate free parking in California,... yeah, WTF??

He wants to change parking everywhere in California: http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/03/02/long-beachs-state-senator-lowenthal-takes-on-parking-requirements/

And eliminate free parking http://www.lbpost.com/ryan/8196 in the whole state of California, now isn't that jsut a new tax on cars... requiring them to pay to park everywhere, every time? How the hell can anyone with a real job pay for that, 'cause I gaurantee Senators don't pay for the gass hog vehicles they drive, are driven in, are flown in, or the fuel that moves the free gas hogs they are provided, nor do they have to pay for parking. But they are consistant in trying to eliminate any fun you can have with yours.

"Lowenthal reiterated his point that free parking is free only to the person parking, where the costs of parking lot construction and maintenance are passed on in the form of higher prices for goods and lower wages for employees. Lowenthal views the bill as a tool to encourage cities and counties to examine ways to manage their parking in order to meet regulations that they will be forced to adhere to by 2020. " Long Beach Post news, Feb 2 2010

Did you hear about the new "Move over" law? Similar to the double fine for speeding in a Construction Zone, it's to make it safer for Caltrans workers

There is a hoax email running around that the fine is 754 dollars, nope: http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/automobiles/a/move_over_law_ca.htm
and http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/moveover.asp both prove it was a hoax, and

it looks like the BS started here http://www.mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/335730-move-over-law.html

THE STRAIGHT SCOOP:
The “Move Over/Slow Down” law, signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger in October, adds Caltrans vehicles (with flashing amber warning lights) to the list of other emergency responder vehicles working roadside that require all motorists to move over or slow down when they see them. The revised law also removes a pre-existing 1/1/10 sunset date (when the law terminates), which now makes the safety protections permanent.
The previous law required motorists to only yield to law enforcement, emergency responders or tow truck operators who are working on the roadside.
The law does not apply when the vehicle with flashing warning lights is not adjacent to the freeway or is separated from the freeway by a protective physical barrier.
In California, violation of the new provision carries a fine of not more than $50. Comparing other states with similar laws, West Virginia has the steepest penalty: 60 days in jail and a $500 fine; Wisconsin’s penalty is a 15-day driver’s license suspension and a $40 fine.

2010 California traffic ticket fines, they don't make sense relatively, but indicate that the state looks at these fines as revenue, not as a deterent

If you are looking for 2011 fines: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-california-traffic-laws-and-fines.html

Traffic Tickets Fines (01/06/2010)

Failure to notify DMV of address change within 10 dayd..................................... $214

Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility (insurance) ....................$796

Failure to stop at a red signal. ..................................$436
Failure to stop at a stop sign. ....................................$214


Unsafe Speed, 1 to 15 miles over the limit.................$214
Unsafe Speed, 16 to 25 miles over the limit...............$328

Passing a school bus with flashing red signals............$616

Drive using wireless phone not hands free, First offense ....................$148

Drive using wireless phone not hands free, For each subsequent offense. ...............$256

Drive while wireless device to send, read or write text.........................$148

Minor drive using wireless phone.....................................$148

Parking in a bus loading area ...................$976

Violation of disabled parking provisions, first offense................$976

Violation of disabled parking provisions, second offense...............................$1876

Unlawful material on vehicle windows...........................$178

Adequate muffler required ................................$178

Mandatory use of seat belts...............................$148

Mandatory use of child passenger restraints.....................$436

Headsets/Earplugs over both ears.....................$178

Motorcycle safety helmet requirements.......................................$178

No evidence of current registration...................................................$256