Tracking traffic citations through court adjudications to posting to public driver records

Research has shown that one of the best predictors of a driver's future crash risk is the number of prior moving traffic violations (e.g., speeding). Public driver records are used by government and nongovernment users to assess drivers' future crash risks. However, the adequacy of such records may be compromised by deficient recordkeeping systems and by court-based diversion programs (e.g., probation before judgment, traffic school election) that allow drivers presumed guilty to avoid convictions in court and posting of the violations to their driver records. Using a case study approach in four jurisdictions in three states, citations issued for traffic violations were tracked through court adjudication to placement on driver records. Individual court case records and driver history records were reviewed. The percentages of citations issued that appeared on driver records were 58-87% for moving violations, 30-94% for driving while impaired (DWI), and 67-95% for occupant restraint violations. Diversion programs were a significant factor in two states, where 21% and 35% of moving violation citations resulted in diversions. Almost all court convictions in each jurisdiction were recorded on driver records, but few citations resulting in diversions were recorded. Thus, diversion programs in some jurisdictions substantially reduce the utility of public driver records as reliable indicators of prior traffic violations and future crash risks. Recordkeeping inefficiencies and errors were less important factors in this study.     

Effects of enhanced sanctions for high-BAC DWI offenders on case dispositions and rates of recidivism

Implemented January 1, 1998, Minnesota's high-BAC law mandates more severe administrative pre-conviction penalties and more severe post-conviction penalties for offenses with BACs > or = 0.20%. Most notably, the law provides for the administrative impoundment of the license plate of first-time DWI offenders with BACs > or = 0.20. During the three years after the law took effect, a large majority of first-time and repeat offenders with BACs > or = 0.20% did, in fact, receive high-BAC administrative dispositions and/or high-BAC court convictions, which carried more severe penalties. For example, in 1998 85.6% of first offenders with BACs > or = 0.20% received a high-BAC administrative disposition and/or a high-BAC court conviction; 65.0% received both high-BAC administrative and high-BAC court dispositions. The proportion of high-BAC first-time offenders who received the statutory high-BAC dispositions declined from 1998 to 1999 and 2000. Based on survival analysis, the one-year recidivism rate among first offenders arrested in 1998 with BACs > or = 0.20% was significantly lower than for offenders with BACs 0.17-0.19% (who also had relatively high BACs but were not subject to enhanced sanctions), after controlling for age and gender. There were similar, but not significant, results for first offenders arrested in 1999.     

PRESENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN NEW JERSEY STREAMBED SEDIMENTS1

ABSTRACT: The distribution of trace elements in New Jersey streambed sediments is described with respect to physiographic provinces and major drainage areas. Samples were collected during 1976–1993 at 295 sites distributed throughout New Jersey. Copper, chromium, lead, and zinc were detected with the greatest frequency and at the highest concentrations of the elements. Concentrations of most trace elements were significantly higher in streambed sediments from the New England (glaciated) and Piedmont physiographic provinces - the provinces with the lowest and highest percentages of urban land use, respectively - than in sediments from the other provinces. High trace-element concentrations in the New England (glaciated) province reflect previous mining of extensive magnetite deposits, whereas those in the Piedmont province most likely reflect urban land use. Significantly lower trace-element concentrations in streambed sediments from the Coastal Plain are attributable to the low pH of the streamwater, the lack of iron and manganese available to form coatings that scavenge trace elements, and the relatively low percentage of urban land use in the province. Trace-element concentrations were related to land use, population, or point sources in the drainage basin specific to the sampling location by using logistic regression. Results of this analysis indicate a relation between arsenic and agricultural land use; chromium and physiographic province; and copper, lead, and zinc and population density.     

Mechanical Properties and Lipase-Catalyzed Biodegradation of α-Methyl, ε-Caprolactone/ ε-Caprolactone Copolymers Obtained by Chemical Modification of Poly(ε-caprolactone)

Novel (-caprolactone)-based copolymers of different compositions were synthesized by allowing methyl iodide to react with the polycarbanion that resulted from the action of lithium diisopropylamide on poly(-caprolactone) in THF at –70°C under argon atmosphere. The copolymers were characterized by various techniques, namely ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction and viscoelasticimetry. They were submitted to hydrolytic and lipase-catalyzed enzymatic degradation in comparison with genuine PCL. The Young modulus depended on the degree of methylation. In contrast, loss angle and glass transition temperature did not depend on this parameter. It is shown that the lipase-catalyzed degradation of methylated PCL is much slower than in the case of genuine PCL.     

Phenols and flavonoids in Aleppo pine needles as bioindicators of air pollution

The aim of the present study is to assess whether certain ecophysiological responses (contents of total phenols, total proanthocyanidins, and total and simple flavonols), in the needles of Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis Mill.) may be valid bioindicators for the assessment of the air quality. Samples were taken at five natural sites polluted by various pollutants (NO, NO2, other NOx, SO2, and O3). The results show a decrease in total phenol concentrations with levels of nitrogen oxide pollutions (significant negative correlations between the total phenol concentrations and concentrations of NO, NO2, and other NOx). Total flavonoids (total flavonols and proanthocyanidins) are useful bioindicators for ozone pollution (significant negative correlations between total proanthocyanidins and the concentrations of ozone and significant positive correlations between total flavonols and the ozone pollution). Sulfur dioxide pollution is distinguished by low concentrations in quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol (significant negative correlations between these simple flavonols and the concentrations of SO2). This work confirms the strong interest of using the phenolic compounds of Pinus halepensis as biological indicators of air quality.     

Exposing violences: Using women's human rights theory to reconceptualize food rights

Exposing food violences – hunger,malnutrition, and poisoning from environmentalmismanagement – requires policy action thatconfronts the structured invisibility of theseviolences. Along with the hidden deprivation offood is the physical and political isolation ofcritical knowledge on food violences and needs,and for policy strategies to address them. Iargue that efforts dedicated on behalf of ahuman right to food can benefit from thetheoretical analysis and activist work of theinternational Women's Rights are Human Rights(WRHR) movement. WRHR focuses on women andgirls; the food rights movement operates onbehalf of all people, with an emphasis on thepoor. Both attend to the protection of bodilyintegrity against physical and psychicviolences. Both cope with bodily violences thatare socially privatized and spatiallysegregated from public institutions of relief,that is, they are tacitly omitted from publicdiscourse and purview. Most typically, but notexclusively, these violences unfold in privatehousehold space. Both rights movements mustmobilize political rights to demand economicand social rights and security. I introduce theUnited Nations' early Declaration (1948) andCovenant (1966) language on the human right tofood and review problems of household accessand grassroots engagement that are ``writteninto' this early documentation. An abbreviatedoverview of the WRHR movement describes how thepublic/private and economic/political rightsdichotomies have been critiqued andre-formulated. A case study set in Polandacross the transition from (more) communist to(more) capitalist political economies attemptsto illuminate the discussion through agrounded example.     

The Precautionary Principle: Scientific Uncertainty and Omitted Research in the Context of GMO Use and Release

Commercialization of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have sparked profound controversies concerning adequate approaches to risk regulation. Scientific uncertainty and ambiguity, omitted research areas, and lack of basic knowledge crucial to risk assessmentshave become apparent. The objective of this article is to discuss the policy and practical implementation of the Precautionary Principle. A major conclusion is that the void in scientific understanding concerning risks posed by secondary effects and the complexity ofcause-effect relations warrant further research. Initiatives to approach the acceptance or rejection of a number of risk-associated hypotheses is badly needed. Further, since scientific advice plays a key role in GMOregulations, scientists have a responsibility to address and communicate uncertainty to policy makers and the public. Hence, the acceptance of uncertainty is not only a scientific issue, but is related to public policy and involves an ethical dimension.     

Differential effects of strain on two forms of work performance: individual employee sales and creativity

In this research, we develop and test a model of the links between psychological strain (subjective experiences of feeling conflict and tension) and work performance. Our model includes two types of strain (work strain and home strain) and two forms of work performance (quantity of individual sales performance and creativity). Thus we acknowledge the importance of work and non‐work sources of strain as well as the multidimensional nature of work performance. We test the proposed relationships with data collected over six months from a field sample of 195 hair salon stylists (personal service workers who interact directly with customers and provide services directly to individuals and not to other firms). Results demonstrate a positive relation between work strain and individual employee sales performance and a negative relation between home strain and employee creativity at work. Leader–member exchange moderated the effects of work strain and home strain on creativity. We discuss findings and implications, emphasizing multiple roles, the importance of differentiating types of strain, and the multidimensionality of work performance. We conclude by suggesting that strain may be particularly relevant to work performance of employees in jobs like those in our sample which are characterized by high social interdependence and low task interdependence. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Guidance for determining the best disposition of large tracts of decommissioned land

Many government agencies and other organizations hold large tracts of surplus land. Some are investigating ways to lower expenses by selling the land or transferring management responsibility. There is no generally recognized process used to decide what land can be decommissioned and what future use would be best. This paper provides guidance for land‐use decisions in the form of a checklist. The checklist questions address both the socio‐economic resources and current land use in the region, and the ecological resources and suitability of the tract itself. The answers will clarify regional public needs and the economic and ecological values of the land.     

CONTROLLING PHOSPHORUS IN RUNOFF FROM LONG TERM DAIRY WASTE APPLICATION FIELDS1

ABSTRACT: Phosphorus (P) in runoff from long term animal waste application fields can contribute to accelerated eutrophication of surface waters. Manure when applied at nitrogen (N) agronomic rates generally increases soil P concentrations, which can increase runoff of soluble P. Along the North Bosque River in central Texas, dairy waste application fields are identified as the most controllable nonpoint source of soluble P in a total maximum daily load. To evaluate P reduction practices for fields high in soil extractable P, edge‐of‐field runoff was measured from paired plots of Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)/ winter wheat (Triticum spp.). Plots (about 0.4 ha) received manure at P agronomic rates following Texas permit guidelines and commercial N during the pretreatment period. During the post‐treatment period, control plots continued to receive manure at P agronomic rates and commercial N. Treatment plots received only commercial N during the post‐treatment period. Use of only commercial N on soils with high extractable P levels significantly decreased P loadings in edge‐of‐field runoff by at least 40 percent, but runoff concentrations sometimes increased. No notable changes in extractable soil P concentrations were observed after five years of monitoring due to drought conditions limiting forage uptake and removal.