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Should there be a new legal framework for the cloud? Kent Walker, Google’s SVP and general counsel, recently delivered a speech at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. His thoughts have opened the floodgates for new debates and discussions on cybersecurity, data privacy and, most importantly, on the need for a new legal framework for the cloud. Read more here.
Lake County officers training to revive police dogs who overdose after contact with opioids: Police dogs that come into contact with strong opioids during their duties will be able to be revived by their handlers under a training program that has been initiated for Lake County police departments. Read more here.
How Insurance Companies Can Force Bad Cops Off the Job: When Anthony Miranda was sworn in as police chief of Irwindale, California, four years ago, the department in this small gravel-mining city about 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles was in the midst of a downward spiral. Three officers had recently been accused of serious crimes… The problems with the police force were not just troubling—they were existential. In August 2013, the city’s insurer, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, had threatened to revoke Irwindale’s liability insurance unless City Hall and the police department took substantive steps to tackle internal corruption, the likes of which had led to nearly $2 million in settlements paid out over a five-year period. Read more here.
How driverless cars could be a big problem for cities: The technology could signal the beginning of the end of parking tickets and other revenue sources. Some cities’ budgets could take a big hit. Read more here.
Virginia’s ‘Smart Scale’ transportation program frustrates local officials: The program, according to Fredericksburg Councilman Matt Kelly, helps get smaller, less-expensive projects in the pipeline, but isn’t doing much to help fix bigger transportation problems. Read more here.
DMV unveils interactive map of car crashes: If you’ve ever wondered how many accidents have happened on your street, or just how dangerous your morning commute is, look no further. The Virginia DMV recently unveiled an interactive crash locations map. Read more here.
AZ Chief Sends Officers to Driving School After Series of Minor Accidents: The chief of the Casa Grande (AZ) Police Department has decided to send all of his patrol officers back to driving school following a series of minor accidents involving the agency’s vehicles. Read more here.
Transportation and the challenge of future-proofing our cities: To preserve their communities’ economic and social well-being, leaders will need to manage an endless cycle of technological disruption. Read more here.
IIHS: Crash-avoidance technologies reduce crash deaths, injuries: Lane departure warnings and blind spot detection technologies are helping to prevent motor vehicle crashes and related injuries, according to new research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Read more here.
The drone dilemma: Caught between federal rules, legal ambiguity and public service, local governments struggle to find their places in governing private and commercial drone activity. Read more here.
Data prophets: Predictive data analytics will make fleets better and cities smarter. Read more here.
The social net-worth: Social media isn’t just for cat memes and selfies; these networks are powerful tools local governments are using to connect and communicate with their residents in ways never before possible. Read more here.
Destination Zero: The Destination Zero program is designed to help agencies improve the health and safety of law enforcement officers across the country, from agent to correctional officer, from trooper to patrolman, from sheriff to constable; Destination Zero is searching for programs that benefit all. Learn more here.
5 steps to secure your emergency call center: A call center can be an attractive target for hackers. Here are some basic tips to minimize your risk of attack. Read more here.
Why leading smart cities are often bike-friendly cities: The International Cycling Safety Conference in Davis, Calif., will explore how data from vehicles, smart and connected devices or sensors and other objects in the urban landscape can work to serve the needs and safety of cyclists. Read more here.
Autonomous vehicles’ future may be further away, different than imagined: Experts agree that electric and autonomous vehicle technologies are here to stay, but where the industry will be in a decade or more is open to debate. Read more here.
Georgia and Alabama cities become test beds for early warning traffic safety app: Atlanta, Marietta, Ga. and Tuscaloosa, Ala., are launching an IoT project that connects cars, cyclists and pedestrians to improve safety and mobility on busy urban roadways. Read more here.
