The Most Interesting News Stories From August and September

In case you missed them, here are some of the most interesting news stories we’ve blogged about over the last two months:

North Austin Security Cameras Scheduled for Activation Today (August 1, 2011)
APD’s Higher Activity Location Observation, or HALO, project was launched when four security cameras were installed in North Austin. The cameras will be monitored for criminal activity 24/7, and plans are in place to bring similar cameras to Sixth Street.

Bexar County Sponsors DWI Billboards (August 10, 2011)
Throughout August, San Antonio police bolstered DWI enforcement. One of their initiatives included using 12 digital billboards to display the names and faces of wanted DWI violators.

New Website Advocates Stricter DWI Policies (August 8, 2011)
A San Antonio man launched EndDWITexas.com to advocate for stricter DWI penalties after his son was killed by a drunk driver. The website recommends interlock devices and sobriety checkpoints.

Houston Bans Red Light Cameras (August 29, 2011)
Citing civil rights concerns and high costs, Houston shut off its red light cameras this August. The decision came after a year of debate and a federal ruling.

Study Involving APD Could Decrease Witness Misidentification (September 19, 2011)
APD participated in a study regarding suspect line-ups, which revealed that double-blind, one-at-a-time line-ups prevented misidentification. No plans are in place yet to change APD’s policy.

Police Monitor Shows Increased Complaints in South Austin (September 9, 2011)
Complaints against police in south Austin increased by over 400%, according to the Office of the Police Monitor. Generally Sixth Street receives the most officer complaints. APD has not yet determined the reason for the jump in complaints.