Houston shares secret to stop wrong way drivers

ATLANTA, Ga. -- In August, five people died on metro Atlanta freeways in wrong way crashes. More than 100 people have died in Georgia in the past five years. The DOT says it posts signs warning drivers and improved road markings, but beyond that, claims there's not much it can do.

11Alive reached out to communities across the country to investigate if any of them had tackled the problem successfully. Our search sent us to Houston.

MORE | Sign our peition to stop wrong way drivers

After a wrong way crash killed three people on New Year's eve in 2008, the Harris County toll road authority turned to its toll technology company, for a solution.

"It was pretty uncharted territory. It was pretty unprecedented at the time so there really was no model to follow," said TransCore vice president Whitt Hall.

Hall says Transcore built its own system, re-purposing speed radars to detect cars traveling the wrong way on exit ramps. When the system is triggered, a warning sounds in the toll authority's transportation command center, programmed cameras zoom to the location where a dispatcher can verify the alarm and an officer is sent to respond.

"It happens very quickly. The vehicle when it enters the system the wrong way it gives us the alert right away, we respond right away," said Sgt. Herbert Martinez.

At the same time, message boards in the area warn drivers nearby, actually directing them to move over and stop.

"We have told all of our officers not to chase a wrong way driver, but to get yourself in position ahead of them to deploy the spike strip," says Asst. Chief Randy Johnson who heads Incident Management for the Toll Road Authority.

The system cost about $335,000 to install in 19 locations. But the results are impressive. In four years, this 17 mile stretch has had 100 wrong way drivers, but not a single car crash.

"Wrong way detection does not stop wrong way drivers. It lets us know that they're out there and where they got on," said Johnson.
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There have been lessons learned. The radars are prone to false alarms. So the toll authority is spending more than $500,000 to install sensors in the pavement instead.

"When it was raining hard, trees leaves were blowing the wrong way, you can get that wrong way movement that it's looking for," said Hall.

The toll authority has also installed road lights and a flashing sign at one intersection where most of the wrong way drivers aren't drunk, but confused.

"I think you get kind of complacent driving around a city the size of Houston, just signs everywhere, so just a little something extra to draw your attention to that sign seems to be helping quite a bit, that they're not going beyond that point. They're turning around," said Hall.

The system has won national and international awards. Guests from Mexico, Columbia and China have come to see it. But it only appears San Antonio has attempted to recreate it. There, the Texas DOT has spent $500,000 to install radars on its most dangerous stretch, along with flashing signs and message boards for motorists.

" To us it's one thing to detect a driver, it's a second to stop them and it's a third, to notify the motorists that are going the correct way that they may need to be aware of drivers going the wrong way ahead and to try and make the drivers going correctly, aware of the wrong way driver," said Texas DOT spokesperson Stuart Corder.

The problem for most communities is cost and cooperation. To install something similar to Houston's system around I-285 in Atlanta, would cost about $3 million. Police departments would have to create a unified policy on how to respond to wrong way drivers and method for dispatching officers.

As for cost, the Texas DOT says there may soon be a cheaper, easier way to tackle the problem, using the same technology already in use to gauge traffic congestion during commuter hours.

"Those manufacturers we're finding in the last year or so, are now putting out technology where they're making wrong way detection available in the same units," Corder said.

Texas hopes to pilot the new software in several spots around Houston within the year and Georgia says it will be watching. Like Atlanta, outside of the West Park Tollway, the city relies on 911 calls to alert them to a wrong way driver. But the time between a sensor detecting a wrong way driver and that first 911 call is usually more than two minutes.

"Time is so important, seconds count," said Johnson.

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Parking Bill of Rights law may get more teeth

ATLANTA -- After Atlanta City Council adopted 11Alive's Parking Bill of Rights and made it law, questions about how to enforce that law began to surface.

Wednesday, the Council's Transportation Committee will discuss a proposed amendment designed to give that new law some teeth.

The amendment proposed by Councilman Lamar Willis includes:

* PARKatlanta maintain all parking related signage in right-of-way.

* PARKatlanta must provide an online process for filing complaints on its website.

* PARKatlanta must respond to all online complaints within 2 days.

* PARKatlanta must share with the City all complaints, as well as PARKatlanta's response.

* PARKatlanta must have a specific phone number dedicated solely to questions and complaints.

* Amendment calls for improved employee training that is approved by city

Citations may not be issued:

* Where meters are non-functioning.

* Where unclear, conflicting, or hidden signage is in place.

* Where signage needs to be repaired, replaced, or relocated

* Where signage is not installed, has been removed, or is otherwise missing from metered area.

If a ticket is issued in any of these cases, the ticket shall be promptly voided by PARKatlanta once they are made aware.

As a result of these concessions, PARKatlanta will pay the City $5.3 million annually instead of $5.5 million.

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Waste Watchers: Taxpayers purchase $3M worrth of cow pasture

MCDONOUGH, Ga - Taxpayers in Henry County own $3 million worth of cow pasture.

There's supposed to be a park there, but four years after buying 123 acres on Kelleytown Road, the property is still acre after acre of green grass and grazing cattle.

John Koivisto lives next door, and thinks the county spent too much, park or no park.

"But once you've got it, do something with it instead of letting it sit empty," said Koivisto. "It seems like a waste."

In 2008, Henry County agreed to purchase the property that would be known as Kelleytown Park. The plan was to create a passive park with a pavilion along with hiking and biking trails.

The county purchased the property for $3.2 million from a land owner who bought it for $2.3 million four years before.

A county spokesperson says there was not an independent appraisal of the land prior to the county's purchase.

"The county wanted park land in that area because it was underserved," said spokesperson Julie Hoover-Ernst. "At that point and time, it was for the fair market value for that size, that parcel of land. It was at the peak of our real estate pricing before things started to go down with the economy."

Four years later, the county doesn't have the money to construct the park.

The land was purchased with funds collected from a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Henry County's plan was to develop the park with money collected after voters agreed to extend the tax.

But the tax extension didn't bring in the money the county expected.

"Because of the economy, the SPLOST revenue hasn't been where they were projected to be," said Hoover-Ernst. "There have been other projects put on hold because the revenues aren't there."

The park project isn't dead.

Volunteer organizations have already started work on the biking and hiking trails. Using donated funds and supplies, they've developed a design that was recently approved. They're hoping to have work on the park complete by spring or summer of 2013.

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Authorities searching for Stockbridge bank robber

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. --- Henry County Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are searching for a man who robbed a SunTrust Bank branch in Stockbridge on Tuesday afternoon. 

According to authorities, the robbery happened around 2:54 p.m. when a black male entered the bank located inside the Publix grocery store at 909 Eagle Landing Parkway. 

The man displayed a handgun in his waistband and made away with an undisclosed amount of money. 

The robber is described as a black male, early 20's in age, slender build and wearing a dark blue dress suit.

Anyone with information should contact Henry County Police at (770) 288-8200 or Atlanta Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-8477.

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Henry Co. officer killed in hit-and-run identified

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. -- A Henry County officer has died after being hit by a car while helping a stranded driver. 

According to Henry County Police, 53-year-old Officer Elgin L. Daniel, was assisting a stranded motorist on N. Henry Boulevard near the Star Lite Skate Center.  A passing vehicle struck officer Daniel and a roadside assistance worker.

Henry County Police Sgt. Joey Smith said Daniel was a 2-year veteran of the department. He also served 26 years with DeKalb County Police before retiring as a Lieutenant.

The roadside assistance worker was identified as 58-year-old John Cook. He is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries at Atlanta Medical Center.

Police said the two men were putting gas into the stranded car, a red Mustang, when they were hit.

The driver of that Mustang told 11Alive's Blayne Alexander the oncoming car was moving like a "bolt of lightning."

"[They] were standing on the side where you put gas in, and I was standing behind it," said driver Gordon Jarrett. "Next thing I know, I seen two bodies fly through the air."

The vehicle continued driving toward Rockdale County on Highway 138 east. Authorities believe the suspect is driving a 2000 to 2007 F250 pickup truck with a standard cab, dual wheels and damage to the driver mirror and front left side.

According to Henry County Maj. Jason Bolton, the truck would likely be missing the left side-view mirror; authorities found one still at the scene.

"This officer had flashing blue lights, he was very visible along the roadway," Bolton said. "[The driver] certainly would have known after striking two individuals that he had been involved in an accident."

Bolton said the driver will likely face multiple charges, including vehicular homicide, aggravated assault and leaving the scene of an accident.

Henry County officials are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the hit-and-run driver.

DeKalb County Public Safety Director William Z. Miller and Interim Police Chief Lisa Gassner released a statement about Daniel's death Tuesday afternoon:

We would like to extend our condolences to the Daniel family and the Henry County Police Department on the tragic loss of Officer Elgin Daniel. Our hearts are especially heavy since Elgin served honorably on the DeKalb County Police force for 25 years before retiring as a Lieutenant in 2010. He left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of his fellow officers. He will forever be remembered as a man who always encouraged others to challenge themselves and strive to live a life of excellence.

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Authorties arrest suspect in Henry Co. hit-and-run

STOCKBRIDGE - Henry County Police have arrested a man they think is responsible for a hit-and-run crash that killed a police officer and sent a stranded motorist to the hospital. 

RELATED | Henry Co. officer killed in hit-and-run identified

Investigators say 43-year-old Ruben Marin-Garibay  hit Henry County police officer Elgin Daniel and another man with his Ford pickup truck on Monday night, then kept going.

Marin-Garibay is being charged with vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, failure to maintain lane, and hit & run. He is currently detained at the Henry County Jail. 

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Henry Co. police officer killed in hit-and-run accident

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. -- A Henry County officer has died after being struck by a car while helping a stranded driver in Henry County on Monday evening. 

According to Henry County Police, the officer was assisting a stranded motorist on N. Henry Boulevard near the Star Lite Skate Center when he and another man were struck by a vehicle. 

The second victim, a roadside assistance employee who was also responding to the stranded driver, is expected to survive. Neither victim has been identified.

Police said the two men were putting gas into the stranded car, a red Mustang, when they were hit.

The driver of that Mustang told 11Alive's Blayne Alexander the oncoming car was moving like a "bolt of lightning."

"[They] were standing on the side where you put gas in, and I was standing behind it," said driver Gordon Jarrett. "Next thing I know, I seen two bodies fly through the air."

The vehicle continued driving toward Rockdale County on Hwy 138 east. Authorities believe the suspect is driving a 1997 to 2007 F250 pick up truck with damage to the driver mirror and the front left side. 

According to Henry County Major Jason Bolton, the truck would likely be missing the left side-view mirror; authorities found one still at the scene.

"This officer had flashing blue lights, he was very visible along the roadway," Bolton said. "[He] certainly would have known after striking two individuals that he had been involved in an accident."

Bolton said the driver will likely face multiple charges, including vehicular homicide, aggravated assault and leaving the scene of an accident.

Both men were rushed to Atlanta Medical Center where the officer died nearly three hours later. Henry County hasn't released the identity of the officer pending notification of next-of-kin. 

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School buses breaking the rules of the road

ATLANTA -- Every day, Georgia school buses transport more than a million students; with two of the largest fleets in the country operating right here in the Atlanta area. So we wondered, "How safe are your children when they step on a school bus?"

We conducted Open Records searches to get a handle on driver safety. We discovered that school bus drivers, like the rest of us, are not immune to getting tickets.

MORE | School bus violations county by county

We requested red light camera tickets and moving violations for bus drivers in five school districts in the Atlanta area, including Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton Counties as well as Atlanta Public Schools.

We found examples of buses running red lights and obtained the video to go along with some of those violations.  We also discovered other serious infractions, including a hit and run involving a Dekalb School bus, Atlanta school buses involved in accidents and buses in Cobb and DeKalb Counties cited for speeding, some in school zones.

It's difficult to make comparisons between school districts, because they all track driver histories differently.
"Oh yeah they're strict, they're strict on tickets oh yeah," said DeKalb County School bus driver, James Porter.

He got a warning for speeding last year but was cited for, 'Following Too Close', after striking another vehicle.
DeKalb County Schools requires all its bus drivers to turn in any traffic violations they receive, which is how we got copies of the violations.

Other school districts like Atlanta Public Schools and Gwinnett do driver history checks with the Department of Driver Services. 

However, Gwinnett County Schools provided us with copies of red light camera tickets.  Atlanta Public Schools gave us copies of accident reports where their drivers were cited for being at fault.

Overall the number of moving violations was small when compared to the thousands of buses and drivers and number of miles traveled.

From, January 1 of 2011 to September of this year, Dekalb County provided 53 moving violations, Cobb had 13, Fulton 10, and Gwinnett gave us 7 red light camera tickets and Atlanta Public Schools turned over 33 accident reports involving their drivers.

All of the school districts provide driver training and follow up safety courses when their drivers are given a moving violation. Drivers are also subject to termination for numerous offenses. 

You can do your part, if you see a School Bus breaking the rules of the road, take down the number and call police, because safety is a serious matter.

The good news is; accidents involving school buses continue to decline.  According to numbers provided by the State Superintendent of Schools there's been a decline in school bus accidents over the last 3 years.

2009 2,470 accidents state-wide were reported to GaDOE 
2010 2,173 accidents state-wide were reported to GaDOE 
2011 1,858 accidents state-wide were reported to GaDOE

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Thousands sign secession petition in Georgia

President Obama claps as he arrives on stage to deliver his acceptance speech in Chicago. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Disappointed with the outcome of last week's election, thousands of Georgians have signed one of two online petitions on the White House's official website asking to peacefully withdraw from the United States.

"Peacefully grant the state of Georgia to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own new government," the petition reads.

If secession seems an extreme position, Georgia is apparently not alone. People in 20 states have signed similar petitions.

To be clear, the petitions do not have the weight of law. No matter how many people signed them, Georgia will not be leaving the union.

However, according to the White House's policy, petitions which garner 25-thousand signatures will receive an official response.

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Memorial honors over 700 fallen heroes near Atlanta

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- The Gwinnett County Fallen Heroes Memorial remembered hundreds of service men and women for Veterans Day on Sunday at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville.

At the memorial, people gathered to honor current active duty members, and to remember those who died while serving America.

Organizer of the event, County Administrator Glenn Stephens started the memorial off by welcoming those who attended, including special guests. He gave a rundown of who would be speaking, and paid tribute to the fallen heroes.

Behind Stephens stood 13 granite markers listing all of the Gwinnett County casualties that have happened at service. The names listed date back to the first Native Americans to fall.

"We can be thankful to God, especially, that we have not had to add any new names to the memorial this year," Stephens said.

Speaking after Stephens was Charlotte Nash, Chairman, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners.

"Let us strive to finish this work we are in," she said, "to bind up our nation's wounds."

Nash continued to speak at the gathering of the importance of the military to put their lives at risk to protect America. Some of those men and women do no come back home, and the memorial is a way of honoring them. Many are lucky to return to their families, and deserve a high honor for what they do.

"We must continue to recognize the service men and women who served our country," Nash said. "As troops come home, we are reminded of the danger that journey brings."

Commissioner Lynette Howard had quite the story as the next to speak. Both of her grandfathers passed away in Veteran Hospitals.

"He was everything for me," she spoke of one of her grandfathers.

Howard told the story of growing up, when her grandfather would come to spend time with her on Saturday mornings, which was their time together. She said he would bring her a bag of butterscotch candy, and have it waiting in the car.

The two frequented the Jacksonville, Fla. beaches, museums and the zoo. They also went to Naval Station Mayport, but Howard remembers at a young age, she was more excited for getting ice cream.

Howard then spoke of years later, watching a movie with her son on the USS Hornet, the United States Navy aircraft carrier.

"The Hornet did not have many survivors, it took a lot of courage to be in the water," Howard said. "I learned my grandfather was a survivor of the USS Hornet!"

Keynote speaker James Nelson Jr., Command Sergeant Major of the Georgia National Guard began his service in July 1971. He recognized the danger, force and history that is built by those that serve for the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard, and the higher call they have answered.

"Among America's most significant commemorations," Nelson spoke of the memorial. The way he sees it, our country is forever in debt to our Veterans.  

"Brave and courageous souls, they are one in all," Nelson said. "They stood tall in the face of danger."

He spoke of how blessed the people of our country are to live how we do, especially with the holiday season coming up. The sacrifices of all service men and women continue to inspire our people. According to Nelson, the members of the military have freely chosen to protect us, and give this as a gift.

"They only ask for one thing in return, he said, "to be remembered."

Nelson believes that to be born free is really an accident, as Americans could have been born anywhere, but they were born here.

"To live is a privilege. To die free for our children - that obligation is next to our generation's rewards," he said. "Always remember America will remain the land of the free for only so long as it remains the land of the free."

Joy Nicholson, who has lived in Lawrenceville for around 30 years, came with her husband Dale. He served in Vietnam as a Sergeant and was discharged as a Sergeant.

"We all just take everything for granted," Nicholson said. "For some ladies, we don't know about boot camp and living in the jungle, but you see so many of them all in one place."

According to Dale, coming out to the memorial is his way of honoring his country, and all the many men and women who have served.

"You want to be present and do something," he said. "All of those have names we can remember that really make this the reality that it is. It's those who have died under very bad circumstances."

Mr. Nicholson understands firsthand the sacrifices faced while serving one's country.

He said, "I know what the boys and girls are going through in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's the simple things like sleeping in a bed, having food and toilets... nothing like a good four-holer to start your day!"

The Nicholsons were grateful to attend the Fallen Heroes Memorial, as a way to express appreciation on Veterans Day.

"You're so grateful you don't know how to express it," Joy added. "'Thank you' seems so... not enough."

RELATED | Deals for Veterans Day

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