Matthew B. Parker, of Unionville, Virginia, is charged with attempted first-degree murder. Loudoun County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the residence in the 39300 block of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) around 8:45 a.m. Friday for a report of a 61-year-old woman who had been stabbed.

The victim was airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where she is being treated for life-threatening injuries.

The assault, which was contained to the home and is believed to be domestic in nature, remains under investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.

Parker remains held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.

Activities reported October 24, 2011 through October 30, 2011

There are six sections in this report: Section I: MAJOR INCIDENTS; Section II: OTHER CRIMES; Section III: SERIOUS TRAFFIC RELATED INCIDENTS, Section IV: ASSIST OTHER AGENCY, Section V: MISCELLANEOUS and Section VI: 287(g) ENFORCEMENT.  Sections are identified with appropriate headers.  Within the sections, incidents are organized by Community Policing District, then by type of offense.  Addresses are listed by hundred block.

An asterisk (*) before an item indicates that a special release was distributed on that offense.

SECTION I: MAJOR INCIDENTS

BRUIN DISTRICT

Burglary

600 Block Center Street                        201104957
Amado, Matewas H. 30 year old male of South Riding Va. was arrested for Assault, Burglary, and Adduction, 10/27, 1031

GOLF COURSE DISTRICT

No major incidents to report

HALEY SMITH DISTRICT

No major incidents to report

RUNNYMEDE DISTRICT

*Sexual Assault                            201104723

Kim, Thomas 30 year old male of Herndon was arrested on October 25, 2011 and charged with Abduction, Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony and Sodomy, and Impersonating a Police Office

CENTER DISTRICT

No major incidents to report

SECTION II: OTHER CRIMES

BRUIN DISTRICT

LARCENY

13000 Block Worldgate Drive                    201104963
License plate decals were reported stolen from a vehicle, 1244, 10/27/11

ASSAULT

The victim reported being assaulted by a B/M 20-25 years of age during a verbal altercation, 0149, 10/30/2011

300 Block Cherry Court                        201104989
Johnson, Daniel A. 31 year old male of Herndon was arrested for Assault, 0237, 10/30/11
GOLF COURSE DISTRICT

LARCENY

800 Block Ferndale Avenue                        201104913
The victim reported their bicycle was stolen at 0830 on 10/21/11, reported 2100 on 10/24/11

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

1000 Block Crestview Drive                        201104929
Graffiti was found in the area, 0753, 10/25/11

HALEY SMITH DISTRICT

LARCENY

400 Block Elden Street                        201104938
Dasini, Chandrasekar 30 year old male of Herndon was charged with Shoplifting, 1908, 10/25/11

400 Block Elden Street                        201104953
Shelton, Latroy 36 year old male of Fairfax was charged with Shoplifting, 0000, 10/27/11

300 Block Elden Street                        201104996
Njala, Bryony B. 20 year old female of Falls Church, Va. was charged with Shoplifting, 2143, 10/30/11

RUNNYMEDE DISTRICT

ASSAULT

1100 Block Casper Drive                        201104995
The victim reported she was assaulted by an acquaintance, 1943, 10/30/11

LARCENY

1000 Block Charlton Place                        201104920
The victim reported that his credit card was used in Colorado without his permission on October 13, 2011, reported 1650, 10/24/11

1000 Block Merlins Lane                        201104924
The victim reported their credit card was used in Ohio without their permission over the past several days, reported 2106, 10/24/11

CENTER DISTRICT

LARCENY

1200 Block Elden Street                        201104915
The victim reported their credit card was used in Herndon without their permission, 1200, 10/24/11

1000 Block Elden Street                        201104967
Rodriguez, Erlys 29 year old male of Herndon was arrested for Defrauding a Taxi, 0231, 10/28/11

DESTRUCTION of PROPERTY

1100 Block Elden Street                        201104918
The victim’s vehicle was scratched between 0700 on 10/21/11 and 0900 on 10/23/11

DRUNKENNESS

1200 Block Elden Street                        201104935
Medrano Vasquez, Hugo 51 year old male of Sterling was arrested for Drunk in Public, 1348, 10/25/11

1100 Block Elden Street                        201104951
Magruer, Jenna M. 22 year old female of Falls Church Va. was arrested with Drunk in Public, 2216, 10/27/11

SECTION III: SERIOUS TRAFFIC RELATED INCIDENTS

700 Block Elden Street                        201104926
Sproat, Scott, M. 34 year old male of Austin, Tx. was arrested for Driving while Intoxicated, 2243, 10/24/11

700 Block Elden Street                        201104986
Barralaga, Henson N. 37 year old male of Columbia, Md. was arrested for Driving while Intoxicated, 2249, 10/29/11

Number of Incidents
Traffic Incidents                                             09/26/11-10/02/11

Reckless Driving Summonses                               1
DUI                                   2
Speeding                                                                    10
No Operators License                                   3
No/Expired Town Sticker                        34
Driving While on Suspended/Revoked License         1

SECTION IV: ASSIST OTHER AGENCY

None

SECTION V:  MISCELLANEOUS

ENHANCED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

Speeding                                700 Block Dranesville Road
Stopping on the Highway      Herndon Parkway and Dranesville Road
Highway Sign                        900 Block Locust Street
Reckless Driving                   100 Block Elden Street

ARRESTS FROM PREVIOUSLY REPORTED CASES

None

SECTION VI:  287(g) ENFORCEMENT

The table below provides statistical data in relation to the Town of Herndon’s Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).    A detainer is generally obtained when the investigation, or ICE authorization, calls for detention.  Detainees are held in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and eventually processed through the federal court system.  Final disposition of these cases is under the purview of ICE.

2011    Investigations    Detainers Issued
January    7    4
February    22    5
March    7    2
April    3    1
May    13    7
June    8    5
July    4    4
August    11    6
September    14    6
2011 Total    89    40

“The ‘Police Incident Viewer’ on the Town of Herndon’s Web site, www.herndon-va.gov, allows for real-time tracking of police activity in neighborhoods throughout the town.

“Tomorrow, students will be sending a loud and clear message that abortion must end and all innocent human life must be protected from conception to natural death,” said event organizer Bryan Kemper, founder Stand True Ministries and Youth Outreach Director for Priests for Life.

“The day is about sacrifice and that is why it is fitting that this year’s event is dedicated to Kortney Blythe Gordon and her baby Sophy.  Kortney was a beacon of light and sacrificed more than anyone can ever imagine in her fight as an abortion abolitionist.”

Mrs. Gordon, 28, was a field director for Students for Life of America.

For the eighth annual Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity, students at 1,200 colleges, high schools, middle schools and home schools have pledged to remain silent in solidarity with thousands of unborn children permanently silenced by abortion every single day.

“Last year, we heard back from 64 girls who canceled their abortions because of the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity and dozens of kids who changed their hearts and are now pro-life,” Kemper said. “These are just the ones we have heard back from; we have no idea how many lives were actually saved. But we do know that just one life makes this whole day worth the effort.”

The Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity is a project of Stand True and Priests for Life and is co-sponsored by LifeNews.com, Students for Life of America and Survivors.

The repeal took effect at midnight.

Here is the president’s statement:

Today, the discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is finally and formally repealed. As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love. As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service.

I was proud to sign the Repeal Act into law last December because I knew that it would enhance our national security, increase our military readiness, and bring us closer to the principles of equality and fairness that define us as Americans. Today’s achievement is a tribute to all the patriots who fought and marched for change; to Members of Congress, from both parties, who voted for repeal; to our civilian and military leaders who ensured a smooth transition; and to the professionalism of our men and women in uniform who showed that they were ready to move forward together, as one team, to meet the missions we ask of them.

For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to all our citizens. Our armed forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including gays and lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans. Today, every American can be proud that we have taken another great step toward keeping our military the finest in the world and toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals.

The study, by Cornell economist Michael Lovenheim, finds evidence that when home values soared in the late 1990s and early 2000′s, many families borrowed against that new equity to send kids to college, boosting overall college attendance nationwide. Now that the boom is over and families have less equity in their homes, it could mean fewer students heading to college, especially kids from middle and lower income households.

To see how the housing boom affected college attendance, Lovenheim looked at differences in real estate markets around the country.

“Housing prices grew dramatically in the 1990′s, but they didn’t do so evenly across cities,” Lovenheim said. “For example, housing prices in San Francisco increased six-fold during the housing boom, whereas in places like Oklahoma City, prices barely doubled. If housing wealth affects college enrollment, any increases in college attendance during the boom years should be much larger in a place like San Francisco compared to Oklahoma City.”

Read full story via – Remigio Ferrara Mortgage Consultant

Vandalism
11-16272
10390 Democracy Lane / Parking Lot – On September 7 at 5:06 PM the vehicle owner reported that sometime after 8:00 AM unknown person(s) had broken a window on his parked vehicle.

Vandalism
11-16292
9700 Fairfax Boulevard / Econo Lodge – On September 8 at 1:18 AM a guest reported that unknown person(s) had broken a window of her room and that she had observed a young white male subject in the area at the time. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the subject.

Fraud
11-16307
10500 Block of Main Street / Main Street Green – On September 8 at 10:21 AM the resident reported that on August 1 he had paid a male subject for air conditioning system work which was never done and had subsequently been unable to contact the individual.

Vandalism
11-16310
9817 Fairfax Boulevard / Esposito’s Parking Lot – On September 8 at 10:57 AM the vehicle owner reported that sometime between 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM on September 3 unknown person(s) had broken a window on his parked vehicle.

Larceny
11-16315
3949 University Drive / Parking Lot – On September 8 at 11:57 AM the victim reported that sometime between August 20 and August 23 unknown person(s) had stolen a portable generator which his organization had been renting.

Shoplifting
11-16320
9600 Main Street / Ulta – On September 8 at 1:51 PM an employee reported that she had observed a female subject conceal items of merchandise in her handbag and subsequently leave the store without paying.

Larceny
11-16341
10480 Fairfax Boulevard / Jim McKay Used Cars Lot – On September 8 at 4:09 PM a City of Fairfax Fire and Rescue Department member reported that a radio microphone and strap had been stolen while he was performing a water rescue and that a male subject had been observed taking it.

Credit Card Theft
11-16357
9600 Main Street / FedExKinko’s – On September 8 at 8:49 PM the victim reported that about 7:00 PM on September 7 he had left his credit card at a copier machine and subsequently unknown person(s) had used it to make unauthorized purchases.

Identity Theft
11-16360
10200 Block of Sager Avenue – On September 8 at 9:37 PM the victim reported that on September 1 unknown person(s) had used her credit card number to make an unauthorized purchase in California.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in April 2011 rose 48.3 percent in two years from April 2009 but remained 0.7 percent below the early recession level of April 2008. See Transborder Press Releases for historic data. Values in this press release are not adjusted for inflation.

U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade both increased when compared to April 2010 with U.S.-Canada totaling $44.6 billion, an 11.8 percent increase, and U.S.-Mexico totaling $29.1 billion, a 12.4 percent increase.

Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones and other. In April, 84.7 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land, 11.1 percent moved by vessel, and 4.2 percent moved by air.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in April was up 19.5 percent compared to April 2006, and up 57.6 percent compared to April 2001, a period of 10 years. Imports in April were up 48.3 percent compared to April 2001, while exports were up 70.0 percent.

“Investing in a modern transportation network is a key part of President Obama’s strategy to win the future by out-building and out-competing the rest of the world,” Secretary LaHood said. “America’s long-term economic success requires investing now in transportation infrastructure capable of moving people and goods more safely, efficiently and quickly than ever before.”

“Our investments in expanding America’s transit networks will not only improve reliable transportation access for communities across the country, they will support construction jobs and economic development,” said Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff. “And, a more efficient and reliable transit network means new opportunities for Americans to keep more of their paychecks in their wallets and spend less at the gas pump.”

Twenty-seven transit projects across America are on a path to receive funding under the New Starts program, through which Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides federal support for major capital construction projects such as subways, light rail, streetcars, and bus rapid transit. These projects include:

• The New Britain-Hartford Busway will provide commuters traveling between New Britain and Hartford a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to the current daily commute on Interstate 84, the region’s most congested highway. The dedicated busway will provide the area’s relatively large transit-dependent population better access to the 81,000 jobs along the route and across the busway’s 11 stations, promote redevelopment opportunities along the 9.4-mile corridor, and provide faster transit access to major activity centers throughout the area. The FTA anticipates an overall federal commitment of $275.3 million to the $572.7 million project.
• Denver’s 13-station Eagle Commuter Rail project, which will add nearly 23 miles of service to Denver’s transit system connecting downtown Denver and Denver International Airport to the east with numerous communities in between. Ultimately, the FTA projects contributing approximately $1 billion towards the $2 billion project, which is expected to create 5,400 jobs during peak construction. This is one component of FasTracks, a multi-billion dollar, multi-year transit-expansion program that will help Denver support smart, sustainable growth, create jobs, and compete for business for decades to come.
• The Rapid C Bus Rapid Transit Line will help to relieve traffic congestion in West Seattle, Washington, improve access to downtown Seattle’s 150,000 jobs, and connect the popular Washington State Ferries serving Vashon Island and Southworth among other spots along the corridor. Nearly $21.3 million in discretionary 2011 funds has been budgeted for construction of the $28.4 million project. The C Line, which should be fully operational by the fall of 2012, is expected to create approximately 180 construction, manufacturing, and transportation jobs during the peak construction period.
• The Central Corridor light rail project will connect Minnesota’s two largest cities—Minneapolis and Saint Paul—by light rail for the first time. The FTA recently signed a Full Funding Grant Agreement making a long-term financial commitment to the $957 million light rail line, which will carry 40,000 riders along this busy 11-mile corridor. The project, which includes 18 new stations and 31 new rail cars, is scheduled to open in 2014. In addition to serving the downtown areas of the Twin Cities, the Central Corridor line will provide more efficient access to the University of Minnesota, the Midway area, the State Capitol complex, Target Field and the Metrodome, and many neighborhoods in between.
• The Austin MetroRapid is a 37.5-mile, 40-stop, bus rapid transit (BRT) system.  The FTA is supporting the local vision with a $24.2 million investment in 2011 towards the nearly $50 million project.  The project, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2013, is the first phase of Capitol Metropolitan Transit Authority’s comprehensive and forward-leaning All Systems Go ten-corridor long-range transit plan.

A complete list of the 27 projects receiving New Starts funding allocations for 2011 can be found here.

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Last weekend, Home Depot sponsored the Southern Maine Pride event in Portland. During the opening ceremony, emcee Khris Francis thanked the company for their support of gay men. On June 11, over one dozen employees wearing Home Depot gear marched in the Boston Pride parade.

Read full story via Home Depot’s Support for Gay Marriage Sparks Boycott – Winchester Va News.

“When passengers shop for air transportation, they have a right to know the full price they’ll be paying,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “We take our airline price advertising rules seriously and expect carriers to comply with them.”

DOT requires any advertising that includes a price for air transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer. The only exception, which will end on Oct. 24 due to a recently adopted DOT rule, is for government-imposed taxes and fees that are assessed on a per-passenger basis, such as passenger facility charges. If these taxes and fees are listed separately, the first mention in an advertisement of a fare must clearly disclose that the price does not include these charges and list their amounts. For Internet listings, these taxes and fees may be disclosed through a prominent link next to the stated fare that notes that taxes and fees are extra, and takes viewers directly to a location where the type and amount of the charges are displayed. Carriers also are specifically required to identify the Sept. 11^th security fee of $2.50 for each passenger boarding at a U.S. airport. The rules apply to both U.S. and foreign carriers as well as ticket agents.

The Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office found that China Airlines’ Web page displayed advertisements for a period of time that did not provide any information on additional taxes and fees, including the Sept. 11^th security fee. Consumers did not learn of the full amount they would pay until just prior to purchasing the fare.

The airlines received $3.4 billion from baggage fees and $2.3 billion from reservation change fees in 2010. These are the only fees paid by passengers that BTS can identify separately. All other fees paid by passengers are included in larger categories with other types of revenue.

Additional fourth-quarter 2010 data are not yet available.

BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, also reported that U.S. airlines carried 2.2 percent more domestic passengers in March 2011 than in March 2010. The number of international passengers on U.S. carriers in March 2011 increased 1.8 percent over March 2010.

Additional traffic numbers can be found on the BTS website in the Airline Industry box. Click on a link in the column on the right. For more historic numbers, see Traffic on the BTS website.

Burnett & Williams – Personal Injury Lawyers in Northern Virginia

“Air travelers have a right to know whether the flight they are buying is chronically delayed or canceled,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Protecting the rights of air travelers is a high priority for DOT and we will continue to take enforcement action when necessary.”

According to DOT’s airline consumer rule that became effective in April 2010, the 16 largest U.S. carriers must post information on their Web sites about the on-time performance of each of their flights. The information must include the percentage of flights that arrived within 15 minutes of schedule; the percentage of arrivals that were more than 30 minutes late, with special highlighting if these flights were late more than 50 percent of the time; and the percentage of cancellations if more than 5 percent of the flight’s operations were canceled.

DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office reviewed Frontier’s Web site and information provided by the carrier, and found that its on-time performance data were not available to consumers visiting the site during a period of time in early 2011. Frontier did not discover or correct the problem until after the Enforcement Office notified the carrier.

The consent order is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2011-0003.

Burnett & Williams – Personal Injury Lawyers in Northern Virginia

FMCSA took this action after finding that the company, which provided charter bus service in the southeast, was attempting to evade a previous out-of-service order by operating under a different name, JT’s Travel & Charter. The imminent hazard order applies to all officers and future companies affiliated with both JCT Motor Coach, Inc. and JT’s Travel & Charter, Inc.

“Safety is our number one priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “If you are an unsafe, illegal bus company attempting to dodge federal safety standards and place passengers at risk by operating under a different name, we will find you and shut you down.”

FMCSA can declare a commercial motor carrier, including a bus company, to be an imminent hazard if it finds that the carrier’s operations pose a substantial likelihood of serious injury or death. FMCSA’s original out-of-service order issued to JCT Motor Coach, Inc. was the result of a comprehensive compliance review that found numerous significant safety violations by the company.  These included intentionally falsifying vehicle maintenance records, failing to ensure its vehicles were regularly inspected, repaired and maintained, using drivers with positive drug and alcohol testing results, using medically unqualified drivers and failing to comply with federal hours-of-service requirements for drivers.

“This case is an example of FMCSA’s zero-tolerance approach to bus companies that try to mislead the public and violate the law by reincarnating under different names,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “These bus companies and their owners have no place operating on our roads.”

Last month, FMCSA and its state and local law enforcement partners conducted more than 3,000 surprise passenger carrier safety inspections over a two-week period that resulted in 442 unsafe buses or drivers being removed from the nation’s roadways. The strike force issued out-of-service citations to 127 drivers and 315 vehicles during the unannounced inspections that took place from May 1 – 15, 2011.

Additionally, over the past five years, FMCSA has doubled the number of bus inspections and comprehensive safety reviews of the nation’s estimated 4,000 passenger bus companies. Roadside inspections of motorcoaches jumped from 12,991 in 2005 to 25,703 in 2010, while compliance reviews rose from 457 in 2005 to 1,042 in 2010.

On May 5, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) issued a new final rule that requires anyone applying for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to first obtain a commercial driver’s learner’s permit, and requires all state licensing agencies to use a standardized CDL testing system. It also prohibits the use of foreign language interpreters to reduce the potential for testing fraud.

U.S. DOT has also announced several new policy proposals designed to raise the bar for passenger carrier safety, including a provision that would give the Department greater authority to pursue unsafe “reincarnated” passenger carriers by establishing a federal standard to help determine whether a new carrier is a reincarnation of an old, unsafe carrier.

Other U.S. DOT policy proposals include a new procedure that would allow for bus inspections to occur in places such as rest stops, require new motorcoach companies to undergo a full safety audit before receiving operating authority, revise current law to ensure that a driver’s CDL can be suspended or revoked for drug- and alcohol-related offenses committed in non-commercial vehicles, and raise the penalty from $2,000 a day to $25,000 for passenger carriers that attempt to operate without U.S. DOT authority.

Other U.S. DOT policy proposals include a new procedure that would allow for bus inspections to occur in places such as rest stops, require new motorcoach companies to undergo a full safety audit before receiving operating authority, revise current law to ensure that a driver’s CDL can be suspended or revoked for drug- and alcohol-related offenses committed in non-commercial vehicles, and raise the penalty from $2,000 a day to $25,000 for passenger carriers that attempt to operate without U.S. DOT authority.  Any CDL driver’s positive DOT drug or alcohol test would also be reported to the states for CDL revocation.

The U.S. DOT also unveiled a “Think Safety: Every Trip, Every Time” pre-trip safety checklist that helps consumers review a bus company’s safety record, safety rating and U.S. DOT operating authority before buying a ticket or hiring a bus company for group travel. The checklist is available online at FMCSA’s Passenger Bus Safety Web site: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/pcs/Index.aspx. FMCSA encourages consumers to report any unsafe bus company, vehicle or driver to the agency through a toll free hotline 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238) or FMCSA’s consumer complaint Web site: http://nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov/HomePage.asp.

Other steps the U.S. DOT has taken to improve passenger safety include a new rule to ban commercial drivers from texting behind the wheel, and a proposed rule to prohibit hand-held mobile phone use. Further, in a wide-ranging Motorcoach Safety Action plan, the Department has proposed rules that will require buses to have seat belts and electronic on-board recorders to replace easily falsified paper records of driver hours. Finally, the Department launched a new safety measurement system titled Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) that provides detailed safety data to identify bus companies for safety interventions.

For more information on U.S. DOT’s range of passenger bus safety initiatives, please visit the FMCSA Web site at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

The USDOT and Better Business Bureau are calling on businesses across the country to adopt distracted driving policies as part of their employee culture.  A strong distracted driving policy helps companies save lives, reduce time lost from work due to accidents and injuries, reduce insurance premiums, and save money.

“Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on America’s roads,” Secretary LaHood said.  “We know that educating people about the risk of distracted driving works, and we are pleased to be working with BBB to raise awareness and help businesses and consumers fight this problem.”

“BBB is very pleased to help the USDOT spread the word about the dangers of distracted driving,” said Stephen A. Cox, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.  “Raising awareness about the dangers of multi-tasking while driving is vital.  We are pleased to help promote this good work of the USDOT.”

The national website of the Better Business Bureau will feature a link to a free tool kit that provides employers with suggested distracted driving policies to help keep their employees safe.  The kit, created by the USDOT and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), contains materials such as a sample company policy, a sample memo to employees on that policy, and a sample company press release.

In addition, Better Business Bureau’s national website will feature videos from USDOT’s “Faces of Distracted Driving” video series.  The videos include heartbreaking stories from family members who have lost loved ones due to distracted driving accidents.  Better Business Bureau will also provide a link to www.distraction.gov, a complete resource on everything having to do with distracted driving.

Nearly 5,500 people in the U.S. were killed and almost half a million were injured in accidents related to distracted driving in 2009.  Eighteen percent of those fatal accidents involved the use of a cell phone.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s campaign against distracted driving is a multi-modal effort that includes automobiles, trains, planes, and commercial vehicles.

On September 30, 2009, President Obama signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles; when using electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving; or while driving privately owned vehicles when they’re on official government business.  The order also encourages federal contractors and others doing business with the government to adopt and enforce their own policies banning texting while driving on the job.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) banned commercial truck and bus drivers from texting while driving in September 2010, and proposed a ban on the use of cell phones by commercial drivers in December 2010.  In September 2010, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposed a ban on the use of electronic devices by drivers operating a motor vehicle containing hazardous materials, in conjunction with the proposed FMCSA ban.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) banned rail employees from using cell phones or other electronic devices on the job following a September 2008 Metrolink crash in Chatsworth, California that killed 25 people.

After a Northwest flight crew distracted by a laptop overshot their destination by 150 miles, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised air carriers to create and enforce policies that limit distractions in the cockpit and keep pilots focused on transporting passengers safely.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that shipments measured by the Freight TSI rose 14.0 percent over the last 24 months, starting in May 2009, after declining 15.7 percent in the previous 15 months beginning in February 2008.

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments in ton-miles, which are then combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

Recent trend: Freight shipments have increased in 17 of the last 24 months. In April 2011, freight shipments returned to about the same level as September 2008 when the amount of freight shipped was early in its decline. For additional historic data, go to http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml

Year-to-date: For the first four months of 2011, freight shipments measured by the index were up 0.6 percent.

2010 final data: For the full year 2010, freight shipments increased 6.2 percent, revised from 6.4 percent reported in previous releases. For the fourth quarter of 2010, freight shipments increased 1.9 percent, revised from 2.1 percent.

See Freight TSI Press Release for summary tables and additional data. See Transportation Services Index for historic data and methodology.

Burnett & Williams – Personal Injury Lawyers in Northern Virginia

“The Obama Administration is committed to putting Americans back to work making the products our nation needs to compete,” said Secretary Ray LaHood. “We want U.S. manufacturers to supply the rails for U.S. streetcars and today’s meeting was a first step toward making this a reality.”

Deputy Secretary John Porcari, who led the meeting, said he hopes that today’s meeting will help determine the potential market size for steel rails and the level of interest among manufacturers, as well as identify obstacles that need to be addressed.

“The Federal Transit Administration is making major investments in streetcars as they’ve made a real comeback in many cities,” Administrator Rogoff said. “It only makes sense that the rail they ride on is stamped ‘Made in the U.S.A.,’ because with the ingenuity of the American workforce and industry, we can do it right here at home.”

Industry experts estimate that 18,000 metric tons of steel girder rail will be needed over the next three years to meet the demand of streetcar projects being planned and built in the U.S.  That amount is expected to expand to upwards of 33,000 metric tons over the coming decade.

Deputy Secretary Porcari called the meeting following a survey by the FTA and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership that indicated interest among domestic steelwork foundries in manufacturing streetcar rails.

“Consumers have a right to know the full price they will be paying for air fares,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.  “We established airline price advertising rules to protect the consumer and will take enforcement action when these rules are violated.”

DOT requires any advertising that includes a price for air transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer.  The only exception, which will end on Oct. 24 due to a recently adopted DOT rule, is for government-imposed taxes and fees that are assessed on a per-passenger basis, such as passenger facility charges.  If these taxes and fees are listed separately, the first mention in an advertisement of a fare must clearly disclose that the price does not include these charges and list their amounts. For Internet listings, these taxes and fees may be disclosed through a prominent link next to the stated fare that notes that taxes and fees are extra, and takes viewers directly to a location where the type and amount of the charges is displayed.  The rules apply to both U.S. and foreign carriers as well as ticket agents.

For a period of time in 2010 and this year, TACA used a program on its website that allowed consumers to search for flights on exact or flexible dates. Searches by both methods produced airfare quotes noting that the fares did not include taxes and fees, but TACA failed to disclose the type and amount of the taxes and fees as required by DOT rules.

The consent order is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2011-0003.

“Distracted driving kills thousands of people every year on our roads and injures hundreds of thousands more,” said Secretary LaHood.  “By signing this tough texting ban into law today, Governor LePage has taken a crucial step to improve safety and save lives on Maine roads.”

With the addition of Maine, 33 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have now banned text messaging by all drivers. Eight states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands have prohibited all hand-held cell phone use while driving.

In 2009, Secretary LaHood launched a national anti-distracted driving campaign to combat the growing trend of dangerous distracted driving behavior in America. The U.S. DOT has launched a dedicated website, Distraction.gov, to provide the public with a comprehensive source of information on distracted driving. The Department has also hosted two national summits devoted to the issue, crafted sample legislation which states can use to adopt distracted driving laws, and initiated pilot law enforcement programs in Hartford, Conn., and Syracuse, NY modeled after the Department’s successful efforts to increase seatbelt use and curb drunk driving.

In November, the Department of Transportation announced “Faces of Distracted Driving,” a video series featuring people from across the country who have been injured or lost loved ones in distracted driving crashes. To watch videos from the “Faces of Distracted Driving” series and learn more about the U.S. Department of Transportation’s campaign against distracted driving, visit www.distraction.gov.

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BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in March 2011 rose 58.3 percent in two years from March 2009. Trade value in March 2011 was up 14.2 percent from the early recession level of March 2008. See Transborder Press Releases for historic data. Values in this press release are not adjusted for inflation.

Freight value in March rose 21.5 percent from February 2011. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.

U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $48.7 billion in March, up 15.7 percent compared to March 2010. U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $32.1 billion in March, up 15.3 percent compared to March 2010.

Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones and other. In March, 85.8 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land, 9.8 percent moved by vessel, and 4.4 percent moved by air.

See BTS Transborder Data Release for summary tables, state rankings and additional data. See North American Transborder Freight Data for historic data.

BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, also reported that U.S. airlines carried 2.9 percent more domestic passengers in February 2011 than in February 2010. The number of international passengers on U.S. carriers in February 2011 increased 2.9 percent over February 2010 (Tables 7, 13). The February 2011 domestic load factor of 78.0 percent was the highest recorded for any February (Tables 1, 7).

Additional traffic numbers can be found on the BTS website in the Airline Industry box.  Click on a link in the column on the right. For more historic numbers, see Traffic on the BTS website.

See Air Traffic Release for summary tables and additional data.