Well, I am pleased to announce that step 1 is already underway with the design and creation of ORIM RouteWiki. It will be a great place for people to write articles on routes to get information out to travelers around the world. We just got started and I’ve only been able to start on the Whidbey Island article (starting by merging articles from Route Repository to RouteWiki), but once it gets going it will be a beautiful thing!

Open Road International Magazine was setup as a publication of a group that I am trying to create, called the International Road Travel Enthusiasts Association. At first, it sounded like a great idea. But then… I hit a brick wall. No body wants to be a part of an International Road Travel Enthusiasts Association. Hell, it’s too difficult to pronounce the name, much less become a member.

So with that said, for the time being, the IRTEA idea will die. That is until I have the time to focus on it.

Until that time comes, I will be redesigning the website, OpenRoadInternational.org into just Open Road International Magazine, an online collaborative weblog/magazine. We’ll look to continue to publish a monthly PDF edition when we start getting enough stories, and I will try to take some time from work and classes to actually write articles.

In the mean time, if you are at all interested in writing for ORIM, please contact me!

Look for an updated site coming by Independence Day, and hopefully, some new journalists.

Thank you.

Bradly L. McGarr,
Editor-in-Chief, Open Road International Magazine

From the Office of the Founder, International Road Travel Enthusiasts Association

Greetings Friends, and Citizens of the Great State of Arizona. Many of you may have seen a recent Arizona Republic/AZCentral.com Article (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/01/22/20090122speed-cameras0122-ON.html) stating that a bill to ban Photo Enforcement in the State of Arizona has cleared its first hurdle in the State House of Representatives. We must not allow this bill to pass. Photo Enforcement critics have come up with many frightening arguments against the program, calling it a speed tax, saying that it takes away constitutional rights, even going so far as claiming they are spying on you. Dubious reports of miscalibrated cameras fill online message boards fueling the fire. These reports have never been actually proven to be correct.

Any responsible driver out there will agree that 11 Miles-Per-Hour over the posted speed limit is a generous buffer zone, more than a police officer is required to give. The cameras are well signed, and include the speed limit in the vicinity. The State has gone above in beyond in ensuring that the cameras only fine those who are obviously being a danger on our roadways.

True, the program currently in place is hardly strong enough. The fines do not come with points on ones drivers record, and the citations issued are not full citations upon issuing, but this does not mean the program needs to end. It needs to be fixed.

Please, Citizens of Arizona, write your State Representatives (and Senators too) and tell them to vote AGAINST any ban on Photo Enforcement, and to work to give teeth to the Photo Enforcement Program. Ask your representative to keep the cameras, but make them work better. You can find your Arizona Representatives at: http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp.

Thank you,

B.L. McGarr
Founder, IRTEA
Editor-in-Chief, Open Road International Magazine

Since returning from a long stay in Washington State, I have found this Wild West mentality alive and well on the state highway system. God help you if you try to do the speed limit. In 2008, Arizona began an ambitious plan to cut down, at least a little bit, on the Wild West mentality. They have installed cameras along the major freeways not only in the Phoenix area, but elsewhere, with a generous trigger point of 11 MPH over the posted speed limit. Since then, a very loud segement of the Arizona population has been screaming about their new nemisis. Devices that no longer make someone capable of speeding throughout the Valley of the Sun without getting caught.

Before cameras, there were only Cops. Stretched thin, it was easy for anyone to speed without ever getting caught. Unfortunately, I’m not talking a casual 5 over, more like 20-30 over the posted limit. Then came the cameras, and people now have to watch their speedometers and drive within 11 MPH of the posted limit. Oh the audacity of government!

Now, if you zip through town you’ll have picture after picture taken of you. Each one a hefty fine of about $181 dollars. A portion of that goes through a contractor called REDFLEX based in Scottsdale, who operates and maintains the cameras. You’d think a state that is so conservative and lovey-dovey to private companies would have applauded the use of a contractor. No, the reality is far different. Besides the constant comments seen on various places throughout the net referring to our Governor as “Nappy Carpet Muncher” (alledgedly claiming that Janet Napolitano is a lesbian because she’s unmarried), there have been various claims of consipriacy and corruption from REDFLEX to the Governors Office. The total lack of respect for our Governor (like her or not, she is the Governor), the silly arguments are just that: silly. However, they are completely expected from a population now told that those signs that say “Speed Limit” really do mean “Speed Limit”.

I do admit, as founder of the IRTEA, that there are some problems with the system. First, the tickets are notices of violations, not actual citations. Second, there are no points issued to a persons driver license. Basically, they’re toothless pieces of paper merely acting as a “Speed Demon Tax”. So, while I do agree with the loud and disrespectful anti-camera camp that the cameras have a revenue angle to it, I agree with them being there, once the notices get teeth that is.

People of Arizona, it is time to get things right. The cameras are not our enemies. Statistically they do reduce the number of people who speed, something which is out of control in this state. The problem is when they could be used for their true purpose by actually issuing citations, they issue a bill.

Fellow Arizonians, I ask all of us to not request the cameras be shut down or removed, nor that we should vote on such uses of technology to combat a growing problem, but instead ask that the photo enforcement program in this state be given its proper muscle.

Speeding is a growing problem on our highways, and one that needs to be tackled head on. These enforcement cameras do just that. We are not in the Wild West anymore.

Editors Note: IRTEA Explorer Caravans are loosely organized and will require a wavier to participate.  IRTEA, it’s organizers, interim-officers, and associates are not liable at anytime for anything occurring as a result of participating in an Explorer Caravans.

See you all on the highway!

- IRTEA Webmaster