The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "driving licenses" ...
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Driven To Distraction
This seven-month-long investigation revealed serious crashes, injuries and deaths caused by a danger that now exists in virtually every police car in the United States. Dashboard-mounted technology has turned modern patrol cars into offices on wheels. Computers, cameras, GPS devices, radios, smart phones and license plate scanners compete for the officer’s attention while driving, and the consequences of those distractions can be life altering. The series led to significant policy changes at two of the largest police departments in Texas. It sparked action from the world’s largest organization of police leaders. And our reporting also became mandatory safety training viewing for every highway trooper in one state.
Tags: Police; patrol cars; crashes; injuries; deaths; driving safety; highway trooper
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RGJ Special Report: DUI in Nevada
The reporter found that licenses were being granted too soon to DUI offenders whose accidents had caused death or substantial bodily harm. Offenders were not serving their full two years behind bars and instead were allowed to get out on a house arrest program.
Tags: DUI; drunk driving; Department of Corrections; Mothers Against Drunk Driving; prison
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"No Reciprocity: Canadian Hit and Run"
In Everett, a vehicle with British Columbia plates struck a young boy and fled the scene, driving across the border back into Canada. Upon realizing the driver was Canadian, U.S. investigators dropped the case and did not ticket the man. An investigation by KIRO-TV finds that it is common for tickets issued to B.C. residents to remain unpaid without consequence because of the lack of a "reciprocity agreement" between Washington and British Columbia.
Tags: British Columbia; Canada; Regional Border Patrol; Everett Mall Way; Everett Police; Keith Leary; Washington Department of Licensing
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Racial Profiling
The two day series attempted to determine if the practice of targeting citizens based on their race was being used by area law enforcement. Their findings included: Black drivers in Sheveport and nearby Bossier City were cited for traffic violations more than twice as often as white drivers, based on traffic citation data over nearly five years. Although black divers were a minority of each city's licensed drivers, they were disproportionally cited for lower-level violations, such as window tint or loud music. Several officers from each city police department routinely issued more tickets to black drivers and issued more tickets for lower-level violations that for serious infractions, such as speeding or running a red light.
Tags: racial profiling; driving violations; law enforcement; low-level citations; black drivers; citation records; FOIA; police behavior
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Houston Texas Bus Safety
This story looks at two bus crashes in Texas to determine how companies are regulated. It also looks at how Houston operators who cater to Hispanic, working-class passengers are allowed to operate, some illegally, despite poor safety records and questionable licensing.
Tags: buses; public safety; driving records; racial discrimination; bus crashes; chameleon carrier; driving offenses;
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Ghost Drivers
"For years, Indiana has suffered the embarrassment and dubious distinction as a "fraud Friendly" state when it comes to obtaining bogus licenses and identification cards. A new administration vowed to put a stop to it. But 13 investigates discovered the state's top agencies for prosecuting fraud weren't following through on the legal end. Investigative Reporter Sandra Chapman began tracking the case of an accused Bureau of Motor Vehicles worker accused of fraud. What she found instead was a system allowing known illegal drivers using social security numbers from decreased residents to operate free and clear of Indiana law."
Tags: identification cards; identity fraud; fake credentials; drivers licenses; driving records
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Who's Driving Your Kids?
KOMO investigated rumors of school bus drivers behind the wheel without valid driver's licenses. The school district operates on the honor system, relying on drivers to tell their superiors about moving infractions.
Tags: bus drivers; child safety; driving infractions; suspended licenses
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Who Deserves to Drive
This story revealed that thousands of Iowa driver’s licenses were suspended because of unpaid court fines. This story explores the impact of suspended licenses on drivers, the state and insurance companies. The story also delves into key problems that obstruct the collections process from moving forward effectively.
Tags: driving; transportation; roads; courts; state government; department of transportation
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Teens at the Wheel
A special report by the Tribune examines the dangers of poorly trained teenage drivers. Photos of 59 Chicago-area teens who died in car accidents in the year 2006 are included in the package, which also has graphics and charts detailing the locations and numbers of deaths. Individual stories include police views, the grief of families whose children died, what some parents and young people are doing to raise awareness of the need to drive intelligently, and Illinois lawmakers' push for new laws regarding how to obtain and keep a driver's license.
Tags: Teen drivers; car accidents; teen driving deaths; seat belts; drivers license laws
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Danger Behind the Wheel: Suspended Driver on Maine Roads
"This series studied the dangers posed by drivers with suspended licenses; evaluated efforts in Maine to crack down on the problem; and looked at what other measures might help protect motorists and pedestrians. One key statistical conclusion was that when drivers with suspended licenses are involved in crashes, it's six times more likely that someone will die than when properly licensed drivers crash their vehicles."
Tags: motorist; licens; drivers; drunk driving; transportation; Maine; car crash;