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 "suspended license" ...
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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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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;
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DUI Dilemma
This story investigates how drivers with multiple DUI's are still driving, even when their licenses are suspended. In the course of the investigation it was discovered that "DUI enforcement is often a low priority with police, that deals are routinely cut when cases reach the courts, and that even drunk drivers who are sentenced to prison don't always do the time."
Tags: drunk driving; DUI; police; Cleaveland; jail time; drunken driving
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Caught in the Driver's Seat
This investigation stared when a driver with a suspended license for more than 10 years hit and killed a jogger. In a 6-month investigation, WJAR-TV found violations such as reckless driving, DUIs, suspended licenses and criminal violations missing on driving records. Without these histories, courts were unable to fully prosecute habitually irresponsible drivers. As a result of this investigation, the state of Rhode Island set up a system to update records automatically.
Tags: reckless driving; suspended license; DUI; DWI; driving records; department of motor vehicles (DMV)
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Dying to be Beautiful
This investigation looks at how Florida's Department of Health and Board of Medicine rarely disciplines cosmetic surgeons whose botched procedures are responsible for the deaths of their patients. One particular doctor settled out of court for several malpractice cases, botched numerous procedures, and was responsible for the death of one of his patients. However, despite complaints, the Department of Health and Board of Medicine did nothing to him or his practice. As a result of this investigation, the doctor in question had his license immediately suspended and a criminal investigation followed.
Tags: cosmetic surgery; Department of Health and Board of Medicine; patient death; medical malpractice; HIPAA; Florida Public Records law
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"Judge Fuller"
Tips from people inside and outside the courthouse prompted WAGA-TV to look into how one judge was spending his time. The investigation found the judge was repeatedly leaving work early to spend hours inside an Atlanta bar, while his case backlog became the highest of any judge in the county. Following the story, the judge agreed to a suspension and to enter an alcohol awareness program. But later WAGA-TV found him driving on a suspended license to meet friends at a bar. Following that report he resigned.
Tags: judges; courts; law enforcement; drunken driving
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The High Cost of Perfection
Hipp's trek through mounds of court records results in the compelling story of a plastic surgeon in crisis. Dr. Eric Swanson had about 20 lawsuits filed against him, yet he was able to maintain his practice for some time. Finally, medical boards suspended his licenses. He eventually declared bankruptcy, which postponed action on several of the lawsuits. Swanson's former patients tell of the horrors of plastic surgery gone awry.
Tags: doctor; hospital; surgery; plastic surgery; cosmetic; face; facial; facelift; liposuction; laser; lawsuit; malpractice; medical board; patient
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Who's watching the Deputies? Patronage at work in the sheriff's department.
Process servers for the sheriff's department receive $36,000 a year in salary benefits, all paid by taxpayers. Some spend most of their time doing other jobs when they are supposed to be serving the public. Some of the deputies had troubling arrest records, DUI charges and driver's licenses suspended in the past.
Tags: deputy; taxpayers' money; sheriff's department; ghost workers; law enforcement
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On the road again
WTHR -TV reports on problems with getting and keeping drunken drivers off the road. The main finding is that many convicted drunken drivers keep on driving on suspended licenses. The investigation exposes defendants driving "away from court just minutes after being sternly admonished not to by the judge." A computerized DUI case database shows that the problem is pervasive, and there is a pattern of drunken driving recidivism. The investigation also sheds light on "a surprising and little-known change in the law that eliminated mandatory jail time for convicted drunken drivers caught driving while suspended."
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; DUI; arrests; intoxication; alcohol; Bureau of Motor Vehicles; police; blood-alcohol standard; open records act; FOI requests; Marion County