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 licenses" ...
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Why are they driving
The Sun-Times reports on the prevalence of improperly unlicensed drivers on the streets of Chicago. The series reveals that many walk out of traffic courts with suspended or revoked licenses, and drive away. According to 1999 statistics for the state of Illinois, more than 73,000 scofflaws were caught driving on suspended or revoked licenses. Still, many have been driving without a license for years and decades. The stories point out that one in five drivers in fatal crashes is improperly licensed, according to an AAA study. The investigation has taken on added importance after a deadly string of accidents involving drivers without license.
Tags: highway traffic safety; DUI; police; insurance; crashes; Cook County; police; tickets; arrests
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Nature of the Beast
New Times reporter Bob Burtman investigates the record of plastic surgeon Billy Ringer, a man responsible for injuring patients, stealing drugs from his own clinic, and sexually harassing his own staff. In one of his worst cases, Ringer left a needle in a patient's chest as well as a gaping hole in her stomach. Ringer also had continued drug abuse problems that he hid from his patients, as he stole many narcotics from his own practice. Because of the New Times story, the Texas Board of Medical Examiners suspended Ringer's license and the D.E.A. in undertook a narcotics investigation.
Tags: Health care; plastic surgery
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Bar None: Businesses selling alcohol to minors getting off easy
An analysis of county liquor board reports and information from the Maryland Comptroller's Office found that fewer than 10 percent of businesses that sold alcohol to minors have had their liquor licenses suspended or revoked. Conversely, the analysis also found that less than 9 percent of the businesses that violated the state's liquor laws were forced to close temporarily. The investigation goes on to show that the system of penalties was uneven in most situations with some businesses receiving fines from $100 to $5,000, while others were simply handed a letter of warning or a reprimand. Youth advocates and other groups in Maryland believe the problem stems from a lack of uniform liquor laws from county to county.
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Who's driving your kids? Records spotty
One in six school Georgia bus drivers whose records were examined by the AJC and WSB-TV was found to have a serious violation on his or her personal or professional driving record. "In the past seven years, 613 school bus drivers have had their licenses suspended, including 21 who were still ferrying this children this month despite suspended licenses...The investigation found 342 Georgia school bus drivers with criminal records, including 22 who have spent time in prison." Lax enforcement, weak policies regarding background checks, and a shortage of school bus drivers are among the factors that have helped create this situation. In all, 34 school bus drivers were "sidelined" after the AJC and WSB-TV inquired about them. This series includes breakdowns for the counties in the AJC's various zoned editions.
Tags: school bus; bus drivers; prior records; drivers licence; DUI; DWI; criminal history; background check; suspended license; CAR
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Back on the Road
A WHDH-TV investigation reveals "a dangerous loophole in the state's criminal justice system that allowed drivers convicted of drunk driving, vehicular homicide, driving to endanger and other criminal driving offenses to stay on the road - legally!" The story details "countless cases where a driver had their license suspended by a judge, but it remained valid or active because the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles was never told of the court conviction." The report reveals that this problem stems form the lack of "a computerized link between the court and the registry," and "huge gaps" in the paperwork trail. The reporters find cases delayed up to six years in some counties.
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; police; law enforcement; courts; judges; teenagers
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"Who's at the Wheel?"
WMAQ conducted a yearlong investigation into the practices of Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus drivers uncovered 127 CTA bus drivers with drunk driving convictions and 56 drivers operating city buses with suspended or revoked licenses. WMAQ also learned that the CTA repeatedly failed to conduct background checks on its drivers, despite having a direct link to the Illinois state drivers license records.
Tags: VIDEOCLIP; TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; Public Transportation; Chicago; public busing.
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NYPD Strip Searches: Though illegal, practice continues
"A year after the city began keeping records, documents show at least 20 people have sued the city for wrongful strip searches, claiming $57 million in damages. Those strip-searched include people arrested for offenses like driving with a suspended licenses and running a red light.
Tags: radio; CASSETTE TAPE; police; lawsuit; discrimination; civil rights; victims' rights; Dept. of Corrections; illegal strip searches
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Kentucky Shortchanging Coal Miners' Safety
This series of the Courier-Journal "exposed lax state enforcement of mine-safety violations." The reporter found that the Kentucky mining board "rarely used its full authority to revoke or suspend companies' mining licenses and miners' certifications," when hearings were held on mine-safety cases. The series focused also on the failure of the board to formally review "nearly 100 cases since 1990 in which Kentucky coal companies and/or supervisors were convicted of federal mine-safety violations." The investigation exposed cases of falsified tests detecting coal-dust levels, improper handling of explosives, illegal smoking underground and falsified safety training documents.
Tags: diskette; FOIA; safety; health standards; coal; explosives; Kentucky
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Dr. Lipo
KGTV follows up on a complaint about a doctor's practice. The plastic surgeon's license is eventually suspended by the courts as bizarre stories emerged concerning his practice.
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Wheels of Justice
Ohio financially depends on the misfortunes of traffic violators. In the name of safety, traffic tickets have become a billion-dollar business resulting in selective enforcement, punitive fines and jailing of the poor. Some cities annually collect more traffic fines than taxes. Some laws have little to do with highway safety. More than 14,000 teen-agers have lost their licenses for not finishing school since 1990; more than 100,000 motorists - often accident victims - lost their licenses for failure to fill out an obscure state report. In Columbus, more people are jailed for driving without a license than for any other crime. Never before have so many licenses been suspended by the state - nor so costly to buy them back. Federal funds earmarked for community-oriented police by the U.S. Department of Justice have been used to increase traffic ticket revenue by some municipalities. (November 17 - 19, 1996)