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What do you do when you don't have the funding to address a perpetual backlog of unanalyzed rape kits? Ask drivers to foot the bill when applying for a driver's license:
Across the country, there's a backlog of kits containing potential evidence of sexual assaults. Victim advocates say the situation threatens public safety. Lawmakers in dozens of states are pushing for funding, and in Texas, one state representative has offered an innovative solution.
Thousands of rape kits sit sealed and untested in forensics labs and law enforcement offices in Texas. What's missing is state and local funding to pay to analyze the evidence in many of those kits.
If state Rep. Victoria Neave has her way, residents could help chip in. When Texans go to the Department of Public Safety office to apply for a driver's license, they'd be asked if they'd like to help the state pay to test DNA evidence from sexual assault cases — in the same way they're asked if they want to donate to support veterans or organ donation.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bob_super on Friday April 14 2017, @01:10AM (3 children)
Maybe the people who are like my friends yesterday: train was scheduled for an absolutely absurd 4 hours and 50 minutes for a 174-mile trip, which takes 3+ hours by car (across LA to SD).
The train was pretty full despite that, so there is demand. It was also almost an hour late, barely beating a moped or a well-juiced cyclist.
The state of US trains is abysmal. The airports add two hours to every trip.
If the train to nowhere actually gets somewhere, people will realize what they've been missing (if the price doesn't reflect the short-term build costs, but is considered a strategic decades-long return).
The European and Chinese are waving at us from the late 20st century. Don't blink, they're passing by at 200 mph.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday April 14 2017, @01:50AM
The Shanghai Maglev Train, waves at 430 km/h (270 mph) ;-)
So the US has slow airports with fast planes OR, crappy train lines OR, snail fast cars?
1st nation..
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Friday April 14 2017, @01:53AM (1 child)
Maybe the people who are like my friends yesterday: train was scheduled for an absolutely absurd 4 hours and 50 minutes for a 174-mile trip, which takes 3+ hours by car (across LA to SD).
Back in the 80s I did a SIGGRAPH in Frisco, and decided to take the train home from SF to San Diego. First shock: Cost something like 150% over the plane ticket. Expected shock: 6-8 hours as opposed to 1 hour. Why? I'd heard the views were awesome and had the time.
The reality? Train left SF a couple hours late. Going into the scenic parts of the ride we stopped. Why? Never found out. An hour later we started moving again, too bad it was dark and the scenic thing couldn't happen.
Best part? Get into LA (remember, this was a San Francisco to San Diego train ride), find out we have to get onto a bus for the rest of the trip. That damned bus ride took longer than the original plane ride would have. Did I mention Amtrack cost more?
First and last time I took Amtrack anywhere.
My ducks are not in a row. I don't know where some of them are, and I'm pretty sure one of them is a turkey.
(Score: 2) by dry on Friday April 14 2017, @05:52AM
If it's like Canada, freight trains have priority. You sit at the station waiting for the track to clear then you pull over to a siding to let another slow moving freight go by.