Uber has had this habit of deploying its app and drivers cities where, strictly speaking, using Uber may not yet be legal. You’d think it would be easy for law enforcement in those cities to nab rogue Ubers: Just use the app to hail a car and arrest or cite whoever shows up. However, it looks like Uber figured out how to sidestep these snares. [More]
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Nikon Killing 4K Compact Camera Line That Never Launched
By 2.13.17
Some things just aren’t meant to be: A year after Nikon announced the imminent launch of a new line of 4K compact cameras, the company has scrapped the DL series of devices and is looking into restructuring plans after a year of sinking sales. [More]
Feds Set To Close Investigation Into Fatal Tesla Autopilot Incident Without Recall
By 1.19.17 — Updated: 1.20.17
UPDATE: NHTSA has indeed closed its investigation into this collision and found that the driver was at fault. Click here for more details. [More]
AT&T Thinks It Might Be Able To Avoid FCC Review Of Time Warner Merger
By 1.6.17
A merger of the nation’s largest pay-TV provider (and second-largest wireless service provider) and a major multimedia conglomerate with multiple cable channels might seem like a gimme for review by the Federal Communications Commission, but AT&T now thinks it may be able to avoid or minimize scrutiny from the agency in its efforts to acquire Time Warner. [More]
To Quell Safety Concerns, American Airlines Execs Try On Controversial Flight Attendant Uniforms
By 12.27.16
In a move that screams, “See? These uniforms are totally safe!” several American Airlines executives have started wearing the new wool outfits that have led to thousands of complaints from flight attendants who say the clothing is giving them hives and rashes. [More]
Tesla Denies Report Of Possible Safety Defect In Model S & “Troubling” Nondisclosure Agreements
By 6.10.16
Yesterday, regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had begun looking into possible issues with the suspension on Tesla’s Model S sedans, but the high-end electric vehicle maker is currently denying that there are any safety issues with the Model S suspensions, or that there is a formal investigation into the matter. [More]
Payment Processor Ignored Red Flags, Allowed Clients To Withdraw Funds Illegally
By 6.6.16
If you’re in the business of processing payments, you have a certain obligation to look into any sort of signs that your clients may be abusing the system or illegally taking funds from customers’ bank accounts. Failing to do so can land you in some pretty hot water with federal regulators. [More]
Dealers Stop Sale Of New, Pre-Owned VW, Audi & Porsche Vehicles Covered In Latest Emissions Violations
By 11.4.15
Just a day after Volkswagen executives said the car company would not stop the sale of vehicles included in the Environmental Protection Agency’s newest notice of violation for emission standards, the manufacturer backtracked, and now says it will tell dealers not to sell certain VW, Audi and Porsche models. [More]
VW Denies Latest Emissions Violations, Won’t Halt Sales On Affected Vehicles
By 11.3.15
Just hours after federal and state regulators accused Volkswagen of using so-called “defeat devices” on newer model cars in order to ensure they passed emissions tests, the carmaker said the allegations aren’t true and that it will continue to allow sales of the recently identified automobiles. [More]
Regulators Drop Probe Into Walmart’s “Made In The U.S.A.” Labeling After Designation Dropped From Website
By 10.21.15
Four months after an advertising watchdog group called out Walmart’s website for selling more than 100 products labeled as “Made in the U.S.A.” even though they were manufactured in other countries, raising the watchful eye of federal regulators, the retailer announced it had removed the designation from its products. [More]
BMW, Daimler Deny Manipulating Emissions Tests
By 9.24.15
Less than a week after regulators called out Volkswagen for using “defeat device” software to cheat on emissions tests for 11 million vehicles worldwide, the integrity of some other German automakers is being called into question. [More]
Regulators Won’t Investigate Claims That Walmart’s “Raise In Pay” Commercial Is Misleading
By 9.22.15
Federal regulators won’t investigate a Walmart television advertisement two months after an ad review board found the retailer might have misled TV viewers about recent changes in pay for Walmart workers. [More]
NHTSA Denies Second Petition To Open Investigation Into Unintended Acceleration Of Toyota Vehicles
By 8.21.15
For the second time this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it would not open a probe into millions of Toyota vehicles regarding possible unintended acceleration. [More]
Spirit Confirms Delays & Cancellations Are Due To Weather, Not Strike
By 6.18.15
Earlier today we heard from several Spirit Airlines passengers who had been stranded at airports, sometimes for several days this week, for what they thought was an unofficial pilot strike. After hearing back from Spirit, the company has confirmed there is no strike. [More]
NHTSA Won’t Open Investigation Into Unintended Acceleration In Toyota Corollas
By 5.4.15
Toyota will not face another probe regarding unintended acceleration in its vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced over the weekend. [More]
NHTSA Closes Probe Into 1.9M Chrysler, Dodge Minivans Without Determining Cause Of Stalling Issue
By 4.8.15
Following months of analyzing data, reviewing a recall petition and assessing more than 720 consumers complaints, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided to close a probe into nearly 1.9 million Chrysler minivans without finding a safety issue or determining why the vehicles stall. [More]
News Flash: Someone Will Probably Notice If You Try To Wheel A Jewelry Case Out Of Kmart
By 3.9.15
While we’ve heard of suspected shoplifters obscuring pilfered items on their person in unique ways in an attempt at subterfuge, police in Kingsport, TN say one woman accused of trying to steal from a local Kmart cut right to the chase in her effort, as she allegedly attempted to wheel an entire jewelry case out of the store. [More]
Deputy Fired For Threatening To Arrest Photographer Who Took Pictures Of Police In Public
By 2.6.15
As we’ve covered before, courts have ruled time and again that police can’t force citizens to stop taking photographs of them in public so long as you don’t interfere with their work. That doesn’t stop cops from ordering people to put their cameras away, and didn’t prevent on sheriff’s deputy in Washington state from making multiple empty threats of arrest against a Seattle news photographer who took pics of a police action in public. But after an investigation by the sheriff’s office, that deputy has been dismissed for abusing his authority. [More]
