Henderson City Council Public Safety Committee to Meet
The Henderson City Council’s Public Safety Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss traffic issues. The public is welcome.
Electronic Compliance and Dismissal System For Certain Traffic Violations
DA Mike Waters – ecadpressrelease
Electronic Compliance and Dismissal (ECAD) quicker and more efficient for citizens
Oxford, N.C.- Citizens of Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren Counties can now easily request dismissal of certain traffic violations online with the launch of the new Electronic Compliance and Dismissal (ECAD) system. The application delivers a modern and user friendly experience to quickly process traffic violations online without having to appear in court.
“The online dismissal system is quicker and easier for citizens and provides immediate benefits to our courts,” said District Attorney Mike Waters. “Citizens are able to go online at home without having to miss work or wait in line, while saving time and resources of our district attorneys and court staff to process cases.”
Following Chief Justice Mark Martin’s vision for modernizing court technology systems statewide, ECAD was designed to reduce foot traffic in courthouses across the state while allowing the public a fast, convenient way to request dismissal for certain traffic violations online. The efficient, user-friendly system also benefits district attorneys by dramatically reducing the time needed to review and process dismissals of minor traffic cases.
“Online dismissals and services are changing the way the public does business with our courts,” said Judge Marion Warren, director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts. “This modern court technology is more efficient and convenient to process a significant portion of traffic cases online and not have to stand in line at the courthouse.”
Prior to ECAD, citizens had to appear in court and visit the courthouse to request dismissal. In 2015, over 220,000 cases with ECAD eligible offenses were dismissed in North Carolina. This represents a significant portion of the traffic cases handled in our state and underscores the importance and convenience for the public. There is no cost associated with requesting dismissal of a case online through ECAD, and the system is available 24/7.
The system was funded by S.L. 2015-241 (HB 97) in September 2015 and work on the system began in October. ECAD was piloted beginning in May 2016, and is now available in all 100 counties statewide as of July. New language will be added to traffic citations statewide to inform the general public about ECAD and the courts’ online services available at onlineservices.NCcourts.org.
The following offenses are the only offenses eligible for dismissal/disposition through ECAD:
No Operator’s License
Failure to carry a valid driver’s license
Expired operator’s license
Expire/no inspection
OR/allow registration plate not display
Drive/allow MV no registration
Canceled/revoked/suspended certificate/tag
Expired registration card/tag
Citizens who have received a traffic citation for any of the above referenced offenses, and are in compliance and seeking a dismissal through ECAD, can go to onlineservices.NCcourts.org. They will need their citation number, which is located at the top of their ticket, and a valid address. If these charges are attached to a moving violation, a court appearance is still required.
State Farmers Market Looking for Largest Watermelon
The State Farmers Market is looking for the largest watermelon in North Carolina. The public weigh-in and awards ceremony is part of the market’s Watermelon Day on July 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“North Carolina is the eighth-largest producer of watermelons in the nation,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I encourage families to enjoy Watermelon Day at the State Farmers Market and then pick up a fresh watermelon to enjoy at home.”
Watermelon growers will have the chance to earn prize money and bragging rights during the Largest Watermelon Contest. The grower with the heaviest watermelon will win $1,000. The runner-up will earn $500, the third-heaviest melon will earn $300 and the fourth-heaviest will earn $200.
All entries must be from North Carolina, and growers must be prepared to identify where the watermelon was grown. Melons should be free of decay and soft spots, and stems should be trimmed to 3 inches. Only one entry will be allowed per person.
Entries will be accepted until 11:30 a.m., and the weigh-in will take place at noon. All entries will become the property of the State Farmers Market. The winning watermelon will be on display at the State Farmers Market Restaurant.
Other Watermelon Day activities include a visit from the N.C. Watermelon Queen and free watermelon slices for visitors. There also will be plenty of fresh watermelons and watermelon products available for purchase from market vendors.
Watermelon Day is sponsored by the N.C. Watermelon Association, State Farmers Market Restaurant, Ford’s Produce, R&H Produce and the State Farmers Market.
More information is available at www.statefarmersmarket.org.
