Public Memorial

Dallas has tight security plans for 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination

Security concerns are top of mind as Dallas prepares to host a public memorial for the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November. The free ticketing process, which will include police background checks, opened at 11 am June 20 and will close July 31.

Anyone over the age of 18 can request up to two tickets online, and all attendees must be at least 12 years old. Only those who are selected through a random computer algorithm will undergo a security clearance screening. Those who are awarded tickets will be notified October 1.

"If we see anything that we think raises an alarm on any issue, then we're not going to give them tickets," said Mayor Mike Rawlings at a press conference.

At a press conference announcing the ticketing process, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said attendees cannot have a history of violent crimes or extremist ties.

"If we see anything that we think raises an alarm on any issue, then we're not going to give them tickets," said Rawlings, adding that he recognized this was a very cautious approach to the public ticketing process. "We'd rather err on the conservative side."

The public memorial will have standing-room-only space for 5,000 people at Dealey Plaza, the site of Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963. Official viewing parties with large screens carrying a live stream of the event will be set up around Dallas, including at Victory Park.

Rawlings said that local Dallas-Fort Worth residents will get priority access to tickets, and that 25 percent of the allotment has been set aside for people outside of the city, state and country.

The mayor said he's already heard from people across the world who are interested in attending the memorial. Although the city wants to accommodate as many people as it can, the primary purpose is to provide a safe event for locals.

"This is a chance for the citizens of Dallas and Dallas County to pay their homage to the great presidency of President John F. Kennedy," Rawlings said. "There's no question in a post 9/11-world ... that our vigilance in responding to public safety should take precedence in all matters."

The public memorial will have standing-room-only space for 5,000 people at Dealey Plaza.

Photo by Raul Santillan

The public memorial will have standing-room-only space for 5,000 people at Dealey Plaza.

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Speeding ticket news

Texas drivers pay a pretty price for their speeding bad behavior

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

Gotta watch out for speed traps in Texas.

The next time you’re tempted to push past the speed limit on your Texas road trip or your commute to work, think about the risk to your life — and your bank account.

A new ranking from the FinanceBuzz website shows that when comparing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Texas motorists pay the fourth highest amount in fines and court costs for going either 10 mph or 15 mph over the speed limit.

For a 10 mph-over-the-limit violation in Texas, the average fine and court costs total $223, according to FinanceBuzz. For a 15 mph infraction, the average speeding ticket will run you $245. Texas is one of only six states where a 15 mph-over-the-limit speeding ticket surpasses $200.

California ranks first in the 10 mph category ($234), and Nevada ranks first in the 15 mph category ($290).

If you’re slapped with a ticket for driving 40 mph over the speed limit in Texas, the fine and court costs are relatively low. At an average of $320, Texas sits at No. 21 on the FinanceBuzz list. Illinois ($2,500) leads the 40 mph category.

“Not all speeding incidents are the same, as the faster someone goes while driving, the more danger they pose to themselves and others sharing the road with them,” says FinanceBuzz. “As a result, the authorities tend to issue larger fines the faster a speeder is going.”

When traveling across Texas, it might be tough to go even one mph over the speed limit if you’re driving on I-35 in the Austin area or I-45 in the Houston area. Both of these notoriously congested stretches of interstate highway are nearing the end of their “functional life,” according to Congress of New Urbanism.

Three busy Dallas County highways were just deemed among the deadliest roads in the country, with I-30 in Dallas ranking as the fourth deadliest road in Texas.

Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio are also home to some of the state’s most congested roads, according to the Texas Transportation Institute. And if you’re on any of those clogged roads, the danger of getting a speeding ticket might decrease.

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