Mecklenburg DA: Some speeding cases questionable after improper radar & lidar calibration: Thursday, Feb. 16

An untold amount of Mecklenburg County speeding cases could be called into question due to revelations about Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's radar and lidar calibration practices.

The Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office said it learned of the concerns on Tuesday, noting that equipment used to frequently track drivers' speeds have to be tested and certified by a Federal Communications Commission-certified person, per state law.

A statement from the office says, while CMPD equipment was tested, testing was not completed by an appropriately certified employee. CMPD said technicians who were experienced and followed the manufacturer's instructions -- but were not FCC-certified -- were responsible for 170 of the department's 230 devices.

The department says it is possible the problem dates back to 2008 and was prompted by a misunderstanding of state law.

The full implications of this discovery on drivers with pending speeding cases are still unknown, but the DA said the office will look at each case as it appears in court and determine whether the evidence from radar or lidar equipment is relevant to prosecuting.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mecklenburg-da-some-speeding-cases-questionable-after-improper-radar-lidar-calibration-charlotte-police-department-investigation/275-d0fcce3e-cff6-4888-84b1-62a4a3e543d8

Charlotte mayor Vi Lyles tore down a home she owns in the historically-Black McCrorey Heights neighborhood, and there are some neighbors who don't like what she's done.

"It’s just sad," neighbor Winston Robinson told WCNC Charlotte. "It’s unfortunate, especially being that Charlotte has the reputation that it has, for not having that reverence for history."

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Others, like Samantha Taylor, said she understands the mayor's position.

"It’s not resurrectable," Taylor said. "It’s got a lot of deferred maintenance, and it is what it is."

Permits reviewed by WCNC Charlotte confirm Lyles applied to demolish the home along Madison Avenue on Aug. 10, 2022. The filing came days before the neighborhood's homes were deemed historic on Aug. 15, which was at the time viewed as a tool to push back against gentrification.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/vi-lyles-home-mccrorey-heights-neighborhood-local/275-bdb3fe66-e4bf-471a-b26b-e2e6008d28ec

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!