Technology Briefs - Nov. 2 - Nov. 8

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The Latest Headlines:

• Texas Court Extends TRO in Idling Case
• Iteris Posts Net Loss but Sales Increase
• Report: German Toll System May Be Ready Jan. 1

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Texas Court Extends TRO in Idling Case

A district court has extended its temporary restraining order preventing a Dallas suburb from enforcing an anti-idling regulation, said Bill Webb, president of the Texas Motor Transportation Association. The association had sought the order.

The court on Oct. 28 extended the order against the city of Lancaster for two weeks, Webb said.

Webb told Transport Topics the anti-idling rule would have limited idling to 10 minutes within a 24-hour period during the “hot months” of April through October. He said the state should have its own anti-idling rule by April, which the city of Lancaster could then adopt.

The TMTA did not oppose anti-idling rules, Webb said, but wanted a statewide regulation instead of rules that could vary from city to city. Transport Topics

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Iteris Posts Net Loss but Sales Increase

Iteris Inc., a provider of traffic and safety technology, said its net loss for the fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30 was $4,000 or less than 1 cent per share, compared with a net income of $2.6 million or 14 cents a year earlier.

The company said in a statement the current results were hurt by several charges related to its debt, while the previous year's results included gains from leasing operations and discontinued operations.

Net sales and revenues were $11.8 million, an increase of 4.5%, the company said.

Iteris said sales of its AutoVue lane departure warning system increased in both the North American and European truck markets. Transport Topics

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Report: German Toll System May Be Ready Jan. 1

Germany's truck toll system, developed by DaimlerChrysler AG, Deutsche Telekom AG and Cofiroute SA, may be ready by Jan. 1 as planned, Bloomberg reported, citing a German newspaper.

Toll Collect GmbH, a joint venture of the companies, said independent tests showed the toll system worked, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported. The system was originally scheduled to begin in August 2003.

The satellite-based system would bill trucks an average 22 cents a mile when traveling on German highways, but was delayed by technical problems and financial disputes. Transport Topics

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