Charges Dropped Against Comedian Katt Williams

It is reported that the gun charges against the comedian Katt Williams have been dropped because prosecutors say that they "can't prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt." Williams was arrested this past November after police pulled over a Cadillac Escalade SUV and a Dodge minibus that belonged to him and found a gun in each of the vehicles. Prosecutors found that the guns were legally registered in other states to two men who with with Williams.

Actor Shia LaBeouf Not Charged in Car Accident

The actor Shia LaBeouf will not be charged for his involvement in a recent drunken driving accident that caused him to injure his hand. He could have his license suspended due to refusing to take the breathalyzer test. Authorities say that there wasn’t enough evident to charge him with drunken driving. He has a traffic hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles on Friday and his driver’s license could possible be suspended for up to nine months.

GM Introduces New Hybrid Pickups

General Motors will introduce a new hybrid full-size pickup and a concept hybrid truck this week at the Chicago Auto Show. The company says that the 2009 GMC Sierra hybrid gives 25 percent more in fuel economy and you don’t have to lose anything in performance. The Sierra is also the next large GM vehicle to get the new two-mode hybrid system. The GMC Denali XT concept gives 50 percent more in fuel economy than most other small pickups. The SUV hybrids are suppose to be on the market early this year and the Sierra is suppose to be on the market at the end of 2008.

Two-mode hybrid cars run without the gas engine at low speeds and at higher speeds the electric motor gives more power. A two-mode system is good for towing.

Hybrid vehicles initially cost more but drivers can driver longer distances before the car needs to be refueled so you can save money in the long run. Small businesses can take advantage of the government tax breaks for hybrids.

GM Looking Into Making Cars That Drive Themselves

General Motors is looking into making cars that could drive themselves and even park at their destinations. The cars could be ready for sale by the year 2018. The biggest problems that stand in the way of making the cars are government regulations, liability laws, and privacy concerns.

Automated vehicles could reduce the number of car collisions and reduce traffic jams. GM plans to use a computer chip and an antenna to link vehicles that have the driverless technology.

Google Added to Gas Pumps

Starting next month, gas pumps will include an Internet connection that will have Google’s mapping service in color on a small screen. People will be able to get driving directions and look through several categories to find local landmarks, hotels, restaurants, and hospitals.

After a person selects a destination, the pump will print out the directions. Someday, they may have it where a person could type in a specific address and get directions.

In the beginning, they plan to have the service at 3,500 gas pumps and then expand if there is a more of a demand. Google wants to do this because they want to make their services available whenever and wherever people would need it.

GM OnStar System Plans to Stop Stolen Cars

The GM OnStar system is coming out with a new service that could literally stop a car that has been stolen and the radio could tell the thief to pull off to the side of the road because the police are watching. The system could also tell police where a stolen car is located. The officer could tell OnStar to slow down the moving vehicle to a halt.

Currently, drivers can call OnStar if they need emergency help with their car. Subscribers can choose not to have the new service if they don’t want it.

This could be a very useful service to decrease crime and car theft. It is estimated that 404 people were killed in the US last year in dangerous police car chases. The service could help high speed chases end less deadly. OnStar hopes that one day they will be able to have it to where a stolen car could be impossible to start.

Mike Vick Get a Visit from the Repo Man

An Indiana bank recently sued Mike Vick for not repaying his loans that involved a car rental business. Vick is the chief financial officer of Divine Seven, a car rental company, and bought more than 130 cars through the loans. The bank says it suffered damages of about $2 million dollars because Vick and Divine Seven LLC wouldn’t pay for the vehicles. The bank has repossessed most of the cars.

Last week, Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick for $2.3 million dollars that he claimed he was going to use for real estate investments.