Letters to the Editor

July 17, 2009

Speed traps a waste of time and money

To the editor:

Every day, I travel about 160 miles for my employment. On most days, I observe more than one radar speed trap, usually set up very close to where there is at least a 10 mph reduction in speed so as to "enhance" the probability of a few successful traffic stops and guarantee the issuance of a few tickets.

I have no opinion as to why these radar traps are deemed necessary by law enforcement. I am 60 years old and I cannot remember a time when radar speed traps were not used. Obviously, they are not working or by now they would no longer be needed. I guess we just need the revenue they generate.

I do have an opinion on what a vast waste of highly trained law enforcement talent it is to have a large portion of our police force delegated, on a daily basis, to such a mindless task as pointing radar guns at cars. Sounds like a video game to me, not real law enforcement. Speed traps do not serve the public interest in maintaining law and order. Speed traps are irritating, annoying and adversarial to the public interest. They are used to stop otherwise completely law-abiding citizens from conducting their necessary and ordinary business in a timely fashion.

I am personally interested in stopping crimes against property and people. I think all law enforcement efforts should be used to attempt to stop serious crime.

There is no higher public interest than police protection of our rights and freedoms. There are no more valiant and valuable public servants than our many police officers.

The reason I get annoyed is when I see two or three speed traps in a day and then go home and hear on the news about some horrible crime that has been committed. I cannot help but wonder on these occasions about how many serious crimes could have been stopped if we put 100 percent of our law enforcement efforts into stopping serious crime and stop being distracted by minor traffic issues. Think about this the next time you see a radar trap.

Rod Pearson Sr.Keedysville

Quality relationships sometimes take effort

To the editor:

I believe the quality of a person's life is directly related to the amount of social contact a person has with other people. Too often, our contact with family and friends is taken for granted. There are many things that can diminish a relationship in a short period of time.

I will be the first to admit it takes work on a person's part to have quality relationships with family and friends. However, I also will note it is very important to expend that effort.

Regular contact is very important. This contact can be in-person visits, U.S. mail, telephone, e-mail and any others you can think about.

Meredith FoucheSharpsburg

Mowing, trimming harmful to environment

To the editor:

Maybe the landowners with the natural meadow grass should (be displeased with) the neighbors with the perfectly groomed "chem-lawn" for using toxic chemicals to kill weeds and promote a lush green lawn. Some of those chemicals will likely wind up on the natural lawn and also possibly contaminate the well water, too.

Also, the task of mowing and grooming such a large "lawn" is an environmental disgrace. I recently read that an hour of lawnmowing can contribute as much emissions as driving a car for 90 miles. This might be a bit on the high end, but lawnmowers and weed eaters and leaf blowers certainly are significantly harmful to the environment.

Sarah HendershotHancock

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