THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507140018
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
On the Fourth of July, I read Don Pearsall's letter about repealing the ``right-turn-on red'' law with a chuckle. He also brought up repealing the 55-mph speed limit, and we all know the stay-right-except-to-pass law was not enforced due to the number of violators. I realize the drivers in this area are inconsiderate and appear to need additional driver training, but I do not think repealing all traffic-related laws is the answer.
Perhaps we need a different way of enforcing all of our traffic laws. I have discussed with my wife the idea of using a business as our primary traffic enforcement agency. A business using modern cameras and other electronic devices could take pictures of speeders, parking violators and illegal lane switches, and record other information on all traffic violators. The business's compensation would be a percentage of the revenue generated from the fines; and it could earn additional income by reporting other crimes.
This would free our trained police to perform more important duties that now go undone because of their traffic duties. This would pass the mundane traffic-control and parking-violation duties to the less-trained, properly equipped business employees.
I see this idea as a win-win situation. The roads would be safer, there would be more employment and, most important, I would feel safer.
DAN CLIFT
Virginia Beach, July 7, 1995 by CNB