Gunpowder Chronicle posted on July 12, 2008 10:21 PM | Rating:
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As every day goes by, I become more convinced that some old maxims need to be changed. Starting with that old classic, "Those who can do, those who can't, teach."
I think it should be "Those who can do, those who can't, run for office."
Recently, a number of Congressmorons have started to bang the drum (quite like the old monkey toy with cymbals) that we need to reinstitute the national speed limit-- perhaps back to 55mph -- as a means to increase gasonline economy.
Oh that it would actually do that.
There is a little problem: who will enforce the new law? Especially here in Maryland, where our State Troopers (little more than glorified meter maids with Stetsons and Beretta .40 Px4s) do little if anything to enforce traffic laws in a sensible and responsible manner.
Oh yes, they love to stake out Route 50 and catch those zipping down the Ocean Gateway to OC. Except on rainy days, when they would otherwise apparently melt, this is like shooting fish in a barrel. I am proof of this, as the only three tickets I have ever received all occurred within 2 miles of the 97 mile marker on Route 50 eastbound.
But in the ninety days since I have started commuting once again to Baltimore City-- down I-83 from the PA line to the North Avenue exit -- I have seen State Troopers on that busy highway but once. They were sitting in the median at the Western Run bridge right above Hunt Valley, doing nothing but forcing drivers to stand on their brakes coming down the hill from Quaker Bottom Road.
And don't even get me started on the joke that is the I-83 Weigh Station below Old York Road.
Before we go making the state lay out a couple of million on new signs once again, maybe we should tell the State Police to get their asses out on the road and enforce the law that already exists. And it wouldn't even require them to get out of their precious cruisers and get wet on rainy days. Simply detail 3 or 4 cruisers to routinely patrol I-83, from Timonium Road to Harris Mill Road and back, cruising along at a cool 65 mph. Because only a freaking idiot who should lose their license anyway would dare pass a marked cruiser doing 65 mph.
I know that this a novel concept for politicians, who are purely reactionary that they must do something to at least look like they have a clue. But the concept of enforcing existing law is a righteous and patriotic thing to do. Much more, its actually Constitutional. Go figure... doing something because it is the right thing to do AND it makes sense AND it doesn't waste money.
Of course, some smart ass will probably try to point out that the State Police fuel budget will probably go up. And that is true. But replacing every 65 MPH sign with a 55 MPH sign is going to be costly as hell, too. The Governor has already blown a huge load of tax money changing over the Highway Adoption signs. Do we need to go through this again?
Enforce the current law... measure the impact on traffic flow... measure the impact on fuel consumption. If necessary, then we can look at changing the law. BUT ENFORCE THE CURRENT LAW FIRST BEFORE YOU PASS A NEW LAW WITH ZERO EFFECT.