Editor, Times-Union: I was heartened to see David Kolbe's letter addressing a deadly community issue that so many of us are aware of in a tragic way. I agree that this carnage must come to an end, and I agree with the steps that Mr. Kolbe suggests must be done.
Any of our local officers can tell you about the daunting task of personally patrolling each of those US 30 intersections 24 hours per day. Couple that with the fact that many times, during the few minutes that it takes for an officer to stop and cite a red light offender, other offenders run the same light! More times than not, officers must put themselves at risk as they chase these offenders.
Nationwide, statistics show that these dedicated officers are catching only 6 percent of drivers who admit to running red lights! For the past five years I have been researching ways to aid our law enforcement officials and have urged cities nationwide to "vigorously patrol and cite red light runners". In more than 120 cities in 18 states the most efficient and economical tool to aid officers in this task is the use of photo enforcement cameras - cameras that are triggered by sensors in the intersection pavement to recognize and photograph red light offending vehicles as they are breaking the law - (only offending vehicles as these are not surveillance cameras, running continuously).
This technology (and threat of a citation) is proven to curtail red light running by 26 to 87 percent at intersections where they are installed.
Cameras could photo, not 6 percent but 100 percent of those offenders on US 30! These photos become the eyes of officers when they cannot be present and are subject to an officer's review before being sent to the vehicle owner in the form of a citation.
In the State of Indiana, the wording of State law must be changed to allow a city's officers to even consider the use of this proven technology. For five years - half a decade - I and dedicated legislators such as former Sen. Kent Adams, Rep. David Wolkins and, in 2005, Sen. Ryan Mishler, along with Warsaw Mayor Wiggins, Warsaw Police Chief Foster, Warsaw Police Sgt. Kip Shuter, Attorney General Steven Carter and officials from other Indiana cities have spoken out for this technology to be allowed at dangerous intersections in our state.
Each year, for one political reason or another, the proposed legislation has been defeated. In 2005, the bill was passed resoundingly by the Senate, passed through House Committee on an 8-1 vote, only to once again be defeated in the full House.
If you want to genuinely support our local officers, join us in making sure that they have the tools needed to do their job! Urge Sen. Mishler (800-382-9467) and Rep. David Wolkins (800-382-9841) to not give up the quest for safer highways through consistent enforcement, which can be provided only when drivers know that all offenders are held responsible for their careless actions.
Once these law breakers are identified and cited, we must, as David Kolbe suggests, also support "vigorous prosecution and judgments" against them.
Feel free to contact me at 269-9762 for further discussion.
Ann Sweet National Survivor Spokesperson
National Campaign To Stop Red Light Running
Bush Knew About 9-11 Before It Happened
Editor, Times-Union: It appears M. Tapps' letters "Bush Is Evil" and "Bush Is Still Evil" May 9 have started a steady beat. One that is very easy for some to dance to, yet a beat that's very awkward for others. For what it's worth, Mr. Tapp, you must be a very good percussionist. This beat is very easy to dance to, and not at all awkward. Have no fear your words reached independent, open-minded, progressive, subjective thinkers around the area. However, they also reached the sheeple (those who willingly allow the wool to be pulled over their eyes). These people don't recognize the truth until it hits them like a sledgehammer.
I don't want to step on anyone's toes, and I hope Mr. Tapp doesn't mind if I expound on the subject of Bush knowing beforehand about the 9-11 crimes against humanity. Like Mr. Tapp, I'm a former military man, and was also a non-commissioned officer. NCOs pay strict attention to military protocol, more commonly called standard operating procedure. In fact, all branches of the military strictly follow standard operating procedure. The only possible way to deviate from a standard operating procedure comes in the form of a directive issued by the high command, top generals, the secretary of defense or the commander in chief. Generals and the secretary of defense may be powerful, however, they would never issue a directive to stand down or to ignore standard operating procedure unless ordered to do so by the commander in chief.
On Sept. 11, 2001, four commercial airliners were hijacked at virtually the same time (a first in the history of hijackings). Standard operating procedure dictates a swift response by NORAD in all cases of hijackings in America. F-16s are immediately scrambled to shadow the hijacked plane, or in this case, planes. This didn't happen on 9-11, the U.S. Air Force did not respond. Why? One of the answers to that question is, the commander in chief issued an order to NORAD to stand down. The fact that the president is hotwired to top generals, the secretary of defense and all his underlings as well. Another answer to the question why didn't NORAD follow SOP is the vice president was conducting simulated war games with the defense secretary and top generals of all branches of the military on that fatal day of Sept. 11, 2001. What a coincidence!
Secrecy and misinformation is the hallmark of the administration. I am referring to information that should have been turned over to the 9-11 commission willingly. If the Bush administration has nothing to hide, why then did they lie to the 9-11 commission? Why did they withhold information from the 9-11 commission? Why did they change the charter of the 9-11 commission?
The answers are to be found in the letter "Tapp Dancing Two" which will be submitted with this letter, and will be published at a time of the editor's choosing.
