Buckle up! - or else

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
November 14, 2011

The November Special Traffic Enforcement Initiative of the Woodstock Police Department is, once again, seat belt enforcement. Didn't they just have an enforcement campaign on seat belts?

The State of Illinois is pushing law enforcement agencies to hit a 93% compliance rate. Where are the numbers now? The State is at 92.6%. How much money is stupidly being spent on the last 0.4%? And how much money will be sucked out of driver's pockets?

The People should march on City Hall and demand that the City Council order the City Manager to direct the Police Chief to instruct his officers to b-a-c-k o-f-f.

If kids are climbing out the windows, sure, ticket Mom. If they are buckled in but just not in the "right" child seat or if they don't have their arms under the shoulder belt, a Warning is sufficient. Socking Mom or Dad with a $120 ticket just is not necessary to eke out that last 0.4% compliance.

Why not use the electronic trailer as a Notice board? Instead, it sits in a garage or in the parking lot in front of the Police Station announcing a used-drug drop-off. Why not put that trailer to good use and keep the police officers active fighting crime, arresting criminals, stopping the drug trade in Woodstock, recovering stolen property and a number of other good police-officer functions.

Many of the Woodstock cops earn $60,-70,-80,000/year. And these guys are assigned to stand behind bushes in front of the Challenger Center and look for someone not using a seat belt?

They aren't there because they want to be. They are there because they are told to be there. Care to voice your opinion? Email citymanager@woodstockil.gov and mayor@woodstockil.gov and give 'em a piece of your mind.

Almost as an after-thought, the announcement of the seat belt campaign mentions that the cops will also be watching for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Good! Go after those drivers!