Deterring drunken driving The buck no longer stops

7/19/2003

Your July 8 story showed that alcohol-related accidents are down and drunken-driving arrests are down.

The “Don't Drink and Drive” campaign obviously has been effective. Lowering the blood alcohol level to 0.08 for drunken driving, which went into effect July 1, is helping to deter people from driving when impaired.

I can't understand why it takes three to four hours to do the paperwork for drunken-driving arrests. When you get a speeding ticket, people are not sitting on the side of road for three to four hours.

Government needs to get out of the way and demand less paperwork for this offense and let our officers do their job. Officers should never be put in the position of questioning if they should stop someone suspected of drunken driving because of the required paperwork.

As the word gets out that you might not get stopped for drunken driving, I'm afraid those good statistics will start going back up.

Hats off to all those involved in Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Their efforts also are a help in reducing alcohol-related accidents.

WILLIAM D. SANFORD

CEO

Compass Corp. for Recovery Services

High electric costs? When Ohio first deregulated and started the Ohio Electric Choice Program, I was delighted to make a change from the Toledo Edison Co. and save a few pennies. Since then I have seen both the pricing per kilowatt hour and delivery increase to the point that my monthly charge is more than double that of four years ago.

When I ask the question why costs are so high, the answer always seem to be “there is a greater demand for power each year.”

So why hasn't the federal and state government, along with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, dictated higher production and/or purchases of electric power?

Supply and demand have always determined pricing, and as it appears now, only one side wins - and that certainly isn't the electric user.

Regulators should do their job! Suppliers should find new ways to help the consumer and stop trying to make a few more pennies.

DARRELL MOULTON

Elmview Drive

By serving up George Tenet as his sacrificial lamb over his recent state of the union deceit, President Bush will never be confused with Harry S. Truman. While President Truman gained the respect of the American people by stating “the buck stops here,” “Bring 'Em On George” just passes the buck.

CHARLES R. LASTER

Oregon