On Tuesday, Sept. 16, I witnessed something very disturbing to me. There were three state troopers who were pulling people over left and right as fast as they could, one right after another, and giving them tickets.

This occurred on St. Matthews Road near the Regional Medical Center. In a 25-minute period, I saw six separate pull-overs. I believe the citations were for seat belt violations.

As I was approaching one of the troopers who was parked in the median, I saw him cast a laser beam-like stare at the driver of the car in front of me. A few minutes later as I talked to the receptionist at one of the doctor’s offices, she confirmed to me that one of her patients had indeed been cited for a seat belt violation. In case you are wondering, I didn’t get a ticket.

This may sound radical to you, but perhaps we should consider abolishing the state trooper system. In my 28 years of driving, covering some 700,000 miles, I’ve never had a need for one.

And let me tell you something, it’s not the government’s responsibility or obligation to continue to provide them or any government employee with a job. What I’m saying is that from time to time, we need to re-evaluate all government agencies to determine whether or not they are sill viable, whether they continue to be cost-effective. Are they truly needed and have they become too powerful and oppressive to the freedoms of the American citizen?

Something that really concerns me is the idea of where do these people and organizations get their power. Do they just make up their own rules as they go along? As a voter and taxpayer, I don’t recall ever being consulted on any laws or policies put into effect by them, yet I’m paying their salary and providing them with the tools to carry out their mission. Can you imagine the millions and millions of dollars it costs each year to pay these salaries, and for the cars they drive, and for the gas they burn, and for the upkeep on their vehicles, and for the buildings they meet in, and for the utilities of that building and the salaried employees there? Untold millions each and every year and that’s just for the state of South Carolina!

If we do continue to have the state trooper system, I think it should be largely reduced. There are a couple of key phrases I’d like to see incorporated into the vocabulary and psyche of the officers. They are “clear and present danger” and “gross violation.” In order for an officer to institute a stop, the offending driver needs to be doing something so bad that there’s no doubt he or she needs to be pulled over. I’m talking about going more than 15 mph over the speed limit or driving extremely recklessly.

Not wearing a seat belt does not qualify as a “clear and present danger” or a “gross violation.” I hate wearing a seat belt and want the law to be repealed. I can’t stand too much restriction, whether it be from a physical belt or from a government law. Also the fines and points penalty system for traffic violations is way too severe and needs to be drastically reduced. Officers and politicians need to remember that we the American citizens are their bosses. We pay their salaries and they work for us.

I know it’s aggravating and most of us don’t have or want to take the time to do it, but we need to contact our elected officials on this issue. We all just want to live free and enjoy life without all of the hassles. However, I’m afraid of what this country will become if we simply stand by in silence while these entities continue to make more rules, laws and restrictions that oppress us. Every proposed law must be weighed on the scales of freedom. Politicians should always take into account the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights as well as the teachings of our founding fathers when passing laws and making decisions.

In the year 1759, founding father and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Franklin said this: They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Now put that in your pipe and smoke on it for awhile.

-- Vernon Davis, Orangeburg

You must be logged in to comment.