Did You Know

Did you know that every time a county police officer in Maryland writes a speeding ticket, the money goes to the state? No, I'm not making this up. Ask any police officer and he or she will tell you the same thing. Moving violation fines go to the state. Running a stop light or a stop sign and the money goes to the state. Did you ever wonder why police officers don't want to write more speeding tickets? The county gets nothing.
Actually, the thing about the Maryland counties not getting anything is not entirely true. The Maryland counties gets less than 10 percent back for the school system.

There is no real incentive for police officers to write speeding tickets other than it is in their job description. When enough of the right people scream in the county that there are too many speeders along a specific stretch of road, the officers will set up their radar guns and write tickets.
Imagine for a second, what would happen if Maryland split more of the fines with the counties? The state would not have to give up the whole thing, maybe 60-40. The counties just might have more money to hire police officers! What a novel idea? Detectives would have money to purchase crime scene equipment rather than using their own money. Undercover units would have access to better digital equipment for surveillance.
So the next time Maryland politicians say they don't have enough money for law enforcement, don't believe them. They have the power to change the laws. And this law needs changing, don't you think?
How else are we going to get more police officers on the streets?

I still made a difference

Some months ago, I decided I wanted to do something for my community. I ran for a seat on the University Park Town Council. Going door to door, I spoke with familiar and new friends. I told my neighbors that I wanted to do something for my community. I wanted to make a difference in our town. I listened as they told me what bothered them about the town. Many residents were concerned with cars not stopping at the stop signs. We also have a goodly amount of cars who exceed the speed limit. I told the residents that something had to be done before someone got hurt or worse. I talked to residents about rental homes with college students. On the weekends, the homes would host loud parties. I told my future voters that they had the power to do something about the problem. I told them to call the town police and report the loud music. I also told them there were laws on the books which forbid disturbing the peace after 8pm. Call the police and let the police give out citations to the renters and to the rental home owners. If three citations were issued in a 12 month period, then the rental permit for the group home could be pulled. My future constituents had not heard of the law.
Election day arrived and I stood outside of the polling place as I greeted the voters. My opponent stood with me and commented that normally there were only a handful of voters who came out for a uncontested election.
The polls closed and I waited as the votes were counted.
Ninety nine voters came out to vote for me and my opponent. I received 19 of those votes.
I had lost the election but I kept my promise to make a difference. If I had not run, then only a handful of voters would have cast their ballots. Perhaps next time, I will have more of the votes!