
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 26, 1993                   TAG: 9307260314
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

THROW THE BOOK AT 8-TRACK SELLERS

I'M CONCERNED about the proliferation of yard sales and garage sales in the valley. By following my suggestions, our local governments could take a positive step to reduce danger on the roads, and also reduce medical expenses for innocent citizens, all the while continuing to look out for the interests of their respective citizens.

I propose that our local mayors, councils and police organizations create ordinances as follows:

1. For those who cross government boundaries, a sentence of 30 days in jail.

2. For those who drive to yard sales with the newspaper in one hand, a map in the other and a coffee cup in their lap, 60 days in jail.

3. For those selling exercise bikes, 120 days.

4. For those selling eight-track tapes, a sentence of 180 days.

5. For those citizens who do not remove their hand-made signs on every corner within 24 hours after the sale, a minimum sentence of life in prison.

To unify the valley, I suggest that jail sentences be assigned as follows:

June - Roanoke city jail; July - Roanoke County jail; August - Botetourt Correctional Unit 25; September - anywhere in Salem. ARNOLD N. BAKER ROANOKE

by CNB