THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 19, 1995 TAG: 9508180011
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
Staff writer Keith Monroe, (``Accident gawkers have nothing to fear from police,'' Aug. 13) thinks that police officers on the interstate should spend more time directing traffic and less - well, he didn't take the time to think about what exactly these officers should spend less time doing.
Did he stop to consider that the police officer on the scene is responsible for: the safety of the accident victims and rescue personnel and witnesses on the scene; the removal of vehicles from the highway and the safety of the wrecker operations; the measurements to be recorded for traffic court or civil litigation later on?
``Goosing'' the traffic along would not be necessary if spoiled infants such as yourself would drive more carefully; pay less attention to wrecks and more to possible hazards, and slow down from the dubious speed you describe in your article as 55 mph.
The local state police and city police departments of Hampton Roads cannot afford to hire enough police officers to babysit you, Mr. Monroe, as you mewl your way to the office. Get up earlier, take a different route where you will not need police assistance to move forward. Or move back to the mythical city from when you sprang, the big city which you describe as having no traffic pileups.
CAROL G. LLEWELLYN
Norfolk, Aug. 14, 1995 by CNB