Boy, she said a mouthful...

A few weeks ago, I asked the City Manager & Police Chief to bring foward a surveillance camera proposal, for motion-activated cameras at the four strategic entrance/exit locations of the City.

We had just experienced 4 violent deaths at the hands of man and a vehicle theft/arson. Being able to see who came in to or left town just before or after a serious crime would be very helpful, me thinks.

Our Police Department staffing is the same as it was in 1992. The idea first came to me when we had a very persistent burglar hitting the businesses along Main Street from the alleys.

A broader idea came to me even earlier, when we lived in the country, and had repeated instances of kids being sent to the Dump by their parents, but instead detouring to our ranch, dumping the stuff, and then pocketing the money: satellite cameras.

So I had this camera idea conversation with a hot, prominent member of the community that we have been friends with for years. She was outraged over the invasion of her privacy. (And, no, it was NOT Jiley.)

We could not get to agreement that there was no expectation of privacy while driving on a public street or walking on a public sidewalk.

I was driving my wife to Davis yesterday, and related the disagreement to her. Carol looked at me and said "duh!".

It immediately hit me. How could I have forgotten? She had not been there years ago, but she knew the story.

When my boys were young, and my daughter still in the planning stage, we were driving behind this woman's husband. Well, at least we thought we were.

All of a sudden, she popped up into view. The boys, elevated in their car seats, yelled, "There she is!"

With seamless parenting skill, I said "She must have been tired..."

I had not thought about the adventurous amongst us when pondering my camera idea. Actually, I probably would have, but Railroad and Grant Avenues within/near the City limits go way beyond adventurous- into just plain stupid.

You think Winters PD is thrilled when they pull somebody over for 5 MPH over the speed limit? If they find somebody driving naked, half-naked, or somebody playing Bobbing for Apples, it goes right into the Hall of Fame!

If texting while driving is illegal because it is so distracting, it does not take Einstein to figure out that molesting the stick shift also has to be illegal, at least by logic and common sense.

Even if you're just warming up...

Besides, I am pretty sure you have to, at least partrially, take your seatbelt off, right?

So, I have an idea. We will put up "No Snorkeling" signs in both directions before you get near the cameras- assuming I get at least two other votes.

I am still working on what the icon on the sign will look like.

SRT IV