I have a suggestion to help solve our budget debacle: Effective today, every law-enforcement representative across the state, including local authorities, should immediately start ticketing drivers for hands-on cell-phone use. Every day I could easily hand out three tickets per car trip even in my short commute between Nipomo and Santa Maria. If I spent longer on Highway 101, I could easily hand out at least six tickets per hour. At $200 for each first offense, I believe the budgets of local communities and the state could easily be relieved, and public safety could be improved, which would save us hospital, traffic, and emergency management costs.
 
It truly is appalling to see the number of hands off steering wheels that are being used to text, talk, and surf the web. These drivers’ minds aren’t focused on driving safely. California can lead the nation in cracking down for safety and bring in needed funds while doing so.

-- Ethel Landers - Nipomo

-- Ethel Landers - Nipomo