DWI interlock devices, closing Brookhaven landfill, fossil fuel laws, congestion pricing, LI housing

Install interlock devices in new cars

DWI should be a felony on the first offense, regardless of the circumstances “Stop this plague of drunken driving,” Editorial, July 5]. The fact that law-abiding people are lucky enough not to be the victim of someone arrested and convicted of DWI should not allow the perpetrator to get away with a slap-on-the-wrist misdemeanor.

And for those convicted of DWI, interlock devices indeed should be installed for a minimum of five years and should also include every vehicle that the convicted driver has access to such as cars belonging to a spouse and children. And the interlock device should be installed and maintained at the driver’s expense.

I am tired of innocent people paying the price for drivers who break the law. Interlock devices should be installed in every new car, which becomes clear when you see the suspect in the nail salon crash had previously received only a suspended license, $500 fine and probation and was charged with merely a misdemeanor.

— Larry J. Davies, Lindenhurst

Ideas to address closing of landfill

Here are ideas to deal with the closing of the landfill [“The cost to LI of Brookhaven landfill closure,” News, July 5].

Raise the deposit on every bottle including wine, fruit juices and any other liquid that comes in bottles to 25 cents.

Have both counties deliver four recycling cans with covers and computer codes representing your house, one for compost, one for brown and green bottles, one for clear bottles, and one for paper and cardboard. The refuse companies’ trucks would collect waste except for those with the recycle codes on the cans.

Also, deliver two garbage cans with covers and codes to every house. If you use fewer than two, you pay less tax.

All this would be paid for from a small tax by the two counties, and we likely will see less waste for landfills because money talks.

— Albert J. Prisco, East Northport

Hot enough? Let’s pass the HEAT Act

Defenders of the fossil fuel industry should read this article carefully [“Fossil fuel laws targeted,” News, July 1]. As correctly indicated, the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, or HEAT Act, clearly benefits all of us. As noted, it would save utilities and ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year, align utilities with state climate change goals, and allow exceptions for proven cases where powering a neighborhood with electricity would be impractical. Everyone wins.

Let’s support reducing greenhouse gas emissions during this hottest year on record. Gov. Kathy Hochul should bring back the State Legislature for a special session this summer to pass the HEAT Act.

— Steve Rolston, Baldwin

Keep trucks out of city during daytime

Here’s a radical idea on congestion pricing that might work [“Different ideas on congestion pricing,” News, July 10].

While recently driving on Second Avenue, of the four lanes, one was used for bicycles, one was filled with trucks making deliveries, a third lane was filled with both double-parked cars and trucks, leaving one lane for moving traffic. In some spots, there are bus lanes, as well. Why not limit truck deliveries from, say, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.? Emergency vehicles, of course, would be exempt.

I know that this would not be popular with truckers or store owners, but fewer trucks on the streets during daytime hours would make Manhattan more navigable and also reduce highway traffic.

— Rich Levens, Lynbrook

Punish litter violators with trash pickups

The Town of Babylon pays overtime to its highway and buildings department to pick up trash from town roads and parks [“Town talks trash to stop littering,” Our Towns, June 27]. Why do that?

Shouldn’t violators be tasked to perform mandatory trash pickup as a punitive measure besides or in lieu of a fine? If volunteers can do it, why can’t the ones creating the litter problem join in as well?

It seems as if this could be a compelling way to incentivize respect for the environment, rather than simply paying a fine — assuming violators pay their fines.

— Mark Camirand, Kings Park

More housing would add to traffic woes

Oyster Bay Town is doing the right thing by limiting the houses on golf courses in Roslyn Harbor and Glenwood Landing since each new homeowner usually has two or three cars [“Mulligan on golf housing,” Our Towns, June 26].

The roads are narrow and, including West Shore Road from Port Washington, funnel into Old Roslyn, which also has single-lane roads. These roads then funnel down to the Northern State Parkway and Long Island Expressway.

The area traffic, at certain times, is already horrendous. These roads simply cannot handle any more vehicles.

— William Coddington, Port Washington