No sympathy for lawbreaking drivers

Thanks for the chuckles from people who are steaming mad at municipalities for the gall of enforcing our laws [“Traffic ticket bonanza,” News, Dec. 3].

News flash: Laws are laws, and if you break them, there are penalties. The woman who got ticketed twice for failure to signal could have avoided the $660 fine by simply moving her hand to the lever on the left side of the steering wheel — what, 6 inches? She also would have been considerate to drivers behind her.

Everyone who is licensed to drive should know the rules of the road. If you violate them, don’t blame anyone other than yourself.

Actually, forget all that. I would like to thank these drivers for doing their part to keep our taxes in check by generating all this additional revenue!

Tim Consiglio, Hauppauge

Here are some tips for all the whiners and the criers: Don’t speed up on yellow lights. Don’t go through red lights. Use your blinkers. Stop honking your horn for no reason. When someone uses a blinker for a lane change, stop speeding up; let that vehicle in, even though it’s hard to give up a few seconds.

Drivers seem more out of control than ever. How difficult is it to obey the laws? Obviously, incredibly difficult.

I refuse to give my money away — and haven’t. Just follow the law. Let the municipalities figure out how to manage their finances efficiently. They are laughing all the way to the bank, and laughing at you!

Joe Recupero, Ronkonkoma

Coliseum is real home of Islanders

My wife, daughter and I welcomed home the Islanders to their second game this year at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 10. The enthusiasm was contagious on the line outside, and inside when fans were greeted by Sparky, the team mascot. Chants of “Let’s go, Islanders!” started before the puck drop. It was as if the team never left for Brooklyn.

The lines were long for the bathrooms, food and souvenir concessions. The fights were on the ice.

I was not a hockey fan growing up, but became one after my son grew interested in the game. I hope the planned arena in Elmont falls through and the Islanders move back to their rightful home at the Coliseum.

Howard Lev, East Meadow

LI needs more state money for roads

There is little question that the state Department of Transportation has few inexpensive options to solve the traffic chokepoint where Sunrise Highway, Montauk Highway and service roads converge [“No panacea for Oakdale Merge,” News, Nov. 29].

When the lowest estimate to address the crisis is $20 million, this much is clear: Transportation solutions need to work within a holistic strategy. If we fund a $1.8 billion third-track program on the Long Island Rail Road while ignoring woeful local roads, the transformative solutions envisioned by our public officials will remain stuck in dangerous gridlock.

We need a bipartisan commitment from our newly elected State Senate delegation to make long-term transportation funding for Long Island an urgent priority, or the Oakdale merge will confound drivers for another generation.

Marc Herbst, Hauppauge

Editor’s note: The writer is executive director of the Long Island Contractors’ Association, a trade organization.

Odd logic for free parking in Bay Shore

Islip Town officials announced that parking would be free in downtown Bay Shore this holiday season from Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24 through Jan. 1. They said the effort could “boost local economies and help preserve local downtowns.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, accounting for nearly 50 percent of all employees in the private sector, and are instrumental in capturing the unique charm and service that define the downtown shopping experience,” Supervisor Angie Carpenter said in a statement.

So, let me get this straight: Free parking boosts shopping. I assume that means that paid parking depresses shopping. So, why does Bay Shore have a paid parking program that could hurt small businesses? There is nothing charming about that. And the fact that the money raised by the program goes to Islip Town generally and not to Bay Shore specifically only adds insult to injury [“Parking meters spur lawsuit, retailers’ ire,” News, Nov. 14].

H. Mitchell Schuman, Brightwaters

Humans unafraid of one-way trip to Mars

Wanted: pioneers to explore Mars. Hazardous journey, unforgiving environment, isolation and constant danger. Safety not guaranteed. High praise and recognition for ingenuity and efforts. Compensation negotiable [“Really, who would want to leave Earth forever?,” Just Sayin’, Dec. 1].

In 2013, 78,000 people signed up for a one-way trip to Mars. We are adventurers. We need to explore despite the hardship.

Peter Scott, Nissequogue