Penalizing speeders, Minneapolis deaths
Traffic on the westbound LIE. Reducing moving violations to no-point violations and collecting fat fines is not enough, a reader writes. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Fine speeders, stop reducing points
Reducing moving violations — primarily speeding — to no-point violations and collecting fat fines is not enough [“Village and town court revenue soars on LI,” News, Feb. 1]. Collect the fines and stop reducing the violation to no points. Some judges reduce tickets for speeding more than 100 mph to expensive parking tickets.
This does nothing to reduce road danger, but encourages it because there are no major consequences. Assign points, raise insurance rates, and suspend licenses.
— Richard Amster, Setauket
Demand real review of fatal shootings
Rep. Andrew Garbarino’s call for “a hearing” on Feb. 10 after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during federal operations can sound like accountability. But unless a hearing is explicitly focused on the killings themselves, it is not oversight [“As House panel chair, rep is at center of ICE debate,” News, Jan. 25].
The deaths of Good and Pretti require a hearing that squarely examines how and why civilians were killed during federal immigration enforcement activity. Neither was a suspect. Neither was the target of enforcement. Both were civilian witnesses whose deaths raise serious questions about use of force, operational planning, supervision, and safeguards for civilians during federal actions carried out in public spaces.
Those questions cannot be answered through broad policy discussions or routine oversight. Congressional hearings have a specific role: to put facts on the public record, test whether policies work, and determine whether changes are needed to prevent future loss of life. When killings are folded into a larger agenda, accountability is diluted.
As chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Garbarino has the authority to call a hearing dedicated to these deaths. That authority exists for moments when ordinary oversight is not enough.
When civilians are killed, Congress must confront the facts directly. Anything less is not a hearing; it is avoiding congressional responsibilities.
— Laura Jens-Smith, Laurel
The writer is the former Riverhead Town supervisor and currently head of the town’s Democratic committee.
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