Free car fixes? Don't vouch for it

As a driver for more than 45 years, I find it hard to believe that a voucher will be awarded to take care of a driver's broken taillight or brake light ["Vouchers? That's the ticket," News, April 22]. As a young guy starting to drive in the late '70s, with not a lot of money and not the "coolest car," I was once ticketed for my taillight being out. I was told to have it replaced ASAP. I went to an auto parts store to make sure that it was fixed. My "voucher" was not my dad taking care of this, but reaching into my own pocket to get this done. A voucher may be good, but where is the responsibility of a driver simply taking care of things? A broken taillight or brake light won't put most drivers in debt, so just get it done and move on.

Andrew Martorano, Lindenhurst

The new initiative for police officers to provide motorists free $250 vouchers to replace defective lights on their vehicles is outrageous. Why stop at free light bulbs? Why not provide free vouchers to replace defective mufflers? Taxpayers should not be burdened with subsidizing the cost of maintaining people’s vehicles.

Lawrence Street, president of the Eastern Long Island branch of the NAACP, said that “sometimes you get pulled over and you don’t make it out alive.” On Long Island, that’s far-fetched. Equally dubious is philanthropist Steve Castleton saying, “The bottom line is a program like this will help save lives.”

Improving the relationship between the police and community is achieved by encouraging police officers and members of the community we serve to treat one another with dignity and respect. “Feel good” programs and wasting taxpayer money is not the answer.

Robert Donohue, Yaphank

The opinions of the writer, a detective lieutenant in the Suffolk County Police Department, are his own.

The Department of Motor Vehicles requires motorists to repair a broken light within 24 hours of receiving a summons is unreasonable. The obvious solution  is apparently too simple for our politicians: Extend the period to 10 days so any motorist can find a few hours for repairing it without jeopardizing a job.

New York State requires a motor vehicle inspection every year. A defective light must be corrected in order to pass. Will the "Lights On!" program apply to a cracked windshield or a bald tire, which are also failure items? Will Suffolk County pay for these new parts to help struggling families? Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone says this program is a "win-win scenario." He doesn't seem to realize that the loser is the taxpayer. This is a game that incentivizes irresponsible behavior. Why should I pay to fix my light when I can simply wait to be cited and have it done for free?

The president of an NAACP local branch warns that "sometimes you get pulled over and you don't make it out alive." Deputy County Executive Vanessa Baird-Streeter said that the county issued 24,000 citations for equipment violations in 2019. Did anyone die?

Stephen Sullivan, West Babylon

So what will be the next handout that motorists will receive? How about an oil change every 15,000 miles? Or a new set of tires every 40,000 miles. New windshield wipers once a year? How about free repairs of a car's dings or scrapes? Or a few taxpayer dollars to go toward the monthly car payments. The list could go on and on, even as we continue to pay some of the nation's highest property taxes.

Thomas W. Smith, Riverhead

When will extra money be used to reduce the high property taxes that are chasing many good people off Long Island? After superstorm Sandy, plenty of money was distributed from government budgets, overtime was paid to people who work for the taxpayers, and funds were easier to get for those who didn’t have flood insurance. Then, COVID-19 money became, for many, another free-for-all.

Now, Suffolk County is forgoing tickets for minor vehicle infractions that drivers once had 24 hours to repair to avoid a fine. When will residents start voting for people who are looking out for taxpayers?

Gary Maksym, Massapequa

Get a driver's license, buy a car, purchase insurance and get your neighbor down the street to pay for repairs? Long Island has reached a new height in people not taking responsibility for themselves. If you can’t afford to replace a bulb for everyone’s safety, you shouldn’t be on the road. What’s next, fail a state safety car inspection and someone who rides mass transit pays for those repairs?

John Poulos, Freeport

EDITOR’S NOTE: Suffolk County’s voucher program to fix broken car lights is funded by a $20,000 grant from the federal government, $15,000 from a local philanthropist, and a $35,000 matching grant from the “Lights On!” Foundation.