Isn't one life worth $8,800?
In the Sept. 1 Courier News (and online at www.dailyherald.com) was an article by Sarah Longwell, who is the managing director of the American Beverage Institute, an association of restaurants committed to the responsible serving of adult beverages.
She states that roadblocks are a waste of manpower and money. Coincidentally my husband and I encountered a "safety check" this past Friday night on Algonquin Road just west of Route 59. The one officer on the road shined his light in the cars ahead of us, spoke to the occupants, checked rear lights and waved them on. We happened to be the fifth car, and he explained that every fifth car had to go through a further check. He said to have my license and proof of insurance available. This location appeared to be a storage area for smaller police vehicles.
I gave the officer my license and proof of insurance, and he explained that they were also watching for drunken drivers. The whole procedure took roughly five minutes.
A total of three officers, who were probably on the second shift anyway, so no overtime, and the pull-over area was an existing building, I wonder where Ms. Longwell gets the figure of $8,800 per roadblock? Let's just say that one drunken driver is found in a roadblock and taken off the street. It's possible that his could save just one life. A life is worth more than $8,800 isn't it? Especially if that one life saved was a member of your family or mine.
Linda Kimsey
Streamwood