My acquaintance has been driving

for 27 years and has never had an accident nor even a ticket before, but

in this case was given a citation with a $67 fine. When she was pulled

over, she had no idea what she had done wrong. The officer politely explained

to her that not all of her four wheels had come to a complete stop, and

further, she'd like to give her a warning only, but she was told by her

superiors that because the police department had received so many complaints

from residents in the Golf View area about people not coming to a complete

stop at that particular stop sign, that she had to issue citations only

and no warnings.

Now I'm not one to criticize

the Peachtree Police Department lightly. I think our police department

does an outstanding job 99 percent of the time. But in this case, I do

have to question their priorities.

I know officers can't be everywhere

all of the time. However, I believe the city's limited police resources

could be better utilized at other more hazardous locations within the

city, like Ga. Highway 74 southbound in the afternoon.

Recently, the police department

put up their sign telling people how fast they are going on Hwy. 74 southbound.

This is a highly effective tool for many drivers, confirming that they

in fact are doing 75 mph on Hwy. 74.

Or how about the school zone

in front of Booth Middle School most afternoons? Or just about any other

school zone in the city for that matter, where I would venture to say

one could find someone going at least 10 miles over the limit at any given

minute. Or closer to the Golf View area, on Bluesmoke Trail where drivers

exceed the posted 35 mile limit on a routine basis and seem to use the

road as a drag strip on occasion (recall the fatal accident on Bluesmoke

few years back where the young driver was driving near 100 MPH).

It would seem to me that our

police manpower would be better utilized at these locations, before others

are seriously injured or killed, rather than assigned to pull over poor

drivers whose all four wheels don't come to a complete stop at a three-way

stop sign.

Golf View residents, I suggest

you quit your whining. You're beginning to remind me of war protestors

who detract law enforcement officials from doing more important tasks.

Martin Poffenberger

Peachtree City