Dear Editor,
Re: “Provincial highway patrol could aid local enforcement,” Letters, Sept. 16.
In response to Nathalie Bourget (retired traffic enforcement supervisor):
Firstly, I do not want to get into a slanging match with anyone via a newspaper. But I would like to address some of Ms. Bourget’s statements in her letter.
“Mr. Bulloch’s letter over simplifies the issue as he was probably unaware of what was going on in that police vehicle at the time of the incident.”
For your information, I was well aware of what was going on in the police vehicle...I saw an officer sitting at the traffic lights staring right at me, failing to respond to a triple traffic violation.
I was there, you, on the other hand, were not.
Ms. Bourget also accuses me of passing quick judgement about the RCMP and their inability to enforce traffic laws. This was, of course, caused by my frustration.
No, not frustration.
There is something seriously wrong with the whole traffic enforcement scenario in Richmond.
One can go about one’s daily life and never see a police vehicle for weeks on end, while traffic chaos rules supreme.
And as was mentioned in a previous letter, they, the RCMP, are “obvious by their absence.”
Ms. Bourget also insults me by using that well-worn, tattered and torn saying, “I should walk a mile in a man’s shoes,” before judging him.
She may as well have written, “if you haven’t been a police officer, you would not understand.”
Well, perhaps we should follow the advice of the retired traffic enforcement supervisor and write the appropriate office with the details of traffic offences.
I do not think it would make much difference to the driving habits of people in Richmond, even if we did that.
But it would certainly keep a couple of “posties” busy.
Please, I must add, this is by no means a I-hate-the-cops letter.
I do have the greatest admiration for the work they do in the serious crime field.
Rob Bulloch
Richmond
