Revisiting IT’S been a long time since I got a speeding ticket. More than 20 years, in fact. But just last Tuesday as 1 was cruising mindlessly down @ major West Vancouver street a tall, lanky, and thor- oughly lovely police girl sud- denly appeared out of nowhere and waved me over to the side of the road. (Yes, police girl, I say. Pd wager I have shoes older than this law enforcement official.) She was a striking young thing, a Cindy Crawford type, oaly more ‘clean-cut looking in her police officer’s uniform. I rolled down my window as she motioned to me to pull over. “What's going on?” I asked interestedly, thinkin might be needed to help the poor girl out with directions or some major drug bust. Maybe it wasn’t going to be just another dull day after all. » _ “You were speeding ina ~ school zone,” she said, with - an apologetic smile. T looked around for the school, couldn’t find one. mailbox “And which school is that?” I countered, my tone changing from upbeat to. defensive immediately. The young are so quick to accuse; T was convinced she had made a mistake. “Westcot,” she advised, pointing in the direction of the school. Now this particular school is virtually invisible trom the street I was on, but honestly, you'd think I would have remembered that it was there. It was my kids’ ele- mentary school. “Westcot,” I said incredu- lously, “why my children all went there ‘until just last year.” “Sure they did, Ma’am,” she patronized. “And vou just forgot it was there.” The police girl is com- pletely night, of course. When I'm driving on my regular routes | sort of “check our” — go someplace else in nv head. I don’t really pay acten- tion to road signs or anything else for that matter. I'm like an old horse padding along the same, well-worn trails with blinders on. I didn’t even notice the school signs on the road. “Til need to see your dri- ver’s licence and registration Please,” she chirped, wiping a wayward bang from her young brow. T fumbled in my purse for my licence. My fingers scemed to be paralyzed; | couldn’t get them to work. Every bone in-my body ached. Perhaps it was arthri- tis. Finally wrestling the thing out of its slot, | handed it to her with my vehicle registra- tion, “Thanks,” she smiled, and hippedy-hopped over to her police car to write the ticker. As I sat in my car ponder- ing my crime and saluting the Vest Van housewives who | Political obfuscation breeds citizen cynicism ‘Dear Editor: ‘Ress NVD remuneration. “T was sent a copy of the mayor’s Dec. 6 report to coun- * il with its recommendation on council’s remuneration. It rais- “es several questions of democ- ~Facy and ethics. . The report selectively, and incorrectly, uses the 1988 “Jones” citizens task foree’s * recommendations to propose ian. increase from $19,810 to $24,145 per year. or $4,335 -and presents it as a 21.9% raise. “> And a further increase for * being acting, mayor of $2,000 and a new travel allowance of $300 per month or $3,600 per “year, a total of $9,935. ‘That is a 50% increase, not the 21.9% increase presented. Do you consider the presenta- tion to the public to be open, honest and ethical? * Was there an urgency that required the recommendation that the proposed bylaw be given three readings on Dec. 6, i.e. before it had any public council disclosure? Should not council before giving themselves a large pay raise give their con- stituents ample notice of such intention? Three citizens task torces appointed by earlier councils had in 1988, 1994 and 1996 all recommended that the now current. remuneration was appropriate. When as a result of public protest, council backtracked on its December 1996 propos- al to rise its pay by 50%, it decided openly to refer the question to the “community associations.” Instead, I gather from the mayor’s report, the matter was discussed among members of council and the mayor resulting in the mayor's recommendations. Why was the matter not referred to an independent body? is this an example of democracy in action? In an open disclosure, should not the additional remuneration that councillors and mayor receive from the “Fight over district land is ‘outrageous’ . Dear Editor: Thanks for the timely and informative article in the (Jan. 7) News about the court dispute berween the CMHC and North Vancouver District. -Pm sure that 1 was not the only one to be angry to learn that the land at the centre of the dispute was originally expropriated by the federal government in 1928. It scems the only correct thing co do is to return the land to the district. For the CMHC to fight the will of the residents of North Vancouver is outrageous. It would be helpful for vou to publish more information about the persons central to this dispute, especially those fighting for the CMHC. “Many North Shore residents would like to be able to direet- ly’ ‘contact those responsible ar the CMHC and let them know that we don’t want them in North Vancouver. The CMHC and the federal government should be as’ of their conduct in this matter. , Jacob Heilbron North Vancouver ned Greater Vancouver Regional District and other municipal or provincial bodies in per mect- ing, per diem and other forms also be disclosed? Open disclosure will do much to give politicians the respect and status they deserve. Obfuscation adds to the cyni- cism with which they are increasingly perceived. Peter Jones North Vancouver came barreling down this same street in their big, Suburbans with radar detec- tors built in, it occurred to me chat things have really changed since I got my last speeding ticket. Used to be thar if'a girl simply batted her evelashes a couple of times and promised to slow down there would be no ticket at all, just a word of warning and a friendly wink. How | pined for the old days as I sat in my car, a 42- year-old “alleged offender.” The police girl was in her car for a long time. I won- dered what on earth could be taking so long. Was she talking to her boyfriend on the phone or what? I started to get nervous. Perhaps my licence had Friday, January 16, 1998 — North Shore News — 7 expired, or she was discover: ing unpaid parking tickets. I squinted hard trying to see her through the car windows, but could not force the image. T put on my glasses. Still no clarity. After what seemed like an eternity, the police girl opened her car door and skipped back cver to my win- dow to give me the ticket. “By the way, just how fast was I going?” I asked, squint- ans oo ae Completes rad ing again to read the ticket. “65 kilometers an hour, Mrs. Humphreys,” she answered smiling. Her teeth were so white. “What is that in miles per hour?” | asked, trying to make the calculation in my head with the wrong formula. “Pm not sure,” she said with a little giggle. “I learned in metric.” It’s amazing how getting a speeding ticket can make vou feel old. lush plus oil & filter change. including all materials 1362 Marine Drive 980-9115 Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm, Sun. 9:00amn-5:00pm Expires Jan 30. 98 SNOHOMISH COUNTY SAVVY SHOPPER LODGING DISCOUNTS! Axe PLANS NOW to spend the night with us in Snohomish County. There's plenty of outdoor and waterfront adventure to enjoy, great shopping, and we're just minutes north of downtown Seattle... TAKE YOUR PICK? 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