Before the end of 2008, it is expected that Massachusetts will join the other 49 states and have citizen flagmen direct traffic and provide safety oversight at road construction sites. Currently, only policemen (and women) provide this service. Making this change is supposed to save the state approximately $5 million dollars a year or more. Sounds reasonable, right? The money saved could be used to improve the crumbling bridges and roads across the state. Surveys of Massachusetts residents show that 70% of them favor the change. But not so fast... The policeman's union strongly opposes this change and site that it will compromise public safety AND that the $$ savings has been inflated. But wait....keep in mind that a police person can basically double his/her annual salary by working overtime on police details. It has also been said that the money made on police details helps to offset substandard wages. Learn more.
Lets talk about Public Safety. Surely there is a ton of data available from the other 49 states to either support or refute the issue of public safety. Instead of the anecdotal comments about "public safety", perhaps some legitimate data could be sited. Why do a majority of MA residents support the legislation? I think it is because of their observations on the road. Citizens observe police at these road construction sites reading the newspaper, chatting with the construction workers, having coffee, etc. and doing very little, if any, "traffic" control. One afternoon this month, I was traveling on a major MA highway and 1 local road and I passed 4 different construction sites. On the 65 mph highway there were police cruisers with their lights flashing, one officer leaning on his cruiser reading the newspaper, one officer appearing to be text messaging and one officer standing on the grassy shoulder having a conversation with one of the construction workers. The police detail on the local road was a little better, one was directing traffic, one was looking down a large hole in the road, and one was having coffee. I was listening to the radio last week and actually heard a police representative say that for every police officer who is having a cup of coffee, etc. a "robber" was being captured and CPR performed by other police details. Now come on....! The police may have legitimate arguments, but comments like this compromise their credibility.
Bottom line is this. Surely there can be a balance between public safety and the taxpayers dollar. We can no longer afford to just accept these sacred cow/entitlement programs.
Lets talk about Public Safety. Surely there is a ton of data available from the other 49 states to either support or refute the issue of public safety. Instead of the anecdotal comments about "public safety", perhaps some legitimate data could be sited. Why do a majority of MA residents support the legislation? I think it is because of their observations on the road. Citizens observe police at these road construction sites reading the newspaper, chatting with the construction workers, having coffee, etc. and doing very little, if any, "traffic" control. One afternoon this month, I was traveling on a major MA highway and 1 local road and I passed 4 different construction sites. On the 65 mph highway there were police cruisers with their lights flashing, one officer leaning on his cruiser reading the newspaper, one officer appearing to be text messaging and one officer standing on the grassy shoulder having a conversation with one of the construction workers. The police detail on the local road was a little better, one was directing traffic, one was looking down a large hole in the road, and one was having coffee. I was listening to the radio last week and actually heard a police representative say that for every police officer who is having a cup of coffee, etc. a "robber" was being captured and CPR performed by other police details. Now come on....! The police may have legitimate arguments, but comments like this compromise their credibility.
Bottom line is this. Surely there can be a balance between public safety and the taxpayers dollar. We can no longer afford to just accept these sacred cow/entitlement programs.
2 comments:
Hi Deb
Very interesting topic. There has been many times I have driven past road construction sites and have witnessed the same scenario. The officer either sitting in his squad car reading (or whatever) as well as hangin' out with the buds'. In Ohio it seems to be a mixture of some construction sites with police presence and others with none. As I am unfamiliar with the respective laws, will be interesting to explore. The one thing that seems to be the best and important choice is the safety of all involved. The construction workers, the "safety crew" and the drivers. It would be interesting to see if there are any statistics regarding accidents and fatalities both ways - with / without police presence. Seems that just the very presence of the police cruiser causes drivers to be more cautious and aware.
Insofar as the wages to supplement their salary. Also not familiar but would also be an interesting adventure to explore. Also, does this mean that the Massachusetts law would allow this for the MA State patrol for State Highways / County sheriff and deputies for county roads, and the local townships, etc. for the inner residential roads?
I also think it's interesting to note that if it's all about public safety and we need to have a cop on duty, why in the world do we put our children in harm's way using lay people as crossing guards? I'm surprised that the MA cops haven't tried to muscle in on that racket!
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