MAY 19, 2009

       Why do we have laws? Are they meant for us or for the benefit of the people who make them?

       I’ve noticed a lot of people defending their right to break the law. It’s sort of weird. The battle in Winnipeg is continuing over the city enforcing provincial traffic laws through photo radar in construction zones.

       The argument is that people got speeding tickets when going through construction zones even though workers weren’t on site, therefore the fines should not have to be paid by the offenders.

       I think we’re missing the point here. I know lots of people that get upset when a ticket arrives in the mail and my response is always, “Were you speeding?” And immediately the person struggles and replies, “Well, yeah, but…” Oh, I see. So you’re now justifying why it’s OK for you to break the law. Then, it launches into a debate about the ethics and cash-grab antics of political officials.

       The bottom line is you broke the law.

       It’s illegal for minors to drink at unsupervised parties. But, after having a chat with a teenager I was amazed at how much these kids really have going on – many things I wouldn’t have thought about at that age, and some things I wouldn’t even think about as an adult.

       Is anything being done to stop these kids? Or is it one of those things – like traffic photo enforcement – that we know the problem is there and nothing is going to change it. Is that the attitude we’ve come to?

       And, really, what do people think of the laws we have anyway? How many people view our laws as jokes?

       Seems to me the public opinion of our justice system is laughed at in certain instances where the government appears to be powerless. Yes, the government is powerless when it doesn’t have the ability or clout to enforce its own laws. But, then again, when the government flip-flops it certainly doesn’t help build our confidence.