Jeers: to the continually uninsured and unlicenced. Almost every day in the past week, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary reported stopping and impounding cars whose owners had no insurance, and who had failed to register a transfer of ownership. There were three cars impounded on last Tuesday alone. Stolen licence plates, stolen stickers — and the list goes on. There has to be a better way to get a handle on those who operate illegal vehicles — and deal with those who are running up tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid fines that they probably have no intention of ever paying. (Oh, and if anyone ever actually does get a handle on that – maybe you could put your brain to solving the parking meter vandalism, too.)
Cheers: to putting plenty of pufflings back on the right track. The overnight Puffin Patrol is back for its 14th year in Witless Bay, collecting juvenile puffins known as pufflings misled by on-shore lights so that they can be released the next day. The birds follow moonlight, but get disoriented by ever-growing light pollution. The Puffin Patrol not only rescues lost birds, but helps to educate people on either reducing light sources or using the right kind of lighting around homes and business to keep from luring the birds to shore. The patrol is staffed by volunteers, and has become a tourist attraction in itself.
Jeers: to three strikes and you should be out. Out of town, anyway. Spotted on Prince Philip Parkway at 7 a.m. last Monday while most of the city was still sleeping, or trying to: older man on huge Harley-Davidson with massive blatting-loud exhaust pipes (Strike 1). Bike’s owner was playing his radio extremely loud, presumably so that he would be able to hear it over the rumble of his own bikes’ exhaust pipes (Strike 2). Oh, and Strike 3: the musical song stylings being played for the rest of the nearby universe? The Eagles’ “Hotel California.” Enough said. UPDATE: Same man, same bike, same time, same place, same radio, same volume, slightly different ancient rock classic on Thursday morning. Are there no workhouses?
Jeers: to impaired drivers. The RCMP caught two impaired drivers near Clarenville after public complaints about their driving, and the police want to keep the complaints coming. Some things the RCMP say you can look for? “Signs of impaired driving vary depending on the person but may include: swerving; strange or erratic movements; quick changes in speed; speeding or driving too slow; and, drivers who look like they are falling asleep.” Here’s something else to think about: except for the “falling asleep” one, every single one of those signs are also typical of that other kind of impaired driver, cellphonus maximus idiotus. Please, please, please — if you’re driving, don’t let your smartphone make you stupid.
