April 16, 2002

Did you hug a lawman today?

Through A Glass Darkly, by John Myers, Internet Photojournalist

When's the last time you hugged a lawman? Or even smiled at one, for that matter, or maybe launched a friendly wave?

I must admit I have never tried to hug a lawman, but I must admit I've seen a few lawwomen I wouldn't mind hugging. I suppose in these politically correct times, I should call them all lawpersons, regardless of sex, but I can't bring myself to do it.

But what I have made a habit of for several years is waving at every law enforcement officer I meet on the highway, and nodding or speaking -- or both -- to every one I meet in person.

I bring this up because of the considerable backlash going on in Richmond County over the recent "Click It or Ticket" campaign by N.C. Highway Patrol troopers, Department of Motor Vehicles officers and Alcohol and Law Enforcement agents.

Why even the High Sheriff himself, Dale Furr, publicly spoke out in criticism, saying Richmond County got a "bad rap" from the campaign which targeted our fair county because we led the state in the lowest percentage of seat-belt wearers, 77.1 percent.

The sheriff made some valid points. Troopers, DMV and ALE officers even handed out some tickets in parking lots and ignored medical waivers, Furr noted, as well as targeting the U.S. 220 bottleneck in Ellerbe, a major thoroughfare for folks passing through Richmond County, tarring us all with a nonlocal brush.

But it is highly unusual for one law enforcement officer to speak ill of other lawmen's actions, much less to do so publicly.

Leaving aside that this is an election year, the sheriff is only saying publicly what many residents -- and voters -- are talking about and writing indignant letters to the editor about.

I haven't seen so much animosity directed toward our protectors of the public good in some time, perhaps not since the bad old days of the '60s when social protest was in vogue.

Personally, I missed the honor of getting my very own seat-belt ticket, for which I am thankful. I do always buckle up, but sometimes am guilty of getting under way for a few feet before reaching for the belt.

One member of our news staff got nailed in a local parking lot after moving only a few feet unbuckled.

So it could have been me, just as it was many of you who got nailed. I suppose I'm the reverse of the fellow who was asked how it felt to be ridden out of town on a rail? "If it wasn't for the honor of the thing, I'd just as soon have walked," he replied.

I do feel honored that I missed my day in court, and I am indeed grateful that the eyes of the law weren't watching when I rolled out of my driveway before reaching back to buckle up.

So let's all take a lesson from this and remember the four little words that will keep us out of court: Buckle your seat belt.

And when you do, remember those men and women in uniform who protect us from the bad guys every day. They put their lives on the line for little pay and often no respect at all.

The very least we owe them all -- even if they've just handed us a ticket -- is a smile and a wave whenever we meet them.

As Mama taught me, you catch a whole lot more flies with honey than vinegar.

And disrespect toward that officer when you get pulled over is just about guaranteed to have bad results.