All Pots Need To Be Careful Not to Call The Kettle Black

By Ben Meisner

I don’t want to be a hypocrite so I am not going to say that Former Solicitor John Van Dongen is a felon who should be strung up on the nearest pole because he has had his license lifted for speeding. Had he tried to use his office to escape his convictions,  different matter, but he didn't.

I have had speeding tickets; I think the last one about three years ago, and a few before that. At one time I drove 100,000 kilometres a year and needed in many cases to try and shave off some time getting to my destination, I recall having at least two on my file at one time.

So you say that Van Dongen was Solicitor General and he should know better. There is an argument to be made, but police officers also uphold the law, and I couldn’t begin to count the number of times I have been passed by a police officer, obviously not going to a scene where someone’s life hangs in the balance.

But  let me take that a few steps further, if the police were to set up radar on say highway 97 south, north, highway 16 west, east, any major street in the city, even my street , Highland drive, I will bet a shiny dollar that out of 10 motorists , 8 are driving above the allowed limit. On Highland Drive, I decided to set up my own radar one day, and loe and behold, 17 out of 20 were exceeding the limit by at least 10 kilometres an hour.

That means that a large majority of the driving public speed at the very least to a point where they feel they can escape a ticket. Take Foothills Boulevard for example, the speed limit up the hill is 80 clicks, think about how many people adhere to that.

Yes there may be an argument that Van Dongen, who got 9 tickets in five years, needed to be taken off the road, which he was. He didn’t try to side step the suspension by using his position as Solicitor General and I for one don’t want to call the kettle black... will you?

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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