These roads are our roads...

I'm all for safe driving, and I despise drunk driving. But it also drives me crazy to hear reporters adopting the PR/marketing gimmick name "Take Back Our Highways" to describe the latest multi-state ticket-giving frenzy that started this weekend. May I remind the police agencies involved (and the reporters) that those highways belong to the people, not to the police? And that police officers are, in fact, the taxpayers employees? Nobody has taken "your" highways, Mr. Trooper. They weren't yours in the first place. Alabama officials point to reduced highway deaths as proof that the increased number of troopers on the roads works. And traffic fatalities were down last year in Alabama. But I have to think the drop in miles driven was a factor as the price of gas soared. The vast majority of tickets given out during these events are for speeding and not wearing seat belts, that latter offense proving to be a nice addition to the states' coffers. Not that I would suggest there's any fiscal incentive to the "blitz." Anyway, go use your roads this coming week drivers, but keep an eye out for unmarked trooper vehicles ready to swoop down. And drive carefully out there!