Recently I read in the Plymouth Independent that the Town of Plymouth may have some upcoming fiscal challenges. Being a lifelong resident, naturally I want the town to be on solid monetary ground. I started to think about solving the town’s budding financial quandary.
On a recent morning walk I watched the millionth vehicle speed through the stop sign at the intersection of Bourne and Halfway Pond roads. Yes, I have been counting. The solution to the town’s fiscal woes came to me faster than the stop sign violator who steamed through the intersection.
The town needs to set up a stop sign violation camera. A very modest $1 citation would be assessed to each violator. As I watched the millionth stop sign violation, my Plymouth -Carver math kicked in. At $1 per violation that equals an extra million dollars for the town. This would essentially be a passive toll – bad behavior pays the toll, good behavior gets a pass. The citations would be mailed out monthly to overcome the burden of the USPS cost.
Putting my PC math to use again, I quickly realized there are other high violation stop signs within town limits. Applying this same stop sign violation camera would generate a windfall of extra cash that would make Washington, DC jealous.
If the town decides to put my idea to use all I ask is that one cent of each violation gets sent to me. Digging real deep into my Plymouth Carver math skills that is only one percent, a very affordable cost for the town. That will certainly be a nice unearned income. My one percent from the Bourne/Halfway Pond roads intersection will probably cover my real estate tax alone. Anything left over will just get spent on beer and Keno tickets.
– Sam Cotter