An error in judgement is complicated by events of a downtown festival

Letter to the Editor,

This is a true story.

It was a very hot summer day in August. A young man was among the throngs who lined Mineral Avenue in Libby. Interspersed among the crowd were sheriff and police officers. Present to be “Johnny on the spot” if anyone should break the law. Or perhaps to enjoy the festivities of Ignite the Nites while on duty?

An engine roars, the tires scream while spinning, smoke billows and the stench of burned rubber fills the air. A variety of reactions show on the crowd’s faces, but pleasure is the general attitude of the crowd.

The young man has frequented the event that began in his childhood. Now we jump forward to a frosty November day, one week before Thanksgiving. Same young man on Mineral Avenue driving in his pickup. No pedestrians but the few rushing from their vehicle to the business of their intent. The young man decides to spin is tires on Mineral Avenue. He doesn’t do it long enough to even make the tires scream, or produce smoke and the stench of burning rubber.

A police officer happened to see him, perhaps one that was even on duty during Ignite the Nites. The young man is swiftly pulled over. The officer could have said, “Do you know spinning your tires on Mineral Avenue is illegal, and I could give you a ticket charging you with careless driving, that will stay on your record for life, and possibly destroy your chances for employment with many trucking companies nationwide?”

Yes, the officer could have. But instead, no questions asked, issued the ticket with charges of careless driving. The young man is actually applying for employment with a trucking company, but now his chance of being hired is almost non-existent.

There are now three options, and I think one of them should be implemented.

Tire spinning on Mineral Avenue at Ignite the Nites should be eliminated, or, the officers present at that event should issue the myriad of tickets charging careless driving, or, that young man’s ticket should be removed. (I also think an apology would be in order.)

— Karen Schertel

Libby