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6 - The Canadian Champion, Fnday, February 8, 2001 SCO.MMFIT THE CA VADIAN CIIMvPION Box 248, 191 Mais St. E., Mitton. Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editocial Fax. 905-878-4943 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Associae Publisher Jitl Davis Edîtor in Chie-f Karen Smilth Editor Wendy McNab Advertising Manager Steve Crozier Circulation Manager Teri Casaa Office Manager Tim Cotes Production Manager The Canadien Champion, putithed every Tuesday and Friduy at 191 Main St E , Milton, Ont., LOI 45N9 (tox 248), is one of Tht Metroland Printmng. Pobtishing & tlîstnibutinq Ltd. grnep ot struritas companies mticit indluites: Ajax/Pickering Ntws Adventiser, Alliston HntalSLoutînr. Barrie Advancn, Barry's Bay Titis Wnek, tnttnn Entprisn, Brampton Guardian. Burlrngton Post. Buttington Shopping News, City Patent, City ot York Soardian. Colingwood/Wasaga Conntc.tion. East York Mictnr Ein Advocate/Countty Routes. Etobicoke Goardias, Flambotoogli Pst, Fornete Young, Georgetown tndepmentActon Fren Preiss Sain Business Times Huronia Business Times, Kingston Thtis Wtnk, Lindsay Titis Week, Manlisax Economist t& Sun, Midland/Penetarguishese Mitron, Miton Shopping News, Missîssauga Businests limes, Mîssîssauga News, Nopante Guide, Nassagawnya News, NewmarktAurora Ena-Bannet, Northumberland Newst, eNtht Yrt Mîneoe, Sakoîlte teavet, Oakvitte Shopping News, Oidtimens Hockey News, Otîttia Today. ttehawa/Wlhitbyltarngton/Pord Perny This Week, Petenrborough Titis Week, Pîctos Couety Guide, Richmosd HlliTonrnitîvaoghan Liberai, Scarboneugh Mînror, Stouttsitllexbidgt Tribune. Advertîsîog is acceptent or the condtition that, in the eveot of o type- graphîcat errer, that portion et the advertisiog stace eccopîed by the erre- neous item, together wîth a reasona5le atiowance ton signature, euhl rot be charged tor, Sot the btatance ot tht adoertisemest witl be paîd ton at tht appli- cabie rate. The pustistr resemves tht rlght te categorize adventsexeets or dectîre. The Miftie Canadie Charmpion is a linepetae Ptuduet î Banning ceil phones in cars over the top The crash near Washington, D.C. that took the lives of four Quebeckers has raised concemrs about weather to regulate die use of celi phones by drivers. A 20-year-old woman talking on ber ceil phone lost control of the large SUV she was drivmng for the first time and smashed mnto a mini- van carrying the four Quebec seniors. The mnappropriate use of ceil phones by drivers is part of a serious traffic safety problemn - distractions can be dangerous behind the wheel. Some say the solution is to ban drivers from using celi phones. While the safety initiative sounds reasonable at first, on second thought we disagree. Careless driving laws are already in place to prosecute drivers who don't make the driving task their top priority. For example, Ontario drivers caught talking on cell phones, eating, readmng or applying make-up are subject to a $325 fine and six demerit points. Similar penalties apply ini other provinces. Instead of more -legislation, we see a need for more public awareness and education, and strict enforcement of existing laws. lips for drivers with celi phones appear on the Canada Safety Council's Web site and in its defensive driving courses. OUR READERS WRITEL Reader asks people to stop humiliating her as she really does need the handicap parking spot Dear Editor: l'ti 26 ycars nid and reside in Milton. Seven weeku ago, 1 under- wenî a tri-level spinal fusion due t0 a car accident April 30. 1 have a handicap parking perinet due to the fact that I'm in a full torso brace and can't walk very fast or veîy far until the fusion bas taken - usually five 10 six monthis. Since 1 can't caray much more than 5 10 10 poundu, 1 pick a couple thinge up a few times a week at Loblaws or Zellere. 1 also have to gel out toi do banking now, toci. Well, my problemt lies with the people in Milton. Every time - and t'm flot exaggerating - 1 park in the handicap spot 1'm approachcd cither in the parking lot or the store by complete strangers. t have been yelled at, swom at and or rcamed out by these strangers for parking in a handicap parking spot. AIl these people sec is a young person gctting out of her car and walking intor the store. Thcy don't bother to look for my pernmit, which is clearîy in the front windshield of my vehicle. People don't realize that you nced flot look handicap or be in a wheelchair t0 qualify as dis- ahled and in need of a permit. I have flot once been apologized to afler cxplaining that I do in fact have a permit. 1 have been humiîiated SO many times that I'm now frustrated and don't feel like Ieaving my home. When 1 go to the park, l'mn tempi- cd tor park in a normal spot just to avoid the confrontation. 1'm in a great deal of pain from thse opera- lion and when 1'm approachcd, I'm sensitive toi what people are saying to, me and 1 usually end up crying for hours later on. 1 juat wat't people to keep 10 their own business and, if someone secs somcone park in a handicap spot, at lcast look for a permit before approaching that per- son. l'mn at my wits-end with pcople who continuously harass and cmbarrass me whcn l'mn out. Chrlsty SiddaJi Mifton Th ree speeding tickets in 15 minutes -just like that Looking for some excitement (and 10 get out of the office for awhilc), I acccpted Const. Clive Hubbard's offer to tag a long with bim for a ride- a-long Tuesday moming. Recently. Const. Hubbard was assigned by Halton Regional Police to specifically handle al traffic complaints, cspecially speeding. And now he wanted to show me cxactly wbat il was he did. We headed out of 12 Division and drove down to No. 5 Sideroad. near Tremaine Road. He told me No. 5 Sideroad was a hot spot for speeders, and we were bound to catch a fcw. The problem was, the road was almost coin- pletely dcsertcd, but he did managed to pull over one person who was doing over 90 km/h in thse postcd 60 km/h zone. Neyer Isaving been in a police car (we rode in a "plain" vehicle), I didn't quite know what to cxpcct as I sat down in tIse passenger seat. The inside of the car was equippcd with a comn- puter, a radar scanner that sat on the dash board, as well as the see-through divider that separated the back and front scats. Consi. Hubbard showed me how the scanner on the dash workcd, as well as the LIDAR speed measuring device (what 1 knew as a radar gun). After driving up and down No. 5 Sideroad a few limes. we hcaded out t0 Guelph Line 10, sec the action in Brookville, another high-speed coin- plaint zone. Thai was a success, as Const. Hubbard handed out three speeding tickets in about 15 minutes. Two of those speeders werc caught with the LIDAR machine, which shows the specd of thse car the machine is aimed ai. The radar scanner inside the car isn't as accu- rate (il just shows a car ahead il speeding, but f Random tho0ughits doesn't single oui a specific vehicle). but it did the job. We then travelled int Campbellville, stili sticking to Guelph Line, and caught one transport truck doing 83 in the 60 zone. Const. Huhhard had to tuam around and rush to catch up to, the driver, who had vanished fromn eye sight a couple of times, but eventually managcd to, pull him over. 1 must say, 1 found thse ride more interesting than I thought I would. For starters, I thought wc wouîd be soîcly posi- tioned on the side of the road with the LIDAR. but we spent the majority of the two-and-a-half hours riding around, Iooking for speed demons. And when Const. Hubbard had to, spin around and chase several of thse speeders. I feit the excitement build inside me. Aîthough the new ycar bas harely just begun, 560) speeding tickets have already been issued in town, and a total of 4,131 tickets were handed oui lasi ycar. Besides the monctary lous associatcd with speeding tickets, valuable points can also be lost, which can result in incrcaaed insurance. It's worth it to slow down.