Improved Enforcement

To the Editor:

Some of our current law enforcement appear to exhibit more common sense than in the past. Recently, three teens were ticketed for driving over road signs. They were quickly identified with a license plate left at one such damage location.

During a previous administration years ago, there was an extended series of damage to rural mailboxes and road signs. It did not seem to get much attention, as it was explained away as “just teenage pranks.” On a Saturday night, our mailbox and post were flattened. A front bumper was left in the ditch beside the destroyed box. We reported the damage to authorities, and on Monday, two deputies came out. I explained the situation. The first question a deputy asked was “how old is Ralph?” (my husband). I asked how that was relevant. I then told them the bumper was next to the box and suggested they take the bumper, cruise local high school parking lots, and find a vehicle missing said bumper. I was told, “no ma’am, you don’t understand how investigations work.” They took my report and left.

The bumper was still in the ditch. When the series of mailbox/sign damage tapered off, we assumed the teens tired of their pranks, their parents intervened, they graduated and left for other locations or they outgrew their youthful nonsense.

Yes, we all did our teenage pranks, and remember those told by our parents and grandparents: tipping outhouses (or cows), putting soap in public fountains, toilet-papering houses, or A&M students branding the U.T. mascot (U.T. solved the “13-0” brand by turning it into “B E V O”). My own saintly father put a cow in the Hardin-Simmons (Baptist) Chapel. My point is that when teen pranks destroy property or are illegal acts (your mailbox is Federal property), then law enforcement DOES need to properly investigate and stop the acts. It is good to see this is currently happening.