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6 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday,July 12, 2011 Ticket blitz OPINION 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Just a week after the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) extended by one week its road safety blitz due to the number of Canada Day weekend fatalities, they have launched yet another-- and unfortunately necessary-- road safety campaign. From July 11-17, the OPP is launching Week No. 2 of its four-week Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other Distracted Driving Campaign to ensure that those who do not comply with distracted driving legislation are dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. During first week (May 16-22), OPP officers throughout the province laid more than 1,600 Highway Traffic Act (HTA) charges relating to distracted driving. Using a cell phone or device capable of texting while driving can result in a fine of $155 under Section 78.1 of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA). Watching an entertainment device can result in a fine of $110 under Section 78 of the HTA. Other forms of distracted driving can result in a charge of Careless Driving with fines ranging from $400 to $2,000, a possible licence suspension of up to two years and/or a jail term of not more than six months. During the campaign, the OPP is ramping up enforcement efforts, stopping any drivers caught using a hand-held communications or other entertainment device. They will also be watching for and stopping motorists who exhibit careless driving due to distractions such as adjusting the radio, eating while driving or searching for something in their vehicle. "The driving ability of distracted drivers is as compromised as that of impaired drivers and they just as dangerous to the lives of road users," says OPP Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) ranked the distracted driver as its number one concern in 2010 and the OPP has added distracted driving to its list of causal factors for death and injuries on highways. Arrive alive folks ...The calls and texts can wait until you park. Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Big Daddy aims to be THE event Dear editor, Thank you for your editorial of June 20 about the Big DADDY Festival that happened over the Father's Day weekend, in which you comment that the event has progressed well since it was inaugurated last year. It takes time for folks to understand what the event is all about and how much fun it is, but we were indeed thrilled with the turnout at the events at each of the four locations. You are correct that an event of this magnitude requires a huge amount of volunteer effort, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all the generous sponsors and the whole team of volunteers who worked so hard to create an exciting range of special familyoriented experiences. Our dream is to build this festival into a unique "signature" event to celebrate dads and bring new visitors to discover the many attractions Halton Hills has to offer. In time, we hope this festival will be recognized as THE place to be on Father's Day weekend, not only by residents, but people from surrounding communities. Laurent Thibault Chair, Halton Hills Cultural Roundtable who have fallen, thank those who have returned and to celebrate how proud you and your families have made us to be Canadian. Patricia Varga, Dominion President, The Royal Canadian Legion Troops thanked Dear editor, As the combat mission in Afghanistan transitions into other military activities, The Royal Canadian Legion would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to those service men and women, and their families, who have served with distinction and sacrificed on behalf of Canadians during these past several years. Their contribution to the wellbeing and care of another country's populace is a tremendous reflection of Canada's efforts toward maintaining global peace and we are proud of the way you have represented us. Words are not enough to convey how grateful we are for their commitment and dedication. As a national endeavour, I am encouraging local branches to hold appreciation events for veterans of the Afghanistan mission this coming August, in order to remember those Tories game-playing Dear editor, The Ontario Tories, led by Mr. Hudak, have proposed a plan to put inmates of provincial jails to work in manual labour jobs around the province. It's too bad they hadn't got their story straight with the federal Tories who shut down the prison farm program. When that happened, Canadians were told that having prisoners doing physical work on a farm is useless. On the contrary, anyone who knows modern farming knows that multiple complex skills are needed for farm work. If prison or jail time is meant to simply punish and degrade, releasing unskilled individuals who will offend again, then the Tories have it right. The Conservative party's political game-playing continues to get in the way of good, humane policy. Ruth Loreto, Georgetown WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.independentfreepress.com) Canadian kids get an `F' for their exercise levels? What's yours? `F' (33%) `C' (19%) `B' (19%) `D' (19%) `A' (10%) The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.