Alcohol detectors in cars could be life-threatening
Re: “Future cars may come with booze control,” March 22
The Transportation Department is studying a proposal to place “booze detectors” in all new cars. While I am sure this is a sincere and well-intentioned effort to reduce drunken driving, the downside is not only inconvenience for drivers, but potentially life-threatening risks.
One cannot ensure that any technology will function 100 percent of the time. For the non-impaired driver whose car will not start on a deserted highway, such a malfunction could put him in a dangerous situation.
Or consider what will happen if two people are camping out in a remote area and one of them becomes medically incapacitated, and the other person has had several glasses of wine and cannot start the car, or the device just malfunctions.
DUI lockouts should be used only where there is proven risk with an individual, or there should be a technology to disable it remotely if needed.
Bob Hugman
Woodbridge
Federal standards needed for online gambling
Re: “Let states regulate Internet gambling,” March 18
In her recent op-ed, Michelle Minton misreads support for federal legislation as it pertains to online gambling. Current federal gaming laws need to be amended to provide clarity on many issues and to establish a regulatory framework of minimum standards for state licensing and enforcement of online gambling in jurisdictions that choose to accept it.
Federally established minimum standards are necessary to protect U.S. consumers for two reasons:
1) to avoid the inevitable state-by-state patchwork quilt of rules and regulations that will confuse patrons and make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to enforce rules governing online activities; and
2) to ensure that Native American tribes, as sovereign nations within the U.S., are provided a licensing regime allowing them to operate online.
Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr.
President and CEO,
American Gaming Association
Maryland lawmakers ignore ‘tax holiday’ request
Every morning I cringe as I open the paper to read what new tax increase proposals the Maryland General Assembly is considering. There is never a shortage of ideas from state legislators on how to increase the tax burden on citizens.
So, I did what any involved citizen should do. I contacted my District 15 elected representatives to request that they consider giving Maryland residents a “tax increase holiday,” giving us the chance to balance our household budgets for a while without the threat of ever-increasing taxes.
I sent messages to state Sen. Robert Garagiola, D-Montgomery, Del. Aruna Miller, D-Darnestown, Del. Kathleen Dumais, D-Montgomery, and Del. Brian Feldman, D-Montgomery, but not one of them even bothered to respond.
I see this as an affront to democracy and a failure to carry out the most basic responsibly of any legislator, which is communicating with their constituency. It is now clear to me that my representatives have no interest in listening to my opinion. But I can’t possibly be the only one frustrated by the growing tax burden.
My voice has been silenced, but they can’t ignore all of us.
Chris Rorick
Germantown
