CHEERS to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which still runs traffic stops on the Northway between exits 29 and 30 but now gives motorists more than ample warning. The department was harshly criticized for several years for bringing traffic to a dead halt on the 65 mph interstate in a remote, hilly stretch about 100 miles south of the Canadian border. Many critics — we were among them — complained that the stoppage was too dangerous, even if it was serving its purpose, and that latter point was never disputed. CBP said significant arrests were made as a result of the stops, though it didn't share specifics, in the interests of security. Nevertheless, two serious accidents occurred at the site during stops, resulting in fatalities when speeding vehicles crashed into the rear end of others that were stopped. The routine stops were curtailed, though from time to time one was set up, seemingly with more care to slow traffic early, in the interest of averting accidents. About two weeks ago, the department established a temporary stop, and there could have been no chance that anyone would have come upon it in surprise. At least two miles before arriving at the stop, traffic was warned of what was ahead and drivers should slow down in anticipation of it. Big, bright, prominent signs foretold that everyone would be halted, and the speed limit was reduced far enough ahead that no motorist could possibly blame CBP if anything went wrong. The officers are unerringly polite and brisk in their deliberations with each driver, and the delay is minimal. We still believe any unnecessary stoppage on a 65 mph highway is ill advised, but this one is as safe as it could possibly be.
CHEERS to City Police Chief Desmond Racicot for being so attentive to what some officials could easily have dismissed as a "minor" problem and devoted no effort to it. Three weeks ago, a Speakout appeared in the Press-Republican telling of a tawdry incident the writer had witnessed. Two members of a religious congregation, performing a door-to-door missionary routine, had been harassed by one or more people on their route. Racicot called for anyone having seen the harassment to contact him so he could take action. As it turned out, other people had seen the harassment and called the chief, who followed up and tracked down the guilty parties. Justice has been served, and most likely those individuals will not be repeating their offenses. In some cities, reports of this kind of thing wouldn't cause so much as a raised eyebrow in the police chief's office. Fortunately, this is Plattsburgh, where the people in charge are sensitive and dedicated to making all of our lives peaceable, and that's nice to know.
