Letters: Crack down on burned-out headlights

Since the days have gotten shorter and I’ve been driving in the dark more, I’ve noticed more cars with one headlight out. When I get close enough to alert the driver, I usually get a response of “It costs too much to fix” or “Who cares?” I ask them what a hospital visit costs, and I get “Not my problem.” They smile, shrug their shoulders and take off. I have mistaken these cars for mopeds; sometimes I can’t tell which side of the lane they’re in.

I’ve asked several Columbia Police officers about this, and they shrug as well.

What’s it going to take for police to become proactive instead of reactive? Some tragic accident? With all the intoxicated kids running loose in Five Points and the Vista, that won’t take long to happen.

Here’s a simple fix: a $500 ticket. That costs more than the headlight repair. If the offender shows up in two weeks with a validated repair report, dismiss the ticket. Simple. Plus, pulling these cars over might yield more than just a busted headlight.

Let’s light up the night with headlights. I know the police are busy, but enforcing the law beats explaining why something wasn’t done after someone is maimed or even killed.