Squad ads bad, so is I-55 litter

Assuming that the cars have to be replaced every five years this means that Government Acquistions must spend an average of $6,000 per year to keep the cars replaced. This means that they expect to make at least that much each year in advertisement from each car. My numbers may be way off but I don't know how they can make that kind of money from advertising unless the squad car is plastered with ads from one end to the other.

It is a bad idea to place ads on law enforcement cars to make money. Everyone wants to cut costs where they can, but in this case cutting costs will be done at the expense of demeaning law enforcement. Everyone expects private corporations to advertise in order to sell their product. Even in the case of some of our public institutions like our state universities, money is made from selling sweatshirts, mugs, etc. with the school's logo. However, institutions that are the basis for creating, enforcing, and judging our laws constitute the glue that holds our society together and they are in a separate category.

Our institutions of law demand a level of respect and reverence in order for them to be effective. No one would expect a judge to wear a Budweiser label on his robe in order to save money for the courts. Likewise, we should not expect a law enforcement car to carry advertisements either. I repeat, it would be demeaning. Whether conscious or unconcious, I feel that we all will feel a little less respect for cars with ads.

Years ago, most police cars were black and white and had a distinctive look to them. When you saw one in the rear view mirror, you always had a slight panic attack thinking that maybe the cop is coming after you for something. Seeing a cop car with advertisements in your rear view mirror may make you think that you are in a NASCAR race.

Another reason for not putting ads on squad cars is that there is always a chance for favoritism. If Joe's Restaurant advertises on the car, do you think a cop is more or less likely to let Joe go if he is caught speeding? Or what about pulling over a Coca-Cola truck when the squad car has a big red coke sign on the trunk?

Government Acquisitions has a website at http://www.governmentacquisitions.com if you want to check out the company. So far the company has enlisted 9 Illinois cities in its program including Lostant.

I respect Sheriff Pierceall and his department and I applaud him for attempting to control costs for the county. However, there has to be another way to reduce costs other than putting ads on his squad cars. Any measure taken that reduces respect for the law and increases the chance for favoritism is not a good cost cutting tool. It sets a bad precedent and like the gambling casinos in Illinois will be another ignominious source of revenue.

It is no secret where this litter is coming from. It is coming from the 450 garbage trucks that roll into the landfill at Pontiac each day from the Chicago area. We counted 80 garbage trucks between Odell and I-80 which is a distance of 41 miles or an average of 2 trucks per mile.

The reason I am mentioning the litter along I-55 is to remind residents of Minonk about another problem from having a landfill located near a community. Ten years ago the citizens of Minonk successfully thwarted an attempt by USA Waste to locate a landfill in Section Six north of Minonk. Had a landfill been put in Section Six, you would be seeing I-39 also littered with paper and plastics all the way from LaSalle-Peru to Minonk. You think Minonk has a litter problem now? Put a landfill in Section Six and the entire north end of Minonk will be a backstop for tons of litter.

In addition, there would be hundreds of garbage trucks clogging traffic on the Minonk exit from I-39 disrupting traffic to the restaurants, motel, and gas station at that exit. It wouldn't take long for repeat travelers to ignore the Minonk exit.

My friends from Pontiac tell me that on certain days during the summer, the stench from their landfill permeates the entire town. Pontiac's landfill is located 3 miles north of the city. Can you imagine the smell from a landfill located right next to Minonk?

Next month the City of Minonk will be seating three new city council members. All three of the new council members said that they have an "open mind" to the landfill issue that could potentially become an issue again in Minonk. I hope that these new council members take a trip to Chicago on I-55 in the near future to see what I-39 would look like if the city council ever has to decide whether or not a landfill should be allowed to locate in Minonk.