POLICE STORIES
Sheldon Teitelbaum quoted LAPD Capt. John Mutz (“On-Ramp,” Palm Latitudes, March 7) as saying: “There’s really no penalty anymore for driving a car without a license. And if you are stopped (by the police), it becomes the discretion of the officer, who usually has other priorities.”
As a recently retired 35-year member of the LAPD, I think it is a sobering shame that the basic laws of California motoring cannot be enforced. There are a number of reasons why LAPD officers can’t do their jobs as they have in the past: Personnel is inadequate, morale is at an all-time low and the officers know that their situation is only going to get worse.
The citizens of Los Angeles should know that it’s not just the minor traffic laws that don’t get enforced. Because officers are racing from radio call to radio call they are forced to overlook many more serious violations of the law than not having a driver’s license.
WARREN KNOWLES
Valencia
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