[bestmickey]

When filling our gas cart at the station in/near Colony Plaza, saw something that concerns me. A car driven by an older senior citizen had pulled up to the pump to put gas in his auto. There was a cop car sitting right behind him with the flashing lights going. While filling our cart, this is what we heard and observed.

The cop gave the gentleman a ticket for driving on the wrong side of the road. Clearly the man was mentally impaired (as in some form of dementia or some stage of alzheimers). He wasn't drunk. He didn't get ticketed for that. The cop went on to explain the man's options (appear in court, what to do to protest ticket, etc). The man had difficulty understanding what he was being told.

Clearly a sad situation and I have great empathy for this gentleman. However, what's up with letting the man continue on his way? Back home (in New York State), the cop would have called a family member or friend of this man's to come pick him up (leaving the car in the vicinity). If there was no one to call, the cop would have driven the man home (and left the car in the vicinity). The person with such an obvious impairment would not be allowed to continue behind the wheel. The police department would notify NYS Dept of Motor Vehicles to have this individual come in to be retested. End of driver's license.

From what I observed with my own eyes, I can only guess that the cop did not have the option to do what would be done in NYS. I don't care what your political persuasion is, or whether or not you want the government in your life. Where's the common sense in this State to change the laws/rules/regs to try to keep the roads safe for everyone?

Do you want your auto insurance rates to be lower? Do you want to be a bit safer on the roads? If you can answer yes to either of these questions, I suggest you contact your State legislators to have some changes made.