Drunk driving interlock devices, Brookhaven landfill closure, fossil fuel regulations, tolls, LI housing

Installing locking devices in new cars

(Drunk driving should be a first-time offense, regardless of the circumstances. “Stop the Scourge of Drunk Driving,” Editorial, July 5.) The fact that law-abiding people are lucky enough not to be the victim of someone arrested and convicted for drunk driving should not allow the offender to get away with the misdemeanor of a slap on the wrist.

And for those convicted of drink-driving, interlock devices should be installed for at least five years and should cover any vehicle the convicted driver has access to, such as cars belonging to a spouse and children. And the interlock device should be installed and maintained at the driver’s expense.

I’m tired of innocent people paying the price for drivers who break the law. Ignition interlock devices should be installed in all new cars, which becomes clear when you see that the suspect in the nail salon accident previously received only a suspended license, a $500 fine, and probation, and was only charged with a misdemeanor.

—Larry J. Davies, Lindenhurst

Ideas for solving the problem of closing the landfill

Here are ideas for how to cope with the landfill closure (“The cost to LI of closing Brookhaven landfill,” News, July 5).

Raise the deposit on each bottle, including wine, fruit juices and other liquids sold in bottles, to 25 cents.

Have both counties provide four recycling cans with lids and computer codes representing your home, one for compost, one for brown and green bottles, one for clear bottles, and one for paper and cardboard. Waste collection trucks will pick up the waste except for those with recycling codes on the cans.

Also provide two bins with lids and codes for each home. If you use less than two, you will pay less tax.

This will all be paid for by a small tax levied by both counties, and it is likely that less waste will end up in landfill because the money speaks for itself.

—Albert J. Prisco, East Northport

Hot Enough? Let’s Pass the HEAT Act

Fossil fuel industry advocates should read this article carefully (“Fossil fuel laws targeted,” News, July 1). As it rightly points out, the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, or HEAT Act, clearly benefits us all. As it notes, it would save utilities and ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year, bring utilities into line with state climate change goals, and allow exemptions for proven cases where it would be impractical to power a neighborhood. A win-win.

Let’s support greenhouse gas reductions in the hottest year on record. Gov. Kathy Hochul should reconvene the state legislature for a special session this summer to pass the HEAT Act.

—Steve Rolston, Baldwin

Do not drive trucks into the city during the day

Here’s a radical idea for congestion pricing that might work (“Different ideas for congestion pricing,” News, July 10).

On a recent drive down Second Avenue, of the four lanes, one was used for bicycles, one was filled with trucks making deliveries, the third lane was filled with both double-parked cars and trucks, leaving one lane for traffic. In some places, there are also bus lanes. Why not restrict truck deliveries from, say, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.? Emergency vehicles, of course, would be exempt.

I know this wouldn’t appeal to truck drivers or store owners, but having fewer trucks on the streets during the day would make Manhattan more accessible and would also reduce traffic on the freeways.

—Rich Levens, Lynbrook

Punishing people who litter the environment by collecting garbage

The city of Babylon pays its roads and buildings department overtime to pick up trash from city streets and parks (“City Talks Trash to Stop Littering,” Our Towns, June 27). Why is this being done?

Shouldn’t culprits be required to make mandatory waste collections as a punitive measure in addition to or instead of a fine? If volunteers can do this, why can’t those who create the waste problem join in?

This seems like it could be an effective way to encourage respect for the environment rather than simply paying a fine — assuming violators pay the fines.

— Mark Camirand, Kings Park

More apartments would increase traffic problems

Oyster Bay Town officials are doing the right thing by limiting the number of homes on the Roslyn Harbor and Glenwood Landing golf courses, since each new homeowner typically has two or three cars (“Mulligan on golf housing,” Our Towns, June 26).

The roads are narrow and, including West Shore Road from Port Washington, wind to Old Roslyn, which is also single-lane. Then those roads wind to the Northern State Parkway and Long Island Expressway.

Traffic in the area is already horrendous at times. These roads simply cannot handle more vehicles.

—William Coddington, Port Washington