Jay Hancock's recent column regarding speed camera was simply shameful (Welcome to Md., becoming known as the 'Speed Trap State,'" Dec. 13). So we enforce our laws — big deal. So he and the poor man from out-of-state were fined for exceeding the speed limit (by more than a few miles per hour). There is an easy way to avoid that: Obey the law. Drive at the appropriate and safe speed. (I'm glad Mr. Hancock briefly mentioned the almost forgotten point that the speed limits exist for safety.)

And yes, I've gotten an occasional speeding ticket — my own fault.

We don't like taxes. If fining speeders helps keep them down a bit, so be it. Instead of sympathizing with their griping franchisee, Rita's should be reprimanding him for putting possible customers at risk and for hurting the company's reputation.

Maybe next week Mr. Hancock can write a piece about how we enforce taxpaying (something else that serves a purpose that we don't like but need to live with).

Mary R. Erb, Baltimore