Police Speed Limits?

A recent story on cbc.ca told of the tragic death of a young man from Northern N.B. after an apparent high speed police chase. The subsequent inquiry stopped short of recommending that a policy be put in place to limit the maximum speeds that police may use during a chase situation. I am all for public safety and placing a limit on the maximum speeds used seems very sensible to me at first glance.

I have to wonder why cars and motorcycles are being sold in North America that are capable of reaching top speeds of over 200 KM/hr when the highest speed limits are only 110 KM/hr? If we sell vehicles that are capable of those speeds and the police are the only people who are actually trained to drive anywhere near those speeds then why would we put a limit on them? Would it not be wiser to limit the top speeds that these vehicles can attain? Or should we require riders and drivers to pay for specialized training if the want to purchase the high performance vehicles and sign a waiver that they will obey traffic law like the majority of motorists?

Another news story is that a young man was sentenced to one week in jail and 1000$ fine after running into and killing a man while under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. According to the judge the reason for the light sentence was that the victim was wearing dark clothes and was standing on the road and an RCMP expert said that even a sober driver would have struck him. The judge went one step further in saying that the chances of convicting the driver of more serious charges would be difficult if not impossible.

If I was convicted of simple possession of marijuana, not trafficking but simple possession I would serve a hell of a lot more time in jail not to mention the impact to my family and the limited future income potential.

Where are our priorities? If I am operating a vehicle under the influence should I not lose my license? If I am putting the public at risk due to my own choice of reckless behaviour should I not be held accountable? If I wish to self medicate in the comfort of my own home should I not be able to do that without fear of incrimination?

I wish I knew somebody who could explain this in terms that actually made even a little bit of sense.

I am going for a coffee, one of the last legal drugs.