EDITORIAL - Traffic enforcement

Traffic enforcers generally do their jobs well and it's a sad thing when something bad happens to them, like that lady who, while on duty, got hit and killed by a car driven by a Korean. To that lady we doff our hat and may the city government extend all applicable assistance to her family. May justice be served her as well.

But we do not agree that, because of that tragedy, the Citom would now move to increase the pay of all enforcers, as proposed by the Citom chairman. For one thing, not all enforcers do their jobs well. For another, it is unfair to all other civil servants who perform just as critical duties as do enforcers. What of them?

More importantly, however, we do not believe there is sincerity in the proposal. If the leadership of Citom truly appreciated the dangers encountered by enforcers, at least by those who do their jobs religiously, why make the proposal only now? Why wait until somebody got killed in the line of duty to make the proposal?

Perhaps the best thing to do is give these enforcers the proper training not only in enforcing traffic rules but in keeping themselves safe while on duty. This is a more important thing than a pay hike. For what good will a pay hike do to someone who meets an untoward incident?

Besides, the job of a traffic enforcer and the danger it entails are not concerns that are kept secret from those who want to become one. Anybody aspiring to become a traffic enforcer knows exactly what he is going into. If he feels he will only compromise his own safety, he can always decide not to pursue his application.

This fast-paced world is getting more complicated. There is no workplace anywhere in the world that is completely safe. Danger in some form or another lurks everywhere. If we allow danger to be the sole basis for giving pay increases, then we might as well give pay increases to everyone.

Pay increases, on the other hand, will not guarantee safety for anyone. Therefore, any money that the Citom may intend to deal out as pay increases may very well be better spent in equipping traffic enforcers with better professional and safety skills, as well as better tools to do their jobs better.

And while the city spends money in this way, it might also be able to save money in another way -- by firing those enforcers who are not doing their jobs or who are giving the agency a bad rap. Let genuine desire to serve well be the sole motivation for traffic enforcement, not higher wages.