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Hernando Letters to the Editor for April 20

 
Published April 17, 2018

Bar Association celebrates
Law Week

President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed May 1, 1958, as the first Law Day to mark the nation's commitment to the rule of law. Every year on this day, we reflect on the significance of the rule of law and rededicate ourselves to promote public understanding of its importance to American democracy.

Florida statute provides for Law Week to commence the first Sunday preceding the first day of May, observed this year April 29 through May 5. The 2018 Law Day/Week theme is "Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom."

The U.S. Constitution established a system of government with distinct and independent branches — legislative, executive, and judicial — and it gave Congress, the Presidency, and a Supreme Court separate and distinct powers, so these three branches share power and serve as checks on the powers of the others.

"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition," James Madison explained in The Federalist 51, because he believed that the Constitution's principles preserve political liberty. By preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful, they provide a framework for freedom.

Yet, this framework is not self-executing. We, the people, must continually act to ensure that our constitutional democracy endures, preserving our liberties and advancing our rights. This year's Law Day/Week theme enables us to reflect on the separation of powers as fundamental to our constitutional purpose and to consider how the American system of government works for ourselves and our posterity.

The local Hernando County Bar Association has planned a series of events for Law Week to help promote public awareness of the importance of the rule of law. Details are at www.hernandocountybar.com.

This Law Day, let us reflect on the importance of the separation of powers, and continue to work to ensure that our nation's constitutional ideals are observed.

Jennifer C. Rey, Esq., Secretary, Hernando County Bar Association

Revoke county all-terrain vehicle law

Last August, our county commissioners voted to allow unlicensed and uninsured, dangerous ATVs to ride up and down unpaved lime rock roads in Hernando County.

A new renter who recently moved into our neighborhood has taken to driving up and down our narrow lime rock road in front of our homes, creating extremely loud noises and endangering everyone and their pets walking in the road or driving out of their driveways. Our usually quiet neighborhood is now filled with noise on the weekends.

If there should be an accident caused by the dirt bike rider, there is no insurance company to call, as they are not required to carry insurance. When the police were called, they refused to come and even speak with the riders to tell them to drive more slowly and keep the noise down.

This whole situation is unacceptable, and the new law allowing this type of thing needs to be revoked.

Claudia Amsler, Brooksville