OPINION The Michigan Daily Vol. XCV, No. 37-S 95 Years of Editorial Freedom Managed and Edited by Students at The University of Michigan Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily Editorial Board Mile high boots ANN ARBOR residents like to play chicken with the Parking Violations Bureau by trying to stay just one step ahead of the law. They let four or five parking tickets accumulate before they start to pay fines, but sometimes they forget about that sixth ticket and discover that the city has towed their car. The city currently tows vehicles which have ac- cumulated six or more parking tickets. Now it's con- sidering bringing back the Denver boot, a device that at- taches to the wheel of an automobile and makes the car immobile, as an alternative to towing. Parking has always been a hassle in Ann Arbor, so bringing back the boot would save time for both the city and the person who didn't pay his sixth parking ticket. The city of Saginaw has been using the boot since 1982, and Ann Arbor used the boot during the late 1970s. At that time, the Ann Arbor Police Department was responsible for placing the boot on the vehicle, but the program was dropped when the city had problems scheduling someone to remove the boot. The new program would be handled by the transpor- tation department. The whole reason to bring back the boot is to alleviate some of the hassles involved with towing. It doesn't appear that the program will cost the city any more than the current system and the program would be self-supporting. One group that opposes the change is the towing com- panies which stand to lose money if the city decides to use the Denver boot. But the loss will not be that great and *besides, why do they deserve this money? Only 29 percent of the cars towed last year would have been impounded with the Denver boot. The towing com- panies would still be responsible for towing cars that are illegally parked. The towing companies would still have a lot of business in Ann Arbor if the city used the Denver boot. Overall, the idea of bringing back the Denver boot will be a good idea as long as it reduces the hassle for drivers in the city of Ann Arbor. Letters to the Daily should be typed, triple-spaced, and signed by the in- dividual authors. Names will be withheld only in unusual circumstances. Letters S may be edited for clarity, grammar, and spelling. Wednesday, July 24, 1985 Page 5 .w ooe~rt",c, ir00 at!r O'a !pclruM - , Underground trade in military gear By Ed Humes surpus store thatpurchased gafrom scarsy ksmnMa.."br SAN DIEGO - It starts out small - bought $500,000 of stolen gear. None of MacLean says he thinks the motive is a case of gas masks here, s dozen flak that wss ever reported missing or usually simple greed. For ten cents on jackets there, s few small theft in the stolen, despite regulations thst the dollar, surplus dealers profit on night. require complete inventories, valuable government property, while Then it adds up - to as much as $4 Naughton says. some low-paid soldiers risk their million worth of gear lost in one year Records seized from some Ocean- careers for a few hundred bucks, he alone at the Marine Corps' major West side surplus dealers showed thousan- says. Coast installation, Camp Pendelton, ds of Marines had sold gear to the according to the FBI. dealers since 1982, she says. MACLEAN's theory is borne out by FACTOR IN other Marine bases, Some who have been scrutinizing signed confessions like that of Sgt. the Navy, the Army and the Air the problem consider $200 million a Edward Grossenheider's. "My Force and ripping off the military year a conservative estimate of the motive was for personal profit," he nationwide adds up to at least a $200- illegal surplus trade. "I think it's so wrote. "The money was used to pay million-a-year underground ndustry, much higher that it'll water your bills, which I'd gotten behind in." says Assiatant U.S. Attorney Pamela eyeballs," said John Highbush, an Naughton of San Diego. Her office is analyst for Oregon GOP Yet Grossenheider's case, and wrapping up the first phase of a Congressman Denny Smith, one of 50 many others uncovered during the in- massive prosecution of 64 Pendleton Congressional members of the vestigation, indicate some severe Marines and seven California dealer Military Reform Caucus in morale problems as well. Within the who allegedly traded in surplus gear. Washington. ranks, apparently, stealing is often An 18-month sting operation con- A DEFENSE Department Inspec- greeted by little more than a shrug. cluded in December in Oceanside, tor General's report covering near Pendleton, led to the November 1982 through April 1983 Naughton sees no evidence that prosecutions and has implicated showed the military lost up to $100 Neerauhton isees noreinethati dozens moressurplus dealers around million in tools alone throughwaste federal authorities are interested in the country, Naughton says. theft and abuse. Highbush said that launching a nationwide investigation The demand for military surplus represents over half the military's scheduled no hearings on the matter equipment has been on the rise. It is tool inventory and indicgtes a and the House of late has been more sought by buyers who range from sweeping problem if other types of interested in probing overcharges by survivalists in search of authentic equipment are similarly lost, inte contractors, according to Highbush. gear, to sharp-dressers who think National security has also become camouflage is trendy, surplus dealers an issue. Camp Pendleton lost 10,000 say. blank military i.d. cards to theft, Humes wrote this for Pacific News THE STING operation - a phony Naughton said, adding, "I think that's Service. l l s. BLOOM COUNTY I WIP YUR it Rat LNG TW0ICKETS 1O 51?? c ilg/ION /5 q NEW YORK CITY R? YEAH7 ? 6 E ITA T GOT ANY SEAtIS CEFr A/1 N60/NG IN 17_C __C THKO/G SECirtv 2gyfy 516001V ? I 6ATES E5 ~ Y [14! ?_ z ('II{}} by Berke Breathed ' / 517P CW5/"'R/m06 "Wl/kTNR' f 16 YOU ABOUT 7/5 ? 1541i/ MpIr CM/ S7ER//TC lU/ A 604EIL/Y, P1T5rr, NEARLY ALMOSTAMUMNEVEIE R INMOST CA65! 6W &ETI 71ER6 RAY W 5O