Safe law enforcement

Poor Aldo Farrugia (June 29) had to suffer the smoking, the dismal win by the Italians and then finding a parking fine on his car. He is honest about the latter and the other points he expressed got me thinking.

We seem to have a condition called Safe Enforcement of Law in Malta (SEL). What's easier and safer than roaming the deserted streets when people are tucked away inside watching a game? SEL dictates that a ticket be given for every little parking infringement.

Why bother to go into a public place and check if smoking laws are being obeyed? I know it's somebody else's responsibility to do this but use SEL and don't go near the place.

Here's how this can be tackled. The Maltese have a fascination with lotteries.

The smoking ban enforcers of a district should put in a hat, or have them computer generated, the names of all establishments that are bound by the law. A name is drawn, under scrutiny of course, and then a team is sent right away to that establishment to apprehend the offenders, including the owner. The next time everyone is back in the hat. If the fines are stiff enough the law will be obeyed eventually and those establishments which are law-abiding will reap the rewards.

If someone thinks the smoking ban is unreasonable, I have a question. If you were sent to watch a game in Germany, would you dare smoke in the stadium?

All the goings-on on the streets after a game are also a bit too much. In St Julians the celebration after the Oz-Italy match went on for hours. Roads were blocked, fireworks set off, streets littered, private property disrespected and damaged. All this just a short distance from the police station. The English fans have been no better. It's fine to celebrate when your team wins but show some respect for others.

SEL applies in many other instances, as well. Just under Aldo Farrugia's letter was Alfred Vassallo's contribution about young entrepreneurs who were stopped from putting up a big screen by government bureaucracy. Do it without asking and hope "for a tiny slap on the wrist", he suggested. That is what the big guys get sometimes, be it in construction, media or whatever, as they can bully or threaten or worse. SEL doesn't allow for long drawn-out court cases with the big guys as they will need to think of new ways to collect more from the little guy.

I nearly forgot one of the big guys. I'm not conversant at all with the case but I enjoyed reading the woolly argument brought by Jean Pierre Scerri (also June 29) on behalf Melita Cable "for failing to request the consent of the Minister...".

Getting back to Mr Vassallo's young entrepreneurs - learning to confound the authorities might be the way to go.