READING the following items in the local press in the past few weeks has made me wonder if "law-abiding" has taken on a new meaning.

First, we have our local MP suggesting breaking the speed limits.

I assume this is what he means after refusing to back his parliamentary colleague Janet Anderson in her campaign for "zero tolerance" on speed limits (LET, September 17).

Peter Pike's suggestion that perhaps the odd mile or two per hour over the limit should be overlooked is wrong. While this may be a vote-catcher, it is highly irresponsible of a man in his position and can only encourage the already all-too-prevalent "let's get there before we set off" attitude of the "boy racer" types.

Then I read that cab drivers in Burnley are threatening violence if certain conditions are not met.

I pondered this as I walked down Yorkshire Street in Burnley, on September 24. There, I noted four or five "black cabs" parked on double yellow lines. Was this not against the law at one time?

Maybe our police force is under staffed, or is it politically convenient to overlook certain aspects of law-breaking for an easier ride?

Political correctness has a lot to answer for.

MR J NAUGHTON, Deerstone Avenue, Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.