Unfair Demands On Boy Scouts

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dd7602900835>

By The Day
Published on 7/29/2008

We are at a loss to understand why the state Department of
Transportation wants to give East Lyme Boy Scout troops such a hard
time over doing a good deed.

For 25 years on Labor Day weekend the Scouts have served coffee and
doughnuts around the clock to weary drivers at the weigh stations on
Interstate 95 in Waterford.

Drivers get a needed break. The Scouts take pride in providing a
service. Donations collected help the Boy Scouts and other local
groups.

Who could object?

Unfortunately, the bureaucrats at the DOT, that's who.

After a quarter century without incident, the DOT now decides it is
too dangerous for the Boy Scouts to stay at the weigh station
overnight - even though the Scouts are well off the road, the area is
well lighted and at least two adult leaders are always present.

The DOT demands that the Scouts break camp by 9 p.m. and not return
until 6 a.m. In other words, the department does not want them there
when drivers are tired and could use a coffee.

The Boy Scouts say the requirement to take everything down each night
is unreasonable and undermines the intended service. Scout leaders
have announced that unless the DOT lifts the overnight ban, the
tradition will sadly end.

This is ridiculous. Someone at the DOT needs to act reasonably and
allow the 24-hour service.