Ducks and Drugs

Have you ever been in a little traffic tie up, wonder what some silly person did to screw up your commute. That was me on Wednesday. There I was driving gather supplies for yard work and assorted other home projects when traffic came to a stop on M-59 at Argentine Road. I saw the traffic light was green but nobody was moving.  I thought to myself, “well golly gosh dern what could be holding up traffic?” I’ve got things to do.

Just as the traffic light turned red and I was going to be stopped for another traffic light cycle, I got my answer. Unbeknownst to me a mother duck and her gaggle of ducklings needed to cross the road. I know this because as we were stopped on the roadway, I saw a very nice young lady herding the duck and ducklings to safety.  

I did not hear any “toots of the angry horn” while I was stopped and several drivers waved at the young lady for doing a kind service to the ducks. It also reminded me of a movie quote from Wilford Brimley, “if you take your time, you get a more harmonious outcome.”  

All that being said, I do not advocate, for any driver to swerve their vehicle to avoid hitting an animal, it’s very dangerous to do so.  If you come upon an animal in the roadway and a crash in unavoidable do these things: 

1. Don’t swerve
2. Stay in your lane 
3. Brake firmly
4. Hold on to the steering wheel 
5. Come to a controlled stop 
6. Get your vehicle off the roadway

I have a college friend who, several years ago, lost his oldest daughter in a single vehicle crash, where she was the driver and only occupant in the vehicle.  Alcohol or drugs were not a factor.  It was surmised that while she was driving, she swerved to avoid an animal, lost control and struck a tree and died.  And it was the day before her high school graduation. Not something any parent or family should go through.

All life should be respected, but when it comes to choosing between a deer, raccoon, skunk, woodchuck, possum or you. Always pick you. 

In the last few weeks there has been significant media coverage of the synthetic marijuana and bath salts issue. These products go by many different names such as K-2, OMG, LOL and many more.  

We, as well our law enforcement partners, have received many calls asking what law enforcement was going to do about this problem. The problem for law enforcement is these items are currently not against the law.  

The use of these products, was causing a substantial increases in emergency room treatment for reactions to the synthetic cannabinoids, Substance Abuse programs were seeing a dramatic increases in caseloads because of the use of these products and the Poison Control Center reporting cases of people being poisoned by the use of synthetic marijuana among and other negative reports by healthcare officials.

Based on this information the Livingston County Health Department issued an Emergency Order to Prevent Imminent Danger to Health or Lives. This order prevents the sale of the synthetic marijuana and bath salts. 

On Friday, June 08, 2012, area law enforcement agencies teamed with Livingston County Public Health employees and served the Emergency Order to Prevent Imminent Danger to Health or Lives to 10 stores and gas stations. This order allowed public health officials to confiscate the banned substances if found in the store or gas station.  Numerous items containing synthetic marijuana and bath salts were confiscated.

Nobody was arrested when the orders were served on Friday. But if a store decides to begin selling after being served, it becomes a criminal act and the business owner or their employees are subject to arrest. 

If you know of any business, store or gas station that is selling these substances please contact the Livingston County Health Department at 517- 552-6801 

If you have a question, please send it to askatrooper12@gmail.com or mail it to the Michigan State Police – Brighton Post, 4803 S. Old US-23, Brighton, MI   48114.