Highway Patrol to get more troopers

The news that Gov. Mark Sanford wants to hire another 100 highway patrolmen for South Carolina's highways is good news for those alarmed by the state's rising number of traffic fatalities.

The governor is proposing more prison guards, SLED agents and Department of Juvenile Justice officers as well. As with everything, however, the devil is in the details. While specifics were not provided, the governor is apparently prioritizing the functions of government. He reportedly plans to take funds from those he sees as lower priority and putting the money into higher priority matters such as public safety.

Word of the proposal has been met with appreciation. It must be noted that even if the 100 trooper addition is approved, South Carolina would have fewer Highway Patrolmen on the road in 2005 than in 2000. Budget cuts caused trooper positions to be lost during the last two years. The governor and those in the Legislature need to make sure that any reinstatement of positions is not followed by later cuts if the economic climate takes another dip.

South Carolina needs safer highways, and the additional troopers are part of the answer. Keeping trooper strength on an even keel will help ensure that the best trained department possible can be retained – giving South Carolinians the best chance to drive in safety on our highways.

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