Editorial: Payment of littering fine a smart move by DHHR

THE REGISTER-HERALD (BECKLEY, W.V.)

March 27, 2008 02:42 pm

— Editorial: Payment of littering fine a smart move by DHHR

Opinion: The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.

When it comes to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, you will often see us leveling criticism at that particular state agency because we are of the strong opinion that it needs a complete overhaul, top to bottom.
However, earlier this week, the DHHR did something, albeit an act labeled by a deputy commissioner as a “resource of last resort,” that makes us pause and think that maybe the DHHR isn’t a totally lost cause.
A portion of a $315 littering fine, $195.50 to be exact, still pending against a Roane County woman was paid for by the DHHR in order to keep a family together.
Instead of having this woman default on the remaining payment of the fine and having her children taken from her and placed in a child-care center or foster home — potentially costing the state thousands of dollars — common sense prevailed.
This might be the best expenditure of tax dollars that we’ve learned about in years.
Don’t mistake our position as being one advocating litter bugs. We’d actually like to see more enforcement and stiffer penalties when it comes to illegal dumpers. And this woman should probably be required to work off that $195 and change through some type of community service, perhaps by picking up trash.
But again, did we say common sense? Imagine that unique concept for just a brief moment.
If we had a whole lot more of it when it comes to the DHHR, and how it provides financial assistance to its clients, it might make us re-think some of our criticisms.