HB 268 a good move

On behalf of Butte Area Residents Civic Organization (BARCO), we sincerely thank state House Rep. Bill Stoltze, his staff, co-sponsors and legislative committees for passing House Bill 268 making the act of intentionally burning or exploding cars on state and municipal lands a felony C offense. We also thank our members who have so diligently worked on this issue.

We expect that HB 268 will prove to be a major deterrent for such childish rites of passage, insurance fraud and purposeful destruction of incriminating evidence. It will diminish the danger of fires to residents who live near popular “recreation” areas where these activities occur and will greatly reduce the expense and exposure to toxic substances for local fire departments.

We encourage residents and visitors to take note of suspicious activity in areas where these activities have taken place — be they in Fairbanks, Kenai or Butte — and report license plates and descriptions to Alaska State Troopers or local Crime Stoppers organizations. A few highly publicized incidents will make all of us and our woods safer.

Gregory Nilsson and

Brit Lively

Butte Area Residents

Civic Organization