By Rick Ryckeley
Fayette County Fire & Emergency Services

WARNING: Reading any further could get you mad, upset, annoyed, angry, irate, furious okay, you might get a little miffed. Just remember I warned you, and please, no more letters to the editor.

The kids I grew up with fell into two categories: those who followed the rules and those who didn't. Us boys always followed the rules; fear of Dad made sure of that. Down-the-Street-Bully Brad and Big Bubba were good examples of kids who didn't follow the rules. They were in trouble all the time. When you were young, there were kids in your neighborhood that were the same way.

Guess what? You grew up, and so did those kids who decided they didn't want to follow anyone's rules like Down-the-Street-Bully Brad and Big Bubba. Except now they don't have to live with their parents anymore, making them miserable. No sir, Fayette County will soon have a big nice place for rule breakers.

Many rules people choose to break seem insignificant. You say that the speed limit is only a recommendation, and you're really allowed to go 10 miles per hour over? You think stop signs only mean stop when someone is looking? Passing on a double yellow line is okay 'cause it's your right to get around anyone driving in front of you? Well then, Fayette County has just the place for you.

No need to pack any bags; they'll give you a bright orange jumpsuit at the front door to wear during your stay. It's simple. In this life you're a rule maker, a rule breaker or a rule follower, and life's much easer if you just follow the rules.

Growing up, Mom and Dad were the rule makers; us kids were the rule followers, although sometimes we took turns being the rule breakers. At 15 I thought my Mom and Dad, with all of their rules, were the dumbest people on the face of the planet. But then I went to college, got a little education and they got a little smarter. After college, I got a job and reality hit. Mom and Dad did not make the rules anymore; I did or so I thought.

The new rule maker in my life was the boss. My first boss had so many rules he placed them in a large binder. You may have a similar binder of rules where you work. You should take the time to read them; that's one of the rules, ya know.

Wonder why you have so many rules to follow? Look at your co-workers. Each time someone does something stupid or gets hurt, a new rule goes in the binder. On the first page of my boss's rule book was printed, "Just follow the rules, and you won't get hurt." That's what Mom and Dad had been telling me all my life.

At 22, my parents were getting much smarter. Now as a parent, I embrace all of the rules I rebelled against when young.

But for those who still insist on rebelling against the rules, Fayette County not only has free clothing but a free room. Starting Nov. 1, the county will have lots of new rooms, 120 to be exact, and although they are on the small side, I'm sure they can squeeze you in one. Some come with a view of a guard tower.

Fayette County's new jail: a brand new place soon to open for all of them robbin', thievin', speedin' people out there. If you're lucky, you could even get a roommate, like Down-the-Street-Bully Brad or Big Bubba. You've never gone over the speed limit, have you? (This is the part that'll get you mad.)

Speed. It's a small word that has caused much pain in families of this county, all because their loved ones were going too fast and not wearing a seatbelt.

In the past 20 years of being a firefighter, I have seen many car crashes, some I can forget, and many more I wish I could. All the crashes have two things in common speed and seatbelt usage, or lack thereof. Without fail, the faster the vehicle was traveling, the more damage done to it upon impact. Likewise, more damage is done to the driver if he/she isn't wearing a seatbelt.

To date, I have never seen anyone thrown from a vehicle who was wearing a seatbelt. So why do some people neglect to wear seatbelts? Teenagers think they're indestructible; from what I've seen after a high-speed crash, nothing is indestructible. If going the speed limit and wearing seatbelts are the law, then aren't you breaking the law every time you speed or don't buckle up? If you don't follow the rules, then Fayette County has just the place for you. They'll even feed you three times a day.

If you decide to be a rule breaker, don't get upset when you see those blue lights in your rear view mirror; the police officer is just doing his job. (If you're not mad now.just keep reading.)

Some of the best people I know work in law enforcement, and when they pull you over, you can bet you've done something wrong. You've broken one of the rules - rules that are in place to keep you and other drivers safe. If you're speeding, run a traffic light or stop sign, then they'll give you a ticket; that's one of the rules and that's their job. Why get mad at them when you broke the law? You don't get mad at the airplane pilot if there's a flight delay, or the grocery clerk 'cause there's a long line. Then why get mad at a police officer? They're just trying to keep you safe from becoming a statistic.

On Sept. 11, 2001 over 300 firefighters lost their lives. Thirty-five police officers from the NYPD and thirty-seven from the Port Authority lost their lives. Seventy-two officers, trying to keep people safe, from becoming a statistic, became one.

This Sept. 11, let's not forget...anyone. So be safe, buckle up, and slow down! That way, police officers won't have to give you a ticket, and firefighters won't have to pick you up, patch you up, and transport you to the hospital.

[Rick Ryckeley is employed by the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services. He can be reached at saferick@bellsouth.net.]

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