Posted on 11/23/2005 4:43:03 AM PST by Abathar
Toll collectors at San Francisco's landmark Golden Gate Bridge have been issued body armor to guard against armed bandits.
"We did a review of safety procedures and added this tool to the toll box for collectors," bridge authority spokeswoman Mary Currie said Tuesday. "This is really the right thing to do."
The "bullet resistant" protective vests have been bought for all 42 toll collectors at a total cost of 21,000 dollars, Currie said.
Wearing vests is optional, but about half of the collectors have chosen to be protected while on duty. The vests are reportedly most popular with those working evenings or nights.
"The folks that are wearing them are pleased to have that added psychological edge," said Curry.
The spokeswoman said the Golden Gate Bridge is typically a friendly environment for toll takers, with some motorists giving them gifts of chocolates or flowers during the winter holiday season.
Yeah, since they declared handguns illegal this seems like a waste of resources. If I lived in SF Id be protesting about using taxpayer money on such a frivolous item.
Are they worried about being shot by some gay butt bandit?
Maybe they should have bought them kevlar underwear.
Another solution: uninstall the toll booths.
The only ones the COMMIES take guns away from are people that will only use the weapons for protection or hunting. The BAD GUYS get to keep theirs and that's seems to be ok. You can argue if you want though remember this GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE,PEOPLE DO. If you don't like the statement then ban Louisville Sluggers, screw drivers, hammers,and many other things. That kid Ludwig in Pennsyvania killed his girl friends parents, he used a weapon to do it not his bare hands. Well then our hands are weapons to so what do we do now "BAN our HANDS.
At $5 a pop to go over the GG bridge, I want to own me a bridge.
Bridges and parking lots, great investments.
If this is the way things are going at the Golden Gate, sort of makes you wonder about the situation at the Pearly Gates...
How about this? Eliminate the toll. End of safety issue for toll collectors.
If you intend on protesting every frivolous use of taxpayer money in SF, don't plan on getting much else done.
Way more likely to get shot driving to/from work than sittin in a toll booth.
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