Are not enforced

where I am going. If not, consider this position: Perth and Kinross schools returned this week, and along with that came the school run, with mums and dads dropping off their loved ones as close as possible to the school gates.

Irrespective of those who parked across the zig zags outside the schools, there is another issue I witnessed.

Since December it has been illegal to smoke in cars with children present, but as I was caught up in the queues of parents and guardians at the school near me, I noticed that many of them were not adhering to that law.

And that’s where my point comes in - enforcement.

Unfortunately we could legislate until the cows come home but without education and enforcement, these laws fall. At the return of school it could have been a good opportunity for parents to be reminded of their additional requirements on the school run, and beyond.

But in my experience the chance for education outside the school gates was missed.

So when it comes to 40mph or 30mph or even twenty’s plenty, however merited the idea, it’s nothing without enforcement.

The Liberal Democrats in Perth and Kinross have regularly raised speeding and driver behaviour issues, from the loss of Community Speedwatch thanks to Police Scotland, to the racing drivers around Glover Street.

But the problem hasn’t gone away.

Presumably the traffic orders at King Edward Street, etc., are still in place.

What occurs is a pile up of laws such as speed limits and smoking in cars which is then ignored because of police budget or crime statistic pressures.

To me they become equivalent to the daft Scots laws such as being drunk in charge of a cow, or barring boys under 10 from seeing a naked mannequin; although in this case they are not without merit, but they are not policed.

What we need are laws at council and national level which can be and are enforced.

Knee-jerk reactions to campaigns and high levels of publicity can be good, but I find that they are often hurting their campaigners more to see them ignored.

Name and address supplied

I was shocked to find that her flowers had been stolen. How could someone stoop so low? Only low-life scumbags could steal flowers from a grave.

My friends have told me to pity them.

I’m afraid there will be no pity from me – they are the scum of the earth. Ian Smith,Tollhouse Gardens Perth

The Order of the Eastern Star is hosting a 7.30pm bingo tea at onThursday, January is new 19, at Johnstone venue of the St Club, Street in Barossa Perth.