According to the e-mail, the crack down would put 50 troopers on patrol at all times on all the major highways in the area. It was anticipated to generate $9 million in fines, according to what was received.

As with most unsolicited e-mails, this one was bogus. A state police spokesperson is quoted as calling it "a hoax, an urban legend."

This is not the first time - or the first state - for this type of e-mail. For the past two years, similar alerts have been sent to residents of New Jersey, Tennessee, California, Texas and Michigan. All have been denied by the various policing authorities.

While the state police may deny the truth to the speeding ticket blitz, as well as everything else contained within the e-mail, it might just be more of a blessing than an annoyance. On major highways and on local roadways, motorists are blatantly ignoring speed limits. If a person is not traveling fast enough, tailgating or flashing of headlights becomes the norm.

The problem has become such a problem on our local roads that aggressive driving alerts are now posted along various sections of Route 19. Police do target these areas, pulling over motorists not only for speeding but also for various types of reckless driving.

We certainly understand some of the frustrations associated with driving in this area, particularly on Route 19. It seems as though more and more cars and trucks are added daily to this road. Currently, traffic lights are not synched so trying to get anywhere fast is a true lesson in patience.

There is as much of a risk as there is a privilege to getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. As much as we can we train our youth to be safe, cautious drivers. We change laws associated with obtaining a driver's license, requiring these young people to have more behind-the-wheel time than ever before. As parents, we worry when our youth get that coveted license, knowing that, while they may be taught the required laws, following them can be a bit more difficult to monitor.

Last week's e-mail warning about the ticketing blitz may have been a hoax but its message was delivered loud and clear. Without a denial from the state police, it may even have been followed and motorists would have put the brakes on - if only for a little while.