Voters got it right

Massachusetts residents got it right when, on Question 2, they voted
overwhelmingly to turn possession of small amounts of marijuana into a
civil violation rather than a criminal offense. So it was
disappointing to see the Globe editorialize that the law will fail
unless police are permitted to demand that a violator produce an ID
upon demand ("A misguided joint initiative," Nov. 7). The Globe's
scenario is entirely speculative. There are many laws that establish
civil violations, including smoking in public and not keeping your dog
on a leash, but almost none of these civil violations allows the
police to demand, "Your papers please." Indeed, the Globe is unable to
point to any instance in which enforcement of those civil laws and
their penalties is hampered by the absence of an ID
requirement.

At a time when state and local governments are stretched thin by
financial crises, the people got it right when they voted to focus our
scarce law-enforcement resources on serious crimes rather than minor
infractions. Our Commonwealth can't afford to take up the time of
police, prosecutors, and the courts dealing with matters that the
overwhelming majority of Massachusetts voters believe should not be
crimes.