Ironton’s streets have been a little clearer lately since the Ironton police came to town – and the downtown area is the better for it.

Tuesday, May 09, 2000

Ironton’s streets have been a little clearer lately since the Ironton police came to town – and the downtown area is the better for it.

More patrols, more citations and tougher penalties have made a dent in Ironton’s cruising problem, but by no means is the situation resolved.

There are still too many cars cruising the city’s downtown area at night – clogging streets, causing disturbances and otherwise making a drive downtown an unpleasant trip.

There is still trash along the sidewalks and the streets as well as other unmentionable remnants of the cruisers’ visits, not to mention the weekly calls to Ironton police asking for parking lots to be cleared.

Cruising used to be an innocent pastime. It really was a place for Lawrence County teen-agers to meet, share stories and enjoy an evening drive.

Today’s cruise line is much different. There are drugs, alcohol and dangers to the teens who mix with older adults who have no business on the street with such a young crowd.

Those three dangers should be enough to scare any parent.

The sad fact is that Ironton and Lawrence County teens are not the ones who are breaking the rules. The majority of teen cruisers are from Kentucky – and that is why a continued tough stance against cruising is a must.

That is the only way to protect our downtown.