Senator Robert K. Boyce

To the editor,

I am not taking sides in the race for senate in Derry but cannot allow the misguided words of my friend Frank Sapareto to stand unanswered.

Sen. Sapareto recently called for a repeal of the section of the state?s DWI laws that deals with bicycling while under the influence. He was quoted as saying "There are no documented cases of a drunken bicyclist killing

someone else".

That may or may not be true but as past president of the Brain Injury Association of NH I want to point out that in the words of Gen. John Stark ?Death is not the worst of evils.? Not all victims of drunk drivers die. Recall local TV weatherman who was hit by a drunk on a bike. The resulting brain injury made it impossible for him to continue his career.

Just this week, local radio and TV personality (and sometimes politician) Deborah ?Arnie? Arnesen was hit in New York City by — you guessed it — a drunk on a bicycle.

Sapareto?s claim that DWI bicyclers only put themselves at risk also ignores the damage they can cause by causing other drivers to crash while avoiding the bicyclist.

We here in New Hampshire have made great strides in reducing the number of drunks on the roads we should continue on that track and not derail it by suggesting DWI bicycling is OK.

Senator Robert K. Boyce

District 4