MORE BILLS THAT GO TOO FAR

Two bills in the Missouri Legislature have good intentions but go a little too far in trying to regulate the actions of the state's citizenry.

The world has changed considerably since the days of two-lane highways where motorists would pull off to the side to let a funeral procession pass. One bill would require motorists to yield to funeral processions whether or not they are accompanied by a police escort. In today's world of multilane roads and high traffic volume, such a law isn't practical. Conscientious motorists will continue to respect such processions when possible but probably not on interstate highways.

Another proposed bill goes way to far in regulating the construction of fences. The bill would require a property owner to notify his neighbor and discuss not only the location but also the design of the fence. Then it would permit either party to ask a judge to appoint a three-member mediation panel. Most communities already have fence ordinances of some sort. This state law would do little more than add an unnecessary layer of burdensome state bureaucracy.