I've lived in Lovelock for a year now. The small town feeling is so pleasant. The smiling faces and friendly greetings at the stores and post office warm my heart.
I'm a retired senior and a veteran wanting to remain active and help the community. I volunteered to shuttle people without cars to stores and the clinic.
I got an extremely overweight lady home from the local emergency room after the police and sheriff failed to get her in their vehicles. People called me from the bars. They appreciated being able to avoid a DUI and getting home safe.
On Feb. 7, I got a call from a man at Sturgeon's Casino. He said he wanted help to take his dad to the hospital. I hurried over to aid in what I thought was an emergency. It turned out that two law enforcement officers drove all the way from Reno to pull a "sting" operation on me.
They cited me for operating a taxi business without a license. Also, what really shocked me, they impounded my van, my only mode of transport. I did not offer to sell drugs or guns as one might suppose in such an extreme event. My "crime" was attempting to get someone to the hospital.
So it looks as though helping your friends and neighbors has become outlawed. If you want to help someone's granny get to the store, you need a taxi license.
The state claims it's motive is public safety. Well is the town more safe when I do not help people get home from the bars?
I still very much like Lovelock and its people. I wish I could continue to help the community without being severely punished for doing so.
Dan O'Connor
Lovelock[[In-content Ad]]
