45 in a 15 MPH Zone

We lost one of our babies last week.

The mama deer was bringing her twins down from the woods to visit other feeding grounds. She and one of the babies had crossed the street in front of our house, but the second fawn lagged behind and ended up getting hit by a car. The baby did not die right away. Neighbors called authorities, who called an officer from the Department of Natural Resources, who put the baby down.

When she found out, she exploded in anger.

There's a reason, she fumes, for the 15 MPH limit on a congested street where children play. She curses the speeding drivers who kill "her" squirrels and chipmunks and fawns. Threatens to build a speed bump to slow cars down, Vows to call the police department to demand that patrols enforce the 15 MPH speed limit.

Then she remembers.

The last time a child was hit by a car on the street, it was a police car doing the customary 45 MPH used by most motorists in the neighborhood.