Washington officials honor Mascara
WASHINGTON – New seatbelt laws go into effect today and Washington County Highway Safety Director Bonnie Pattison is reminding residents that the penalties for not complying with the law far outweigh the cost of following it. As of today, all children up to the age of eight must be in car seats or booster seats. The old law only required the safety seats for children up to the age of four. All passengers under the age of 18 must wear a seatbelt, regardless of their position in the car. The old law only required front seat passengers to wear seatbelts, Pattison said.
“Pennsylvania now has the most progressive seatbelt law in the country,” Pattison said.
Pattison said the law is not designed to penalize parents or children, but to protect the lives of children.
“There were so many injuries to children in adult seatbelt systems,” Pattison said.
Pattison said adult seatbelts are designed to go across the pelvic bone and the sternum on an adult, but they hit children across the abdomen and the neck, causing severe injury to the soft tissues in the event of an accident.
“The penalty is $95 if you’re caught without a booster seat. That will buy two really nice booster seats,” Pattison said.
Pattison said that while the new law does not affect school buses, it does affect school vans carrying 15 passengers or fewer.
Anyone unable to afford a booster seat may contact Pattison at 724-229-3996 or 800-435-2228 for assistance.
The commissioners Thursday also recognized former U.S. Rep. Frank Mascara for more than 30 years of public service. John Bevec, chairman of the commissioners, noted that Mascara has served as a congressman, county commissioner and county controller, as well as other areas of public service over the past 30 years.
Commissioner Diana Irey said that she came into office shortly after Mascara left the commissioner’s position to go to Congress. The state of the county when she moved into office was a testament to the good management Mascara had provided.
“I was courted by the Republicans in Washington, D.C., to run against Frank for three years and I didn’t do it. The reason I didn’t do it was because he was doing an excellent job,” Irey said.
Commissioner J. Bracken Burns said he had a good working relationship with Mascara over the years, including those years in which Mascara, as commissioner, was his boss when Burns headed the county’s emergency management program.
“There is a bond between public servants. We know what the other goes through,” Burns said.
Mascara said that although he has received numerous awards over the years, the one from the county commissioners held special meaning for him.
“It is presented by my friends and peers,” Mascara said.
Mascara said he suffered culture shock when he first went to Washington, D.C., and ran into all of the separate agendas of each congressman.
Mascara said it was difficult to come up with 217 other congressmen to agree with him on an issue to get it passed.
“It was easier at the county level,” Mascara quipped. “I only had to count to two.”
Mascara said the current board of commissioners has shown leadership in carrying out many of the projects begun during his administration.
“Southpointe, when I left here, was well under way. Now the last parcel has been sold and developed,” Mascara said. “My colleagues called it ‘Frank’s Folly’ and the naysayers said it would never happen.”
Mascara said his wife, who has never liked politics, has finally forgiven him for getting involved in 1973.