Editorial: Federal law enforcement keep us safe

In the last couple of years, controversy has swirled around the Department of Justice and the FBI. These investigative bodies of the federal government have become embroiled in the political conflict along various fault lines. Emails. Dossiers. Russians. And on and on.

But here in Hawaii, there’s nothing but gratitude for the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. Investigators disrupted a local terrorism plan by a would-be Islamic State bomber, Army Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Kang.

It’s sad to see that level of violence threaten Hawaii, but a relief to see that our protectors are at work.

Your speeding ticket will be fast, too

There’s a lot of excitation about “e-citation” automation among police officers on the lookout for motorists breaking rules of the road. By using an iPhone or iPad to scan driver’s license and vehicle registration information, officers are shaving minutes off of the time it takes to hand-write a ticket. Wireless citations are handed out courtesy of a portable printer.

The Honolulu Police Department pilot program allows motorists to spend less time waiting for a citation — and eliminates puzzling over indecipherable handwriting. The innovation, though, is also clearly affording officers more time to tap out more tickets. Drive ever more carefully out there.