If these people were any more sanctimonious, they'd be canonizing themselves.

Three different readers contacted me to say a fellow who was upset that his Social Security number was displayed on a parking ticket should quit complaining because he wouldn't have a problem if he hadn't broken the law.

Well, aren't we perfect?

A guy gets a parking ticket and you're ready to crucify him. Glad I'm not your kid.

Look: Everybody has broken some kind of minor traffic law. Care to wager?

How do you fare on this one, from Page 36 of the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws?

''When passing to the left, the law requires that a driver overtaking another vehicle. . .sound the horn to warn the driver of the vehicle being overtaken that he is about to be passed.''

If you adhere to that, you're the only one in North America.

Speaking of passing, contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal to pass on the right when you're driving on a road with at least two lanes in each direction.

But you shouldn't have to. There would be no need if the highways weren't infested with Left-Lane Hogs, those clueless souls who don't know (or maybe don't care) that the left lane is for passing only.

The new math If you drive a vehicle that averages 20 miles per gallon, and you drive about 15,000 miles per year, consider this: The price of a gallon of regular is up 80 cents from a year ago. That will cost you an additional $600 in gas. So, how much was that federal tax rebate?

Dueling desires One man's relief is another man's torment. Reader Scott Armstrong called recently to complain that the Ohio Department of Transportation was taking years — literally — to fix a dangerous situation on state Route 94 between Rittman and Doylestown. A faulty culvert has eroded a considerable amount of soil under the roadway near Rittman Orchards, and he was worried that it would collapse. Armstrong finally got someone's ear. Last week, a sign went up announcing the road will be closed for five days starting this Monday.

As soon as the sign went up, we got a call from Matt Vodraska, one of the owners of Rittman Orchards, complaining that closing his road will force potential customers to take an absurdly long detour, effectively slaughtering his seasonal business just as it's entering prime time. Calls everywhere, up to and including the governor's office, haven't gotten him anywhere. ODOT's Brian Stacy claims the work wasn't done sooner because it requires warm weather.

Faulty arrow?

Bob: If you are coming east on U.S. 224, trying to turn left onto George Washington Boulevard [near the Airdock], you're not allowed to turn until you get a left-turn arrow, even when you can see a clear westbound road for miles. I run the light. I am a little tired of having traffic laws dumbed down for those who can't make a left turn without running into something.Dean Plevrakis

Dean: When the cops write you a ticket, you won't get any sympathy from Akron traffic engineer Dave Gasper, who says, ''We [added the arrow] in 1999 because we experienced 12 left-turn crashes the previous two years from vehicles turning in front of oncoming traffic. ''It is much safer this way, even if someone has to wait for a little while.''