New $20 bills are rolling off the presses and into circulation. Designed to make it more difficult for counterfeiters, the money has several major design changes, including added color.

Sounds great, but here’s the kicker. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is spending $32 million to introduce the new look to the country. The government is spending 1.6 million of the bills on ads so currency consumers – that’s everybody – can see what’s coming.

It’s almost laughable. In one swoop, the feds could ease Maine’s budget troubles by reducing their awareness campaign. Send that money here: Fives or tens would be fine if they want to hang on to the twenties.

As the moneymakers roll out new $50s and $100s in 2004 and 2005, the total cost of the promotional efforts will surpass $50 million.

The changes to the notes are impressive, and should help limit the damage done to the economy by counterfeiters. The $20 bill is a frequent target of copiers, and advances in computer graphics and printing technology have made the old money easier to duplicate.

Improved security measures include a strip of plastic imbedded in the paper, ink that changes color like a hologram when the money is tilted and a watermark. Plus color. The bills feature peach and blue to go along with green.

Cutting down on funny money and making different denominations more distinctive are positive steps for commerce. But spending $32 million to brag about it is too much. There are better uses for that money.


Fighting noise


Police in Lewiston and Auburn began cracking down on noise violations this summer. The results are in.

Lewiston summonsed 22 people for excessive exhaust noise and another 15 for unnecessary tire noise. Two people were cited for playing their car stereos too loudly.

In Auburn, the numbers are similar. Seventeen summonses were issued for tire or exhaust noise. Blaring stereos took a much bigger hit, with 19 citations.

All in all, it was a good start to reducing the noise pollution that detracts from daily life in the Twin Cities, especially during summer.

We applaud the increased efforts of the police, but realize that enforcing noise regulations will never take priority over other duties. However, there is something that state government could do to help muffle violators.

As the Sun Journal’s investigation of automobile inspections in August revealed, motorcycles are not required to display inspection stickers. That allows many owners to skirt the rules. The loophole in the law makes it difficult for police to detect bikes that haven’t been checked out and that may have after-market – and sometimes illegal – exhaust systems.

According to police in Auburn and Lewiston, summonses handed out for excessive exhaust noise were almost exclusively to motorcycle riders.

Noise complaints typically drop in the winter, when there are fewer motorcycles on the roads and people have the windows in their cars and houses closed.

When motorcycles return to the road next spring, it would be a positive step if the display of inspection stickers was required.


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