Indiana County President Judge William Martin deserves praise for the tough sentence he meted out to Gareth Feracioly, 25, of Saxonburg in a violent purse-snatching in September 2005 that left an elderly woman permanently disabled.

It's likely that few people would have objected if the sentence were even tougher.

Regardless, the maximum sentence imposed on Feracioly is well above the standard range for someone convicted of robbery. Feracioly was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in state prison. The standard guideline range for robbery is up to 14 years and 8 months in prison; the aggravated range is up to 16 years.

Martin told Feracioly, "In your case, the sentencing guideline recommendation is inappropriate." The judge said the crime was "one of the worst I've ever seen in my 26 years in the criminal justice system."

Feracioly's victim, Clara Smith, had every facial bone on one side of her face broken during the robbery, received a gash on the head, and physicians believe the crime hastened dementia that first manifested itself not long before the robbery.

Smith also lost nearly all short-term memory function — all for just $21, the amount of money Smith had in her purse at the time of the robbery.

To his credit, Martin imposed a sentence that took into account all aspects of the crime and didn't show any mercy for the criminal.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, which gets bogged down in partisan politics on so many issues that really matter, can't resist the temptation to pass legislation that is of negligible urgency and importance.This state, which ignores some motorists' concerns about vehicle operators who routinely fail to pay attention to their driving while busily chatting on a cell phone, now finds it important to fine motorists if their headlights aren't on when they are operating their windshield wipers.Police, whether state or municipal, should be concerned about the truly important issues, such as drivers' adherence to speed limits, reckless driving and getting drunken drivers off the road. They shouldn't be saddled with petty responsibilities.The new law doesn't take effect until Jan. 1. But when it does, motorists who don't comply could face a $25 fine.That's not all. With fees and other associated costs, the violation could amount to about a $100 lightening of a motorist's wallet or pocketbook.Meanwhile, the inattention to driving because of cell phone conversations will continue.That is not to necessarily advocate a ban on cell phone conversations while driving, although a statewide debate on that topic might be worthwhile.

Anyone who obtains a driver's license in Pennsylvania is well aware that passing a school bus with its red "stop" lights flashing is a serious no-no.Then the question must be asked why there have been so many violations of that illegal-to-pass rule in Middlesex Township this school year that officials feel it is necessary to have stepped-up enforcement actions.Surely drivers are aware that there are serious ramifications if they are caught passing a bus that is boarding or unloading students. The punishment is an automatic driver's license suspension and a hefty fine.This jeer is aimed at the drivers in question, but maybe a jeer also should be aimed at parents who could be filming the violations or gathering license plate numbers or vehicle descriptions, but so far have failed to do so.Perhaps the time will come when buses will be equipped with cameras to record such violations.That would be a good issue for a pilot project by the state Department of Transportation.Regardless, Middlesex officials are right in initiating stepped-up enforcement operations. The township supervisors have approved overtime for the township's police officers to allow for patrols after completion of the midnight shift — when students are being picked up — and after the daylight shift to cover dismissal.The problem probably will go away after a few arrests are made — when drivers become aware that the township is serious about ending the violations. But in the meantime, schoolchildren will be exposed to unnecessary dangers.