Here's a tip: Ban boorish behavior.(Chicago Tribune)

Objections have been raining down on the controversial Operation TIPS anti-terrorist program that would encourage workers in certain industries to report suspicious activity they encounter that might be linked to terrorism. But I have been daydreaming over a similar idea of my own.

There are many things I would like to report to someone. But they have nothing to do with terrorism. No, the program I envision would allow citizens to report egregious stupidity.

Don't you, too, yearn for some outlet for your outrage over the everyday incivilities we all endure? The driver behind you who seems to be trying to drive into your trunk; the person who brought a baby to a movie; the kid on the "L" who has set his personal stereo headphone volume so high that you could sing along if you used that kind of language _ shouldn't there be something the average citizen can do?

Sure, you can complain to your spouse, your friends or your cat. You can even rouse yourself to protest to the miscreant, although in the case of automotive offenses, confrontation is notoriously unwise.

But how much more satisfying, not to mention safe, it would be to report it officially. Never mind the Terrorism Information and Prevention System; I am proposing Truly Idiotic People Surveillance.

Frankly, it wouldn't require much surveillance. If you have to search out annoyances in your life, I'd like to know what movie theater you frequent.

But however the complaints are made, this would be the agency that would handle them. And in my imaginings, they would, indeed, handle it. TIPS would not be a mere public complaint department. My new agency would dispatch humorless functionaries in uniforms and mirrored sunglasses who would track down an offender and say, "Ma'am, you have been reported for veering into another lane while yakking on a cell phone. Step away from the SUV, please, while I fill out the report."