"Stepped up enforcement" of seat belt law

[Gary_in_Indiana]

\"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

Just a week ago today our local police began "stepped up enforcement" of our seat belt law here. Essentially that translates into stopping and ticket people for no other reason than their failure to wear seat belts (or have minor children properly restrained).

I don't want to start a debate here over whether or not seat belts are a good idea. Everyone's already heard the anecdotal stories of seat belts harming someone. Let's leave that to another thread, please.

My concern with this "stepped up enforcement" is twofold. One is the fact that when the law was passed it was promised that this would not happen. We were all told that citations would only be issued in conjunction with other violations.

Worse, to me, is the fact that this is now being used as an excuse to stop citizens and opens the door for a number of other things that represent a loss of liberties and personal freedom.

I'm usually quite conservative in my thinking but this coupled with our recent "open alcoholic beverage container" law has really gotten to me. I still think the container law is worse, but am not thrilled with this one, either.

Anyone else have any thoughts on either of these?

 

[dourobob]

Re: \"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

Gary
I know a couple of Provincial Police officers here in Ontario Canada and when they are told to "step up" enforcement on seat belts I believe they only stop folks who they can see are NOT wearing a belt.
I am curious about the "open alcoholic beverage container" law you referenced. How does that work??

Bob

 

[Tractors4u]

Re: \"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

Gary you sound liek you are discribing Alabama's seatbelt law. When it was passed we were told that you could not be stopped for the seat belt alone. Now they are really pushing their "Click it or Ticket" seatbelt campaign. They are now stopping people for no other reason than seatbelt usage. I wear mine so it is no big deal. I am just tired of the hypocracy. It is kind of like the temporary taxes to pay for a bridge, school or whatever that is supposed to go away after 4-5 years and it never does.

 

[Bird]

Re: \"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( "stepped up enforcement" of our seat belt law )</font>

Gary, I think that's the case nationwide; I know it is here anyway. And, like you, I don't like that law even though I wear seat belts all the time.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( our recent "open alcoholic beverage container" law )</font>

Yep, we haven't had that law very long either, and Montana is fighting the battle now. There are those who believe such a law will reduce accidents due to alcohol consumption, and my personal opinion is that they're dreaming. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif A person can drink one or two beers on the way home without becoming intoxicated . . . or . . . he can stop at the bar with his buddies and get drunk before he drives home. I doubt that the new law will prevent any accidents at all, but it'll tie up more law enforcement officers' time, more court time, more paper work, and I wonder whether the fines collected will be enough to pay the extra cost involved.

 

[DaveNH]

Re: \"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

Seat belt law

New Hampshire = Live free or die!

You can however get a ticket for not having your dog tied
in the back of your pickup truck. You don't have to tied
your friends down only your dog!

 

[Egon]

Re: \"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

Just TAXE'S

Egon

 

[thcri]

Re: \"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

MInnesota and Iowa are hitting the seat belt's right now real hard also.


murph

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Re: \"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm usually quite conservative in my thinking but this coupled with our recent "open alcoholic beverage container" law has really gotten to me. I still think the container law is worse, but am not thrilled with this one, either.

Anyone else have any thoughts on either of these? )</font>

We have had laws against open containers since the time I was a little boy. The seat belt law has been around for a few years. Yes, they told us too that they would not be stopping just for seat belts and then changed their tune once the law had passed.

My feeling is, if they want to stop you, they will stop you, whether it is for seat belts, open containers or something else. One word of warning though. If you stop off for a quick one after work and just happen to have a few empty cans in the truck that you intended to drop off at the store... Well, I know some people who haven't had any problems and others that got charged with an open container violation.

Steve

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: \"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now they are really pushing their "Click it or Ticket" seatbelt campaign. )</font>

I find the "Click it or Ticket" campaign/slogan to be completely repugnant. I have a hard time putting in words how strongly I feel about this. Suffice to say, any police term, slogan, or worse yet campaign that even remotely seems threatening is undemocratic, authoritarian, and thoroughly unamerican. They are paid to enforce the law, not to threaten the citizenry with the consequences of not complying. That is what happens in dictatorships.

By the way, I always wear a seat belt. Always have. Always will.

SnowRidge

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: \"Stepped up enforcement\" of seat belt law

Its click it or ticket weekend to in Michigan.They also told us that they wont pull you
over if your not wearing your seatbelt.Thanks to big brother saying there going to with hold
goverment dollars if you dont get your numbers up with the percent of people wearing seat belts
Now there pulling people over,for the last year or so.Was told by a friend,his buddy is a sheriff
and so far he wrote over 80 tickets by Saturday night,he was looking for more.I wonder how much
more money the state made with this going on
Remember,CLICK IT OR TICKET........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif