Seat Belt Laws are stupid!!

[brokenscout]

They can pull you over for not wearing a damn seat belt,but you can ride a motorcycle and not wear a helmet....... Its another way for them to make money off tickets.What a joke

[OneGuy67]

Actually, you can't be pulled over soley for the seat belt violation; it is a secondary offense. You need to have committed a primary offense first.

State legislators have mulled this one over for the past few years and it never passes. Always too worried about cops pulling over minorities.

[Scanker19]

Or you can choose life.

[DD977GM2]

I think seat belt lawas are dumb also. Statistics show a 50/50 chance of wearing it or not wearing it as far as survival goes in
a severe care wreck.

I think it should be an individual choice. I hate wearing them and only do so
when the company vehicle I am driving has the company policy and also I
dont want to be trapped in a vehicle because my seatbelt is jacked up from a wreck and can not undo the buckle and my knife is not in reach.

[brokenscout]

Or you can choose life.
I wear my seat belt,but I don't like someone telling me that I have to.Went from the back seat through the front winshield of a car had brain surjury, was told if i'd just been wearing the lap belt it would have been worse.

[brokenscout]

Actually, you can't be pulled over soley for the seat belt violation; it is a secondary offense. You need to have committed a primary offense first.

State legislators have mulled this one over for the past few years and it never passes. Always too worried about cops pulling over minorities.
The new click it or ticket tv ads tell you how cops are trained to spot people not wearing a seat belt.They should be focusing on old people :) sorry Bob:)

[Irving]

Cite the statistics that show 50/50. I've never seen that. People who don't wear seat belts don't understand statistics. Sure, you could be in the 1 in 1,000,000,000 accident where a seat belt would be detrimental, but what about the other 99,000,000 times?

Also, if you are in a car with other people and get into an accident, your body is likely to fly around in the vehicle and further injure, or kill, the other passengers who are strapped in. I don't let people ride in my vehicle without a belt because I don't want their body slamming into me in the event of a wreck.

[hammer03]

I hate that something so stupid gets so much funding and attention. How much of our tax money gets wasted on ad campaigns and signs and other crap to tell people "buckle up it's the law" or "click it or ticket"? And how much did we pay the yahoos who came up with the catchy slogans?

Why don't we spend that money on something useful. If someone doesn't want to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, a seat belt in a car, or other stuff that will only result in their own death/dismemberment/permanent injury, why do I care?

[GilpinGuy]

I agree the law is uncalled for. I have never not worn my seatbelt on the other hand. Just raised that way I guess, but to each his own.

The only person that can possibly be harmed by you not wearing it is you. And don't get me started with the "well, health costs for those injured raise insurance rates for all of us" bullshit. That's the cost of living in a "free" society. Sorry.

Of course the pussyfication of America continues, so we have laws like this.

ETA: Irving has a point about bodies flying around. So I guess it's your choice to ride with someone who does/does not wear a seatbelt. Maybe, if you have kids in the car, it should be required. Maybe.

[brokenscout]

Its about personal freedom.I got shot in the chest and I don't want gun control.Its all about how you want to live your life

[Irving]

I think that people who don't wear seat belts are dumb. However, I think that people who are okay with, or encourage seat belt legislation are more dumb.

[cstone]

Gun Laws are stupid!

Wait, what was this thread about?

[Fmedges]

I wish cops were more focused on reducing crime than increasing revenue.

[stevelkinevil]

I agree with broken scout, once you reach a certain age (AKA adulthood) your choices should be your own, your responsibility for your choices should also be your own, I dont want or need the nanny state to look after me.

[cstone]

I wish cops were more focused on reducing crime than increasing revenue.

If driving without wearing a seatbelt is a crime, then cops writing seatbelt infractions are focused on crime.

Most patrol officers have far less discretion than you would think over what they spend their time focused on during their shift. Answering calls from dispatch runs your day. If you are assigned to focus on traffic, you will be expected to produce results to verify your efforts.

Cops don't write laws, they enforce them.

[brokenscout]

I remember being in the back of my Grandpas pick up truck or help drive.Now you'd have your kids taken away or be on DHS's radar.I really think LE is going the wrong direction with just giving out tickets or thinking they are all SWAT.I have some friends who are LE and they think the same thing.

[brokenscout]

If driving without wearing a seatbelt is a crime, then cops writing seatbelt infractions are focused on crime.

Most patrol officers have far less discretion than you would think over what they spend their time focused on during their shift. Answering calls from dispatch runs your day. If you are assigned to focus on traffic, you will be expected to produce results to verify your efforts.

Cops don't write laws, they enforce them.
Still FG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCA-zIEVidk

[stevelkinevil]

If driving without wearing a seatbelt is a crime, then cops writing seatbelt infractions are focused on crime.

Most patrol officers have far less discretion than you would think over what they spend their time focused on during their shift. Answering calls from dispatch runs your day. If you are assigned to focus on traffic, you will be expected to produce results to verify your efforts.

Cops don't write laws, they enforce them.

One of the many reasons I had to leave it. That and you were expected to bring in some poor sap who was otherwise a completely law abiding man on a traffic warrant who forgot or simply could not pay, on the other hand an illegal with an 8ball of coke was many times a "catch and release" sure you would see him again the next week or month, with a brand spankin new Mexican Consulate ID card with a different name on it, not a damned thing you could do about it either for the most part.

[DEAGLER]

broken scout did you get a seat belt ticket today or something? like someone said earlier, you need a primary citation first. cant just be pulled over for no seatbelt.

[brokenscout]

broken scout did you get a seat belt ticket today or something? like someone said earlier, you need a primary citation first. cant just be pulled over for no seatbelt.
No I did not,but these TV ads are pissing me off.I was told they can pull you over for just no seat belt.Its been a long week:)

[DEAGLER]

Yeah been seeing a lot of those signs "click it or ticket" every where

[theGinsue]

I wear my seat belt,but I don't like someone telling me that I have to.Went from the back seat through the front winshield of a car had brain surjury, was told if i'd just been wearing the lap belt it would have been worse.
I *always* wear a seat belt as well, but agree that adults shouldn't have it mandated as to how they will be safe. I tink anyone under the age of 18 should be required to wear a seatbelt but over 18 - if you don't want to wear it & are in an accident where it would have saved you...more chlorine for teh gene pool.

Of course, there is the arguement that it keeps insurance rates down when insurance companies don't have to pay for all of the injuries/deaths from those who would have been injured/killed otherwise... I think that's just another one of those crock of sh!t comments that get espoused over stuff like this. I'm old enough to have been driving before most (if not all) states implemented mandatory seatbelt usage. When the law went into effect I didn't see $1 discount. Nope, they pocketed all of the supposed "savings".

[jackthewall81]

It restricts our freedom. I dislike anything that restricts freedom.

[Great-Kazoo]

Ins CO's can and will reduce a claim and or deny one based on not wearing a seat belt.
The .gov with held funding for not having a SBL same as they did regarding raising the drinking age back to 21.

This is how dependent the states have become on the .gov teat.

As for Helmet Laws, it's coming, unfortunately. The feds will force the state to bend or break. With the influx of people who lived where helmet laws are the norm, watch it being put to a vote. We all know how weak the public is "If it saves one life, isn't it worth it?'

I wear a helmet, sometimes i don't, my choice.

[brokenscout]

I'm suprised they still let us drive cars:)

[jackthewall81]

I'm suprised they still let us drive cars:)

Yeah, me too. They should be banned because of how many people are killed every year because of them. Is it worth a life?

[brokenscout]

Yeah, me too. They should be banned because of how many people are killed every year because of them. Is it worth a life?
I'm suprised any of us survived growning up not being pussies

[OneGuy67]

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration puts those ads out. And they also provide funding grants for enforcement. Each state makes their own laws regarding seat belts.and other states are nor aligned.with the federal wishes. Here in Colorado, we aren't. So far, no helmet laws, no primary seatbelt laws, but we have complied with their DUI level requirements, child seatbelt requirements and so forth. The feds.do tie it into highway funding and it is a something the legislators deal with every year. Do we pass the laws that the feds want for additional finding or do we stand our ground? So far, mostly stand ground.

[Scanker19]

It restricts our freedom. I dislike anything that restricts freedom.

Nothing is making you wear one. What's more free being able to do what you want, or doing it regardless.

[DavieD55]

I would suggest you contact one of the biggest proponets of seat belt laws in the state of colorado. She is an expert on the matter.

If it were you or i we would be facing vehicular manslaughter charges!

She still continues to make law in the state of colorado.

Suzanne Williams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=suzanne%20williams%20colorado&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSuzanne _Williams&ei=IjfCT7igLoSi8gTm_8yKCw&usg=AFQjCNHcl6xAy_GbyMBOIxnvpuh4DQQY8Q)

[dmeis]

It restricts our freedom. I dislike anything that restricts freedom.

Driving a motor vehicle is a privilege and not a right, therefore does not impose on your freedoms. Just like speeding or careless driving are not forms of freedom.

The government looks at transportation as a high risk activity and in order to reduce injury and fatality statistics they enact regulations to make it safer for the general public. Laws are usually created because some people can not think for themselves so as a result everyone must suffer.

[jackthewall81]

Driving a motor vehicle is a privilege and not a right, therefore does not impose on your freedoms. Just like speeding or careless driving are not forms of freedom.

The government looks at transportation as a high risk activity and in order to reduce injury and fatality statistics they enact regulations to make it safer for the general public. Laws are usually created because some people can not think for themselves so as a result everyone must suffer.

If I do not want to wear my seat belt, I should not be required too do so. I could careless about the statistics, if I want to do something that is not harming or infringing upon another persons rights, I should be able to decide what I want to do.

"laws are usually created because some people can not think for themselves so as a result everyone must suffer." This quote sounds like something Hitler would say.

[brokenscout]

I would suggest you contact one of the biggest proponets of seat belt laws in the state of colorado. She is an expert on the matter, trust me i know. :P

If it were you or i we would be facing vehicular manslaughter charges!

She still continues to make law in the state of colorado.

Suzanne Williams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=suzanne%20williams%20colorado&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSuzanne _Williams&ei=IjfCT7igLoSi8gTm_8yKCw&usg=AFQjCNHcl6xAy_GbyMBOIxnvpuh4DQQY8Q)
I always think of this POS when I see the TV ads

[jackthewall81]

I would suggest you contact one of the biggest proponets of seat belt laws in the state of colorado. She is an expert on the matter, trust me i know. :P

If it were you or i we would be facing vehicular manslaughter charges!

She still continues to make law in the state of colorado.

Suzanne Williams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=suzanne%20williams%20colorado&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSuzanne _Williams&ei=IjfCT7igLoSi8gTm_8yKCw&usg=AFQjCNHcl6xAy_GbyMBOIxnvpuh4DQQY8Q)

All I noticed is there is way too much blue in our States senate.

[BlasterBob]

They should be focusing on old people :) sorry Bob:)
[ROFL3]

When I bought my brand new shiney red 1961 Chevy Impala hard top, the first thing I did was install seat belts. Back then there were no seat belts in vehicles unless you installed them yourself. I had been to many many stock car races at Soldier Field in Chicago and saw some nasty wrecks and the drivers almost always walked off. The vast majority of those drivers claimed seat belts saved their asses. So, we have been wearing the belts since 61 and although it's sometimes a pain in the ass to be so confined with these dang belts, especially during Winter with heavy coats on, we just bite the bullet and wear them anyhow and will continue doing so.
Of course, we do not HAVE to wear them - we can just pay the penalty if we chose not to and get caught. If someone absolutely insists on not wearing these belts, they had just better be extremely careful to comply with ALL traffic laws. [Driver]

[KevDen2005]

I was T-boned in a patrol car while going code 3 (lights and sirens) to a call. The person that hit me didn't slow down at all and never even saw me. The speed limit is 45 MPH and investigators believe that is at least how fast she was going. I was wearing my seat belt and if I wasn't my head would have smashed into glass, then into an AR 15 barrel. I walked away with a sore back.

[dmeis]

If I do not want to wear my seat belt, I should not be required too do so. I could careless about the statistics, if I want to do something that is not harming or infringing upon another persons rights, I should be able to decide what I want to do.

"laws are usually created because some people can not think for themselves so as a result everyone must suffer." This quote sounds like something Hitler would say.

The government can't make you wear a seatbelt. If you get caught without it you pay the tax and can continue to not wear it. It doesnt show up on your driving record and you won't lose your driver license for it so they don't hold it against you... Good for you. Sounds like natural selection still has some work to do in your gene pool.

I for one think we have too many laws. Unfortunatly since we have people in society that show poor judgement and think they don't have any responsibility to society then the legislators feel they have to protect us from them. Everyone suffers from regulation. I don't see how that sounds like something Hitler would say. Perhaps you were making a poor attempt to insult me. Unfortunatly you only made yourself look less intelligent than your previous post did.

[brokenscout]

Driving a motor vehicle is a privilege and not a right, therefore does not impose on your freedoms. Just like speeding or careless driving are not forms of freedom.

The government looks at transportation as a high risk activity and in order to reduce injury and fatality statistics they enact regulations to make it safer for the general public. Laws are usually created because some people can not think for themselves so as a result everyone must suffer.
If I bought the car,pay my taxes for the roads, they can kiss my ass.Privilege:)LOL. The Gov only has power if you let them

[Sharpienads]

I would suggest you contact one of the biggest proponets of seat belt laws in the state of colorado. She is an expert on the matter, trust me i know. :P

If it were you or i we would be facing vehicular manslaughter charges!

She still continues to make law in the state of colorado.

Suzanne Williams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=suzanne%20williams%20colorado&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSuzanne _Williams&ei=IjfCT7igLoSi8gTm_8yKCw&usg=AFQjCNHcl6xAy_GbyMBOIxnvpuh4DQQY8Q)

Just looked her up. What a piece of work. Apparently, the laws apply to everybody but her and her family. Does it matter why her passengers weren't in seat belts? No, the law is the law, and in TX, everybody in the vehicle must wear a seat belt. I feel sorry for the Gomez family.

I personally think seat belt laws are stupid. I always wear mine, but would whether it was the law or not. What does this law accomplish that insurance companies could not? If I ran an insurance company, I would make it policy that if you're not wearing a seat belt, than we wouldn't cover anything that happened as a result of that. That would be enough to make most people want to wear them, and if not, you made that decision for yourself knowing what the consequences could be.

[Clint45]

Actually, you can't be pulled over soley for the seat belt violation; it is a secondary offense. You need to have committed a primary offense first.


In Colorado that may be the case, but in other states they will pull you over if they don't see a seatbelt across your chest. Of course, those are the same states that will pull you over for talking (not texting) on your cellphone, and will issue DUI tickets for sleeping it off in your backseat rather than driving home from the pub.

[Irving]

and will issue DUI tickets for sleeping it off in your backseat rather than driving home from the pub.

Pretty sure Colorado does this.

[stevelkinevil]

Pretty sure Colorado does this.

Yep they can if the keys are in the ignition. I think its total BS but it sure does generate revenue.

[Fentonite]

I posted the following on 12/23/10:


Yesterday, a car with a man, woman, and their daughter rolled over on the highway. The man was not wearing his seatbelt, and was partially ejected, then dragged under the car until it stopped. His wife and daughter, who were buckled-up, were ok.

My wife was one of the paramedics who responded. She got to explain to the wife and daughter that their husband/daddy was dead, and then help them though the viewing of their mangled love one on the highway.

That family will never be the same. Christmas will forever have a new meaning to them. They'll never forget that gruesome scene (I'm omitting details out of respect). I maintain that it is not the government's place to be our nanny. Don't wear your seatbelt just because the government says so. Wear it for your wives and daughters.



I believe it is a man's job to protect his family. There are those who will reject common sense and good judgment and continue to refuse to wear a seatbelt, only because they are ass-hurt about being told to do so. When your choices result in your wife and daughter crying while kneeling in your innards, you have failed as a husband and father.

Not even going to address the whole issue of the unfair distribution of healthcare costs attributed to unrestrained drivers. That would lead to an analogy to socialism, and feelings would get hurt.

[BlasterBob]

I wonder how soon some enterprising person will make T-shirts with a picture of a seat belt, silk screened across the front of the shirt.

[Irving]

Or a T-shirt with that lady hanging from a tree by a seatbelt around her neck.

[45XD]

Or you can choose life.
.... except you are completely missing the point...

[gcrookston]

We don't need no stinkin' badges.... I mean seat belts...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=624_1338137425

[brokenscout]

I just heard during "click it or suck it" the fines are double?

[KevDen2005]

I just heard during "click it or suck it" the fines are double?


I never heard that. But I guess I wouldn't know, my PD is still trying to get me to make an actual traffic stop. Can't write tickets if I don't pull people over. Can't imagine why my supervisor hates me.

[dorsum]

I used to think the same thing, until I watched a low speed accident happen right in front of me. Both the driver and passenger were not wearing seat belts and left nice forehead sized impressions in the windshield. Screwed both of them up pretty bad. I have worn mine ever since. ymmv

[BPTactical]

I drove a tow truck and chased wrecks in Denver in a past life.
I have always worn my belt since.

Saw waaay too much unneccesary injury/loss of life with out them.

[KevDen2005]

I drove a tow truck and chased wrecks in Denver in a past life.
I have always worn my belt since.

Saw waaay too much unneccesary injury/loss of life with out them.


Agreed. I have seen too many accidents to not wear my belt.

[jackthewall81]

The government can't make you wear a seatbelt. If you get caught without it you pay the tax and can continue to not wear it. It doesnt show up on your driving record and you won't lose your driver license for it so they don't hold it against you... Good for you. Sounds like natural selection still has some work to do in your gene pool.

I for one think we have too many laws. Unfortunatly since we have people in society that show poor judgement and think they don't have any responsibility to society then the legislators feel they have to protect us from them. Everyone suffers from regulation. I don't see how that sounds like something Hitler would say. Perhaps you were making a poor attempt to insult me. Unfortunatly you only made yourself look less intelligent than your previous post did.

I meant no harm, but I see that I have caused some tension. By no means was that a insult towards your intelligence, therefore I see no need to insult mine. Take it easy brother! We're all friends here. :)

[brokenscout]

I wear my seatbelt also, but I don't think if someone forgets that it should be a source of revenue for the Gov. its just more BS.The Laws of this Country are slowly strangling freedom.

[BPTactical]

Slowly????

[brokenscout]

Slowly????
I was trying to be nice:) Run away train:)

[ales28]

When properly used, seat belts can reduce the risk of being killed in a crash. Michael Prince of Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning said in an article, "Police seat belt crackdown gets results" (http://www.cardealexpert.com/news-information/auto-news/michigan-seat-belt-crackdown/), that efforts like Click It or Ticket are an opportunity to remind motorists about the importance of buckling up.

I think it's about time that we all take personal responsibility for our actions. It will benefit not only ourselves but as well as the people around us. It won't hurt if we follow the rules.

[spyder]

You're not going to go through and pull up a bunch of old threads to give/school us on all your scientific studies are you? [Stooge]

[Bailey Guns]

^^^ Ohh...I hope so! ^^^

[ROFL2]

[cofi]

i wear my seatbelt always....i also make all my passengers do the same they have saved my life a couple times.....that being said there shouldnt be a law making you do so darwin will sort out the stupids

[KevDen2005]

Why did this come back up?

[Chad4000]

I HATE these laws..

and it might have been covered already, but Im pretty sure that you can be pulled over for not wearing the belt. not just a secondary thing.

fines have risen from $15 and no points, to points and $100 or so... it's called revenue generation... you mean to tell me that the .gov can fine us for not protecting ourselves from something that probably wont ever happen?

where are the fines for people who don't own guns then? or people who dont stock pile food and water?

[TFOGGER]

I wear a helmet, and encourage others to do so, but am against helmet laws. Same goes for seatbelts. I have rolled 2 vehicles at highway speed, 1 while wearing a seatbelt (ejected on I-80 anyway), and 1 without (walked away without a scratch, stayed in the vehicle). I still think they are a good idea, just not one that should be the .gov's choice.

[trlcavscout]

They cant pull you over for no seatbelt, BUT they will come up with some BS excuse to pull you over then ticket you. I had a prick claim i was swerving a few years ago so he could pull me over and ticket me for no seat belt. But he was fishing, he claimed a chip in the lower right hand side of my windsheild was ticketable, he claimed i was drinking, he jacked with me for like 20 minutes. Turned out the job i was late to because of him was his supervisor and that he was fresh on the street. Needless to say his supervisor got rescheduled.