Click it or Ticket

[younglink309]

I have never met a single person who thinks this is a fair law...

Why is it still in effect if most people agree that it is unfair?

seriously...

Is there no petition against it?

[Zx2 Frost]

While it seems unfair, 99% of the time it saves lives.

[jdrzx2]

I've never understood that law either, nor do I agree with it. If they are so concerned for our safety how come motorcycles aren't taken completely off the road. Why do they allow for cars that can do over 70mph. That argument could go on forever.

[younglink309]

My uncle died from lung cancer because his wife smoked...

smoking=illegal?

I have had my life threatened by a drunk person.

alcohol=illegal?

I dunno... it's not about safety, it's about the state generating revenue...

[Beodude123]

I wear my seatbelt every time I'm in the car, so it's not really an issue with me. Do I agree? I think I do. Having your seatbelt on is the law, so why wouldn't you get a ticket for disobeying it?

[CraZx2ing]

Why is it still in effect if most people agree that it is unfair?



I dunno... it's not about safety, it's about the state generating revenue...

DING DING DING! we have a winner!!!

[Zx2 Frost]

My uncle died from lung cancer because his wife smoked...

smoking=illegal?

Here you can not smoke anywhere except for outside, they have banned it in bars restaurants ect.
So yes its illegal here.


I have had my life threatened by a drunk person.

alcohol=illegal?


Its illegal if your not 21, which the government hopes your finally mature enough to handle it.

[younglink309]

I agree that it is a good idea, but I don't think it should be a law...

IN PA motorcyclists don't have to wear helmets... that's messed up...

[TTFOWIA]

... are you a bunch of fuckin retards or what?

seatbelts DO save lives... and if you don't wear it, you shouldnt even be allowed to drive. not cuz it's dangerous for others, but because if you are too fuckin retard to understand seatbelts do save lives and too retard to care enough for your own life, then you are probably wayyyy too retarded to care about other's lives...

[Zx2 Frost]

... are you a bunch of fuckin retards or what?

seatbelts DO save lives... and if you don't wear it, you shouldnt even be allowed to drive. not cuz it's dangerous for others, but because if you are too fuckin retard to understand seatbelts do save lives and too retard to care enough for your own life, then you are probably wayyyy too retarded to care about other's lives...


QFT

[jdrzx2]

That's a double standard. I agree that seatbelts save lives, but I don't think they should make a big deal about it, especially in states where you don't have to wear a helmet on a motorcycle.

Like I said before, if the government was so concerned about safety they'd take everything without a seatbelt off the road and make it to where cars physically weren't able to go above the speed limits.

It's all about money and I don't think there is any doubt about it.

[younglink309]

should skateboarding without elbow/knee pads and a helmet yield a $150 fine then?

Plenty of dangerous activities are perfectly legal....

>_>

[TTFOWIA]

if you read my post closely, cars are dangerous, you can kill ppl with them. if you are not responsible enough to care about your own life, you shouldn't be driving one.

In a motorcycle, you can't cause nearly as much danger on the roads, same with the skateboard (lawl)

[jdrzx2]

I could kill some one with a paper clip if I felt the need to, so what's your point?

[MrWeeyums]

I always wear mine, first thing i do after starting the car. Its just a natural action now. If people dont wanna wear them they shouldnt be forced to. Just look at it like thinning the herd. Same deal with airbags. Why do they have to be mandated in every new car now? Theyre trying to force the 35mpg average fuel economy, stop putting all this extra weight in the cars.
~Ryan

[JonsZX2SR]

I have never met a single person who thinks this is a fair law...

Why is it still in effect if most people agree that it is unfair?

seriously...

Is there no petition against it?

5% of the people think is unfair and claim 95% of the people think it is unfair (similar to Hillary Clinton claiming she was more electable and had the majority of the popular vote.

More likely 75% think is fair, 20% don't care and 5% who think it is unfair are a vocal minority.

I suggest replacing it with a different law. If you don't wear your seatbelt and are injured in an accident you can't collect damages even if the other driver were 100% at fault. You'd hear a lot of clicking, even if some were 2-3 sec. before impact.

[jdrzx2]

Now that's really not a bad idea there.

[younglink309]

I agree, that seem like a much more fair law.

I dunno...

[JonsZX2SR]

Actually it is a bad idea. I posted it sarcastically. Lawyers for injured, unbelted clients would have a field day trying to win settlements for their clients.

Well designed seatbelts are designed to keep people in place when a vehicle suffers a loss of control, not just from impact but sliding off the road, driving too fast, etc. If you keep the driver restrained and in place, they have a better chance of recovering control, than if they are trying to hang onto the steering wheel to stay in place.

The same is true if the passengers stay in place and are not being thrown into the driver.

A better but less comfortable system is a fixed lap and shoulder belt that holds the driver tightly in place. People who autocross sometimes replace the drivers belt with an approved harness for this reason.

How many people thought about the keeping the driver in place factor ?? I wouldn't want to be involved in an accident because the other guy lost control and couldn't recover because they were sliding out of the seat.

Regardless of what people think, seatbelts should be considered part of required, safe operating equipment for a motor vehicle.

[Grommish]

Regardless of what people think, seatbelts should be considered part of required, safe operating equipment for a motor vehicle.

Much like having to turn your headlights on at night, or the tickets given to people who smoke their tails so dark you can't see them..

[Thnikkaman]

it could very well be that the insurance lobby is responsible for the seatbelt law. It costs a whole lot more to put someone back together that has been ejected from a vehicle than someone safely belted in. not to mention the lawsuits that would arise if someone was ejected and killed. think of it this way, this law helps keep insurance rates down for everyone.

also, on another note, I fully support this law here in Canada. We have universal health care where the tax payer is responsible for medical bills. if someone hits a tree and is ejected from a vehicle, its my hard earned cash that fixes him or her up.

[TTFOWIA]

Actually it is a bad idea. I posted it sarcastically. Lawyers for injured, unbelted clients would have a field day trying to win settlements for their clients.

Well designed seatbelts are designed to keep people in place when a vehicle suffers a loss of control, not just from impact but sliding off the road, driving too fast, etc. If you keep the driver restrained and in place, they have a better chance of recovering control, than if they are trying to hang onto the steering wheel to stay in place.

The same is true if the passengers stay in place and are not being thrown into the driver.

A better but less comfortable system is a fixed lap and shoulder belt that holds the driver tightly in place. People who autocross sometimes replace the drivers belt with an approved harness for this reason.

How many people thought about the keeping the driver in place factor ?? I wouldn't want to be involved in an accident because the other guy lost control and couldn't recover because they were sliding out of the seat.

Regardless of what people think, seatbelts should be considered part of required, safe operating equipment for a motor vehicle.



amen.

[younglink309]

Seat belt= good idea
making it legally mandatory to wear a seat belt=bad idea

I agree that people should war a seat belt, but I don't think the government has any right to make us.



hmmm...

[STS-ZX2SR]

It's similar to helmet laws for motorcyclists; I think the gist of the laws are that in the event of an accidnt you are less likely to be injured and therefore less likely to drain on taxpayer funded services like scraping your brain and guts off of the pavement after the accicent.

That said, I do not particularly like the government telling me how to live any facet of my life...even though I wear a helmet and my seatbelt.

[J-Dizzle!]

Jon makes a good point regarding keeping people in place if they do happen to get in an accident.

Just so I understand the other side of the conversation... what is so hard about putting your seatbelt on? Why wouldn't you want to wear it?

If you're going to answer with "I'd still wear it but it shouldn't be mandated by the governemnt" or something then I don't really need to hear your response. I've heard it before. The only people that changing the law would affect are the people that wouldn't wear their seatbelt.

[TTFOWIA]

^^ x2.

+ you are a fuckin hippie.

[SoCalZX2]

People complain about a lot of stuff just to complain. Especially when it involves the Gov't. Now, I'm all about small Gov't, but there are some things they should mandate since people don't mandate it for themselves.

My self preservation keeps me buckled in, driving sanely and being considerate on the road... But I can still be killed by some jackass that's ejected from his car or loses control of his car and cant get it back.

So yeah, I'm all for "Click it or Ticket". Because it forces people to consider consequences outside their own, and penalizes them for being d-bags and endangering others lives.

[Buster]

If you want to be a moron and drive without one, WHEN you die in an accident, we the taxpayers will have to pay for the cleanup (through EMT services that are funded by taxes).

So it DOESN'T just hurt yourself when you're stupid.

[ZetecInside]

I cannot possibly fathom why someone could think driving without a seatbelt is anything short of idiotic. It's not inconvenient, it's not uncomfortable, and it saves lives. There is simply no excuse or reason for not wearing one. People who choose to drive without them are beyond retarded and deserve to die so that their substandard genes will be removed from the earth. So in principle, I would oppose seatbelt laws.

However, in practice it costs the rest of us money to send cops, fire trucks, and EMTs out to scrape these morons off the pavement. And the ones who survive are the kind of leeches that will sue everybody from the other driver to the cement company that laid the road's asphalt instead of blaming themselves like they should. So the most practical solution is seatbelt laws and fines. Actually, I think the fines for not wearing a seatbelt should be increased significantly.

In addition to Jon's (sarcastic) idea of legally barring non-belt wearers the right to sue, I'd support a law that made them financially responsible for any public costs associated with investigating and cleaning up their accident. I don't think these laws should be used in place of seatbelt laws, but rather in addition to them (to further punish those who don't buckle up in defiance of the law).

[random_hero]

Is anyone actually able to offer a decent argument why you shouldn't wear your seatbelt; other than "because I don't want to" ?

[Twiggy2cents]

seriously a seat belt isnt a big deal..the reason they dont lower the speed limit or prohibit alchohol and what ever else you guys argued is because people wouldnt let it happen....whereas you can protect your self when your late to work going 70(or the other guy doing 90 that hits you) and would you rather wear your seat belt when a drunk sideswipes you or not..its your choice...


basically its like doing oil changes and your arguing why should you change the oil when eventually the engine will blow up anyway

[JonsZX2SR]

Seriously, seat belts are part of safety equipment used when driving a car. When working in hazardous conditions, it's normal to wear helmets, eye or ear protection, gloves safety shoes, aprons, armor, respiratory equipment, safety harnesses to avoid falls, etc.

Seat belts are designed to keep someone in place while operating a vehicle and keep someone in place during abnormal conditions during an accident.

They are safety equipment, nothing less, nothing more. So are roll bars and reinforced roofs, safety glass and anti intrusion side reinforcement in doors. these shouldn't be politicized.

Helmets are safety equipment for motorcycles, and use of basic safety equipment should be part of regulations for operating amotor vehicle on public roads. Saying that one doesn't want to, or the gov't is too intrusive carries no logic. One could argue that driver's licenses are too restrictive as well.

About the only thing an argument against using seat belts proves is the person who is arguing doesn't know what they are talking about.

Use appropriate safety equipment in whatever you do. That includes seatbelts. It just makes basic sense.

[younglink309]

Meh, I'm just bitter, cuz I went a week without wearing a seat belt (due to a killer bruise on my left shoulder from paintballing) and now I'm out $150.

I think it's bullshit.

I could pull the "the cops have nothing better to do" argument, but it's really a mute point. I've always thought it was a stupid law, but wore it anyway, regardless of the fact that I'd rather die than be a vegetable.

meh...

[JonsZX2SR]

You are young, you think you are invulnerable and you think you know everything.

In time you won't be young anymore, you'll find out that you don't know everything and that you aren't invulnerable.

Hopefully you'll figure out the last item in a way where you are still alive and aren't a vegetable. Looking in the mirror after you have gone throgh a windshield (even with safety glass) is not a pretty sight.

It's not BS. Consider the $150 tuition in the school of life. The quicker you get smart, the less tuition you'll have to pay. (The same can be said for penalties regarding speeding, running red lights, street raciong, lane changing without looking, DUI, etc.)

[droptoutzx2]

what if someone hits you and you die cause you werent wearing a seat belt and they get charged for manslaughter? is that fair for that person to have to live with that? wear a seat belt and stop tryin to be the rebel/ cool kid

[younglink309]

oh, believe me, i'm not the "rebel" type, and I'm far from cool. It just pisses me off...

this is the 2nd ticket i've gotten in the last year. The 1st one was bullshit for speeding in a school zone that wasn't active (in all fairness I should have been more careful, but the zone wasn't active for 5 minutes after he clocked me at 30.) I had no way of proving the time, since he put down the wrong time on the ticket (again, in all fairness, his watch may have had the time on the ticket, but my satellite updated cell said it wasn't time yet).

Yet, when I worked at a bowling alley, a cop worked security after 11 on weekends. When i worked these hours i was often harassed by drunk people, and it wasn't common to be threatened with violence, and the cop did nothing, even when I told him about it.


Meh... too bad punk music is crap, I think i may be able to relate to it...

[jdrzx2]

I think you guys are taking this way wrong. Nobody that is arguing against this has said they don't wear seat belts. We just think it's stupid that we have to be forced to do it. Stop letting this crap go in one ear and out the other with what you want to hear sticking in the middle.

[krux]

I don't like being forced to do anything. I am going with the guys thinking it shouldn't be a law.

[nike13857]

Ok. I'm gonna add my point here. I work for the Florida Department of Transportation, and we take on a strong roll when it comes to "Click It Or Ticket".

If you're alone, then go ahead, don't wear your seatbelt. You get in a wreck, you'll be the one ejected from your car, and usually will die.

The main argument for the law, is this.....

I've seen first hand the effects of not wearing a seatbelt. I arrived on a crash, moments after it happened. A car, with 4 teenagers were speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. The driver was NOT wearing a seatbelt, all other occupants WERE wearing theirs. As the teen was weaving in and out of traffic, he hit the curb, at a high rate of speed, causing the car to flip multiple times. ALL 4 kids died in the crash. The cause of death? Head Trauma. What happened, is the kid that wasn't buckled up, became a large pinball. He wasn't restrained to the seat. The car flipped, and the kid ended up hitting the other 3 kids. Basically, crushing their skulls, with his own. There were teeth lodged in the one kid's head, another's was bashed in, and the last one's head went through the door window, due to the unbelted kid flying into him. There's a recreation video made, similar to the wreck.

If he was wearing his seatbelt, like the other 3 kids, they probably all would've lived.

Maybe you'll think about that next time you're riding in the car with someone not wearing their seatbelt.

Don't think that because they're not wearing their seat belt, that it's their decision, and they'll be the one that gets killed. Chances are, they'll end up taking your life too. Even if you're buckled up.

I, for one, Always buckle up. If anyone rides with me, I will not drive off, until everyone's bucked up, cause it's my life on the line.

The law is set up to save more lifes than just the one person, not wearing their seat belt.

[powder]

seatbelts DO save lives... and if you don't wear it, you shouldnt even be allowed to drive. not cuz it's dangerous for others, but because if you don't understand seatbelts do save lives and don't care enough for your own life, then you probably wouldn't care about other's lives...

That would have sufficed. What's w/ all the name calling? Take it easy man.

[JonsZX2SR]

People are making this argument much too complicated. No one says you have to wear a seatbelt. You can decide to drive around without a seatbelt in your back yard and no one will care.

In various work or recreation situations safety equipment is required, usually by regulation. Companies and supervisors can be fined and workers fired for failing to follow regulations. These include safety harnesses for steelworkers and elevator mechanics, eye and face protection in various manufacturing jobs, etc. Regulations include having people use proper restraints in carnival rides. People may not want to follow regulations, but they are there for a reason.

The same is true for operating motor vehicles on public roads, where many regulations apply. Some involve flow of traffic to provide reasonable safety, stop sign and traffic lights, driving on the correct side of the road, speed limits, turn signals etc.

Others involve safety equipment, having tires, suspension and brakes in good working condition, marker and brakes lights, etc. Others involve keeping passengers in the vehicle, good working doors, seats that stay in place and SEATBELTS that keep passengers in position. The point by Nike about an unrestrained passenger causing havoc to themself or others during a crash is valid

If you want to drive on public roads, you need to follow regulations that apply, otherwise there are penalties. What a cop did or did not do in another situation has no bearing. Poor behavior by the police in one situation does not justify poor judgement by you in another.

If you don't want to wear seat belts while driving there are a few options: a) stay off public roads b) pay fines if caught c) gather enough support to have the law changed or d) present a logical and well prepared argument that persuades the judge to drop the $150 fine.

Arguing and complaining in this forum isn't going to get you much sympathy and it certainly isn't going to get the fine reduced or dropped. Unless you have a better strategy for avoiding future fines, I suggest you plan on wearing your seatbelt while driving on public roads.

[Larka]

I'm a fan of weeding out the gene pool by letting people get away with not wearing their seatbelt- but then there's the side effect of them injuring others because of it and stuff like that.

I wear my seatbelt all the time, and force everyone in my car to put theirs on as well. Why? Cause I was in an accident 7 years ago where the car rolled 6 times down an embankment. The main reason I lived was cause I was buckled in. Another good reason that I wish EVERYONE who is for NOT wearing your seatbelt could have seen- I was driving home down the interstate one night, watched a guy in a Jeep Cherokee take an off ramp too fast. The Jeep rolled, the guy came out the driver window, and the Jeep rolled again and landed on top of him. Then the Jeep slid several feet down the off ramp trailing a chunky red smear. That would have been a great "Click It or Ticket" commercial.

[aaronrun]

...it's about the state generating revenue...

This is a wise man

P.S. I always wear my belt

[nike13857]

This is a wise man

P.S. I always wear my belt

The state doesn't make much off it, at least not in Florida. It's only a $60 ticket here, I think. Plus, if Florida, they can't pull you over for just the seatbelt violation. They have to have something else wrong that you're doing. Which, if you're going 1 mph over the speed limit, they can pull you over. Most cops here, will give a warning for your first seat belt offense, unless it's during the "click it or ticket campaign" then there's no lee-way.

[younglink309]

it's $148 in TX, and they CAN pull you over for a seat belt here...

[Larka]

it's $148 in TX, and they CAN pull you over for a seat belt here...


And there are giant freaking billboards all over the whole freaking state. The big electronic signs down 35 have the message on them. Most of the police stations have big banners on them. There's commercials all over TV about it. And if you have MySpace and you're in Texas- look at the top on the home page where the ad is- most of the time now it says "Buckle Up Texas." You were warned in a million different ways that they can and WILL ticket you- up to $150- for not having your seat belt. So why cry about it? You KNEW that you could get in trouble for it, yet still CHOSE to do it! You had a big bruise on your arm- that's awesome. I've worn my seatbelt with it rubbing on my broken shoulder. I've worn my seatbelt with it rubbing on massive cuts. I wear my seatbelt everyday despite the fact that it digs into my neck because I'm barely 5 foot tall and seatbelts weren't designed for people that small. I'm sorry if I seem like I'm being harsh- but seriously dude. This reminds me of the posts where people go "I was speeding" or "I was street racing" and then they're like "OMG, the cops are so evil, this isn't fair! How do I get out of my ticket?! The government is just after my money man!"


And for future reference- in Texas- not only will you get pulled over if you're driving and don't have your seatbelt on- but if the other people in your car don't have their seatbelts on, you will be pulled over and THEY will be ticketed too. So wear your seatbelt and make the people in your car buckle up too.

[Buster]

Meh, I'm just bitter, cuz I went a week without wearing a seat belt (due to a killer bruise on my left shoulder from paintballing) and now I'm out $150.

I think it's bullshit.

I could pull the "the cops have nothing better to do" argument, but it's really a mute point. I've always thought it was a stupid law, but wore it anyway, regardless of the fact that I'd rather die than be a vegetable.

meh...


Mute point. HA.


What do you think would hurt worse, having a fabric strap on a sore shoulder or going through a windshield.

I was hit head-on by a moron on the wrong side of the road in an Eclipse. The seatbelt saved me. I fact, that Jetta had a safety feature where you could not start the car without the driver's shoulder belt latched. It saved me and taught me how important they are.

Just be a man and put the seat belt on. Oh, your shoulder hurts? Use an icepack or pad the seatbelt with a dish towel. Better than sending your family to your funeral if someone else does something idiotic on the road. It doesn't matter how good of a driver you think you are...it's everyone else you need to worry about even if you're the best driver on Earth.

[TTFOWIA]

Mute point. HA.


What do you think would hurt worse, having a fabric strap on a sore shoulder or going through a windshield.

I was hit head-on by a moron on the wrong side of the road in an Eclipse. The seatbelt saved me. I fact, that Jetta had a safety feature where you could not start the car without the driver's shoulder belt latched. It saved me and taught me how important they are.

Just be a man and put the seat belt on. Oh, your shoulder hurts? Use an icepack or pad the seatbelt with a dish towel. Better than sending your family to your funeral if someone else does something idiotic on the road. It doesn't matter how good of a driver you think you are...it's everyone else you need to worry about even if you're the best driver on Earth.

I think it's the first intelligent thing I hear from u loll

[decay]

You crash and die in a ZX2 without your sealbelt on, all of our insurance rates go up. Wear it; nuff said.

[younglink309]

You crash and die in a ZX2 without your sealbelt on, all of our insurance rates go up. Wear it; nuff said.

Fair enough.

The insurance on our cars is pretty good right now, imo.

[nike13857]

If you're dead, how does your insurance go up?

[younglink309]

well, I asked one of the agents in my office (I work in an insurance agency), and he said that you rates SHOULD NOT be affected by any accidents outside your county.

[SoCalZX2]

well, I asked one of the agents in my office (I work in an insurance agency), and he said that you rates SHOULD NOT be affected by any accidents outside your county.

I'd be impressed by that... considering it's at the disposal of the states DMV as far as I know. Hence why I had a ticket on my record from WA when I live in CA.

From what I understand, the states aren't required to communicate with each other regarding traffic violations. But they have the option. So if they do, and it goes on your record and your insurance happens to look at your record I wouldn't count on them not raising your rates.

[jdrzx2]

If you're dead, how does your insurance go up?

Oh yes, why wouldn't they. Insurance companies gotta make money somehow.

[jess]

Wow, I think it is completely silly to argue this.

Is the argument basically 'if I want to be unsafe and risk my life that's my decision'? Because if so, that is completely ridiculous.

Has anyone mentioned that when a person dies, RARELY does it JUST affect them!! Think about your family, or your friends. It's a damn shame burying someone for something that could have so easily been avoided....especially young people.

[decay]

You're insurance rates are based on the number of claims put in for a specific vehicle and the value of said claims. It does not relate directly to the population of those vehicles on the road but rather how much money is put out on the bottom line. What this means is, if you die in a ZX2, it will cost the insurance some money, therefore increasing our rates based on the bottom line. It's also why I can insure a 1999 M3 at a cheaper rate than my freaking ZX2. Apparently, since there are so few M3's on the road, they don't put out as many claims which reduces the overall insurance premium rates.

[1981gMachine]

I wear mine 95% of the time in my DD, short trips I usually don't. 100% of the time in the Camaro. Guess when I drive that I plan for the worse, lol. Funny thou, I only have lap belts in that car. So a cop would think I don't have a belt on. Never been stopped or asked about it. Even been stopped at a few check points and they all over looked it.

Most of the time, when people defend not wearing belts they only have a few excuses. Choice, death from belts, drowning, and the pure luck of being thrown from the vehicle and living.

Personally I don't care if people don't wear them. In my cars you have to. The odds of an accident where an occupant hitting the windshield is, imo, greater then a roller over where being thrown, could be good.

Same with the no helmet law. You chose to splatter your brains over the road. When I eventually get a bike I'll have a helmet. Rather have road rash and broken bones, then mush for a brain.

[ilarson007]

Well I gotta say this: it's plain stupid to not wear your seatbelt. I always wear mine, unless I'm only in the driveway, lol. I'm lucky enough to have parents that cared enough to impress upon us how important seat belts are. Even when I'm with someone who isn't wearing theirs, I still do. It's common sense. Of course this is America, land of the lack of common sense. Ha - I have to wear seatbelts when I'm riding with most of my friends. Freaking crazy in cars, lol. EDIT: We let probably the craziest kid drive a Firebird Formula (LT1) (and he owns a ZX3... so it's a bit of a big difference), and I rode with him, but I joked "now this time I want the five point racing harnesses."

[JC'szx2]

i think wearing a seat belt is good, but for those who dont wanna wear them F*** em let em fly through the windshield and paint the road with there face. those people know whats gonna happen and who are we to stop the thinning of the herd? and for helmets my father rides his bike everywhere not wearing one and "say's f***it i dont wanna spend the rest of my life a in a hospital bed"

[1981gMachine]

and for helmets my father rides his bike everywhere not wearing one and "say's f***it i dont wanna spend the rest of my life a in a hospital bed"

that's all well and fine. But what if a small accident happens and he ends up with brain damage instead of a few days in the hospital? Knock on wood, not wishing anything, just an example. But a car is different. A biker has no shelter but the helmet he wears.

[Mike]

I just feel naked without my seat belt on, I guess cause i've rode so long with it on. When i'm in a car, it just feels like its something that has to be done, in order for the car to actually work..lol

I choose to click it. :cool:

[Exodia]

should skateboarding without elbow/knee pads and a helmet yield a $150 fine then?

Plenty of dangerous activities are perfectly legal....

>_>

No, but you can get a bigger ticket than that on a skateboard if you catch the right dick cop. A buddy of mine got a ticket for slow speed, and toy vehicle, for skateboarding down the road. The total on the tickets was around $180. He refused to pay, and they suspended his drivers license cause it was a traffic ticket. Cops can be dicks about anything, but personally I don't think you should be ticketed for not having your belt on. Nor do I think you should be ticketed for a loud exhaust if the guy driving by on a Harley doesn't get a ticket.

[random_hero]

The only thing that makes me doubt the seatbelt law is motorcycles. Way more dangerous than driving in a car. Maye we could have a law where you dont have to wear your seatbelt.....just a helmet lol

[Mike]

Or both, hell throw some elbow and knee pads in there too.

The law is there for a reason, sure seat belts have been knowns to cause some fatal inguries, but i'm sure they save more than kill.

[MellowedZX2]

You know my dad hates wearing his seatbelt because when he was younger on I40 he flipped his Camaro, and was unable to get out. I understand his fear heck the car could have exploded, and it isn't uncommon for one to be stuck in a car.
I don't have stats, but I am sure it is far more common for one to loose their life from not wearing the belt as opposed to being stuck in the vehicle.
People should not take this law so personal, it isn't just about you, it is about every one who gets behind the wheel. It is somthing that takes very little energy and the Pro's outweigh the Con's by leaps and bounds. I would venture that level of responisbility would go hand in hand with a case like this. It also seems to take more effort to complain and cry about it then just put your seat belt on. Its also seems to be a mountain out of a mole hill issue.
Just my $.2

Joel

[J_Mob]

I never worried about wearing a seatbelt when I used to drive a 1964 Plymouth. Ever since the Saturn SC1 and now the ZX2-I wear the seatbelt and hope a. the seat doesn't break off and go with me out the windshield, and b. the car doesn't collapse in on me and crush me to death. It may just be a security blanket, but all the plastic makes me nervous.

I do not think the law should mandate whether you wear them or not....it is totally about generating revenue. Your seatbelt isn't going to affect anyone but you. Period. You are not going to run over people because your seat belts not on. Your just going to die when you hit the divider on the highway while speeding.

[Gregersonke]

I wear my seatbelt, simply because I can't drive without it. Seriously, a three block trip has my body flying out of the seat. I just need to make a corner and I go flying.

[Jesusfrk611]

um...what is so hard about moving your arm a couple feet to buckle in a seatbelt? Seems like a really stupid thing to complain about... I just buckle in automatically when I get in any car. It bugs me not to be buckled in when driving or riding in a car that is driving on the road. IMO, this should be a pretty easy law to follow. My aunt crashed her Expedition once and my cousins were in the back unbuckled, one of them got a big cut on the forehead by flying into something... That's really not all that bad for what could have happened if they were going faster, but it still could have been avoided.

[BossStrifeGixxer]

I wear my seatbelt, simply because I can't drive without it. Seriously, a three block trip has my body flying out of the seat. I just need to make a corner and I go flying.


+1

[jombee]

um...what is so hard about moving your arm a couple feet to buckle in a seatbelt? Seems like a really stupid thing to complain about... I just buckle in automatically when I get in any car. It bugs me not to be buckled in when driving or riding in a car that is driving on the road. IMO, this should be a pretty easy law to follow. My aunt crashed her Expedition once and my cousins were in the back unbuckled, one of them got a big cut on the forehead by flying into something... That's really not all that bad for what could have happened if they were going faster, but it still could have been avoided.

It's not the act of putting the seatbelt on, it's nothing like that.
It is the fact that the government is taking one more decision away from adults who are better qualified to make that decision.
Now I know we're all a bunch of sue happy idiots, but this is a personal decision that has been taken out of our hands.

For the record, I do wear my seatbelt on a regular basis.

[SoCalZX2]

Of all the things to complain about government control, you choose this? This one IMHO is a stretch to complain about government control.

You might as well complain about the BAC limit for DUI then... I mean, thats just as ludicrous to complain about.

This is a SAFETY issue for more than just the person not wearing the seatbelt.... In an accident you (if you have passengers) if not wearing a seatbelt become a high powered moving object... if you have no passengers, you can still become a projectile that is thrown from the vehicle.

[jombee]

Of all the things to complain about government control, you choose this? This one IMHO is a stretch to complain about government control.

This is not the only thing I complain about. This just happened to be the topic of discussion.

Our rights are being stripped away one by one. It doesn't matter what the right or decision they take, the problem is the fact that they are taking those decisions away.

[SoCalZX2]

I agree that our rights are being stripped away a little at a time.... but what about the rights of the others in your car or on the road that may be injured or killed because you didn't wear a seatbelt?

Some choices aren't better left for the general population to make.

This IMHO is a non issue, but the overall issue of Gov't becoming to big and powerful is a true fear of mine (which is or is becoming a reality daily)

[jombee]

I agree that our rights are being stripped away a little at a time.... but what about the rights of the others in your car or on the road that may be injured or killed because you didn't wear a seatbelt?


Interesting point.
Assuming that the crash is bad enough to send a person flying through the air. I could see where that would be a safety risk. But then why are motorcyclists not required to be strapped in?

Have there been any studies of people who were injured or killed because a driver/passenger wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
It's certainly possible, but how probable?

[mechtech]

Seatbelt laws are mostly for money making for the local Gov'ts.
That is the real bottom line.
A handful of people forced this on the public.

[Chuck Norris]

Car accidents don't kill people....Chuck Norris kills people.