Does your state have seatbelt laws, in which drivers (and maybe passengers) are required to wear seatbelts?
What is your opinion of mandatory seatbelt use?
I only ask because...
I wasn't wearing my seatbelt as I left the parking lot at school this morning and Mr. Bluelights pulled me over. This does not thrill me. Yes, I understand the benefits of wearing seatbelts, I understand that seatbelts save lives, I understand that the law is in place allegedly to protect people from serious injury or death, or something like it. It also violates my personal freedom.
For the record, I wear my seatbelt most of the time, but occasionally I don't. Sorta depends on my level of I-don't-give-a-fuck-edness.
So, what say you?
P.S. It's a $25 fine.
17 comments:
I have gotten the same ticket...it sucks...
I believe it is mandatory in all states. I think the law is tied into Federal tax dollars... as in, a state may not receive certain funds unless this law is enforced.
I hope it's not too expensive.
In Australia it's mandatory and most people would think it's foolish not to wear a seatbelt - they wouldn't even think of it terms of 'personal freedom'. That's a very American take on it.
I think it should be up to the driver, not the state, for everyone above 18. Kiddlets should always be buckled in, and I agree with laws requiring child restraints/ restraint systems, to a degree. I personally won't start driving until all my passengers are buckled, and use a seatbelt myself every time. However, the enforcement of seat belts by the government on the adults who are smart enough to know how to use them and what may happen if they don't is stupid and intrusive.
Enh. (One more thing to consider when I found my own country.)
(confirmation word: "nockin" )
I don't know the rest of my country, but here in my province, Alberta, it's the law and became so in 1987, I think. I like the law. I think it makes sense. I had to laugh at Scottsabode because that's EXACTLY what I thought too about the whole personal freedom thing! LOL!
Mandatory here. I always do. Always.
Mandatory here. And, the stupid car ding-ding-dings incessently until I put it one. A real pain in the ass. HAve to wear it or go crazy form the ding-ding-dings.
Yep, we have them in NC. I wear mine. The only time I didn't, I had an unplanned accident, and almost went thru the windshield. Now I make sure I do.
Yup. Have to wear it. I also will not move the car until anyone in the front seat is buckled in. For some reason I don't worry to much about that backseat.
I always wear my seatbelt.
I work in Medicine, and I have seen lots of trauma, mostly by people without helmets and seatbelts. They have the "I can do as I please and I will take responsibility for my actions" approach. Fine, but their medical bills are seldom 'their own' - they are paid for by others. So I am OK with mandatory safety rules as it saves money for people who should not have to pay for another's decisions.
only $25? up here it's at least $125 and higher for when kids aren't in safety seats/booster seats.
i have no objection to it being law. then again, i also live with socialized medicine where my tax $$ pay for those people who are injured because they aren't wearing their seat belts. i think of it as a sort of sin tax, like the taxes on booze and smokes.
that said, having gone face first into the dash board on two occasions in my life, i always wear my seat belt, law or no law.
It’s mandatory in Colorado too. I always wear my seatbelt. If I forget my car sounds a polite alarm to remind me to buckle up. I’ve been in two car accidents that resulted in a totaled car. I think the seat bet saved me from injury in both cases.
We have some sort of seatbelt law in Virginia. Fastening my seatbelt is just an automatic thing for me, so I don't give it much thought. I'd feel nekkid behind the wheel without my big ol' seatbelt.
Massachusetts does and, no offense, but I think it's just common sense to always wear one, what with the idiots on the road nowadays...
Mandatory in CA. I think it is absolutely your right not to wear a seatbelt until you come flying out the front windshield and collide with something else's right not to be collided with.
How does that sound?
I have to say death by windshield is a bigger violation of personal freedom. Stop dumping tea in the harbor on this one and buckle up!
Indigo Incarnates
Oddly enough, most of the handgun cases we get at Pretrial start off as seatbelt tickets. See, the cop will pull someone over for a seatbelt, but then notice "Is that a machine gun on the back seat, or are you just happy to see me?" Ha ha ha ha ha!
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