A little off topic but a true story none the less....

I was driving through Roanoke Va in an old Plymouth I had many years ago. I was stopped at a red light when a Policeman pulled up in the lane next to me. He rolled down the window and asked if I was wearing my seat belt. This was about a month after they passed the law to make it mandatory around 1988 or so.

This old car had lap belts it did not have a shoulder belt, so I knew he could not tell if I had the belt on or not. I smiled and said "Yes I am wearing me seat belt".......The Police Officer smiled and said, " You are a DANG LIAR! It is hanging out your door!"

 

First fatal I went to, 1st frost of the year and a 16 y.o. left the pavement on the right shoulder, over corrected and shot off the road on the left shoulder. The car caught a culvert and flipped one time. It came to rest on it's wheels, facing the other direction. Roof had a slight crinkle and a touch of sod at one corner post. The driver was under the car, on his back, with feet sticking out from shins down. If he had his belt on, he would have gone home spitting and sputtering over a 2 point ticket. A 40 y.o. adult may not require a reminder, but most of the 16-18 y.o. drivers just might.

 

Law just went into effect here.
Used to be they could only cite you for not wearing the seatbelt if they pulled you over for another offense.
Now they can pull over for not wearing the seatbelt.

Freeway signs all say "Seatbelt Law Enforcement in Progress", or something like that.

I've seen over 10 people pulled over on my 20 mile drive to and from work every day since Wednesday.

Saw 2 people getting pulled over or getting a stern talking to just between my house and the freeway tonight.

I wasn't wearing mine though.
My scooter doesn't have seatbelts.


phox

 

phox, what kinda scooter you riding?

you seem like one them tweed jacket & pipe guys,
not the leather & bandana kind

or are you on a BMW with your pipe & your coffee in a cup holder?

 

This one:



Got the leathers, but no bandana.


phox

 

sweet. looks comfy.

i just can't believe the Gov't spent 26mil on TV ads to make folks buckkle up, and i can't afford a turbo kit for my bike ....

 

I don't object to a "modest " amount of tax dollars being used to do these saftey studies. I don't object to a "modest" amount being used to circulate the findings of these studies (altho it seems spreading the word could be a public announcment venue donated by radio -newspapers and tv media.)
I do object to paying for the enforcement of what these studies bear out as "usefull". Advise and be done with it.

HOME OF THE FREE

 

It really bothers me though when the goverment starts trying to protect people from themselves! I really hate them using my tax dollars to do it! I wear my seatbelt and I think you would have to be stupid not to but $26 mil. I also think not wearing a seatbelt and not wearing a helmet are 2 completely different things. At 70 mph how much is that helmet going to help? In town and traffic might protect you but at 70 doubtful and if it did I'm not sure I would want the help.

 

at 70 mph, a helmet will protect you from bugs....

 

*** Thread Hijack Alert***

In a collision at anything over ~40 MPH the only thing the helmet is good for is making it easier for the next of kin to ID the remains.

 

To protect your self should be your option.
Helmets can cause obstructed hearing and sight. They can save your life too.
Seat belt laws are mostly for revenue collecting. Wear it or pay a tax.

I am a good example for using a seat belt.
35 years ago I didn't have it on and crashed. I still have moderate pain and need more surgery. It should still be my choice to wear it.
Here in our little town, there are state troopers hiding on side streets waiting to write seat belt tickets. All in a 25 mph speed zone. Give me a break!!!!!!

$60,000 car with an expensively trained officer doing such a thing. All while the meth dealer drives by with a smile. All while the crooked politicion blindly takes our tax dollars for his family.

 

Laws mandating seatbelts are ridiculus. Let the insurance companies regulate it. if you wreck without your belt on you pay higher insurance for the rest of your life same as the helmet laws. We don't need the constant supply of laws being passed daily. It's just getting us closer and closer to a completely socialist form of government and we are well on are way as it is.

 

It's funny how some motorists who don't wish to use a seatbelt, and some motorcyclists who don't wish to wear a helmet, will nonetheless come out against re-legalizing drugs and prostitution. All are victimless crimes.

Just my $.02 worth.

Edwin

 

OK how about a law that if you are injured or killed while not restrained or on a bike wearing a helmet the insurance Co should be able to refuse the claim?

We the people shouldnt have to pay for other peoples stupidity.

 

If you're refering to me,.......I wear a helmet.
A rider chosing not to wear one however, is STILL in control of his mind and body(unlike a drug user), or at least until it gets splattered over a 1/4 mile of pavement by a car not paying attention........