Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 08/06/2006 10:57:44 PM PDT by AVNevis
The California State Legislature returns from its summer recess tomorrow to wrap up the legislative year, and no one is safe. Children, drivers, teens, parents, business owners, activists, workers, teachers, and of course taxpayers are all in danger of having their quality of life drastically reduced.
But there are a couple of bills that strike me as truly the Government sticking its nose into our private affairs: aka, Nanny State Laws.
The first, AB 2108 by Assembly member Evans, would require kids to stay in booster seats until age 8 and prohibit them from riding in the front seat under the age of 13.
Now, I don’t know how often most people interact with eight year olds, but I do. My brother is 9. I can tell you that an eight year old is going to be pretty big for a booster seat, not to mention the emotional trauma of being relegated to that cramped seat when you are in third grade. It would not be fun for the kid, and not that much safer as long as they wear a seat belt.
The second part makes a bit more sense, but still is unnecessary. The obvious intent is to keep children away from air bags in the front seat. But this ignores the fact that air bags can be turned off in many cars.
The bottom line is that parents, not the state, should be the ones to decide when they feel it is safe to change their kids’ seating arrangement in the car.
The next bill mainly impacts adults. SB 1613 by Senator Simitian would ban handheld cell phone use by drivers.
I agree that you should not use a cell phone while speeding down the freeway. But there are some times when it would be valid to use a cell phone on the road. Say, for example, if you are stuck in traffic and want to let your family know you will be late. You would be in little danger of causing an accident because you aren’t moving, but you would still be guilty of a crime.
It also fails to address other forms of distracted driving that are much more imparing. Eating, applying makeup, looking at a map, etc, are all much more dangerous than talking on the phone. Yet they would still be legal.
If we are going to crack down on distracted drivers, we need to crack down on all of them, and provide exceptions for when the actions might be necessary.
All and all, the California state legislature obviously has a problem with citizens running their own lives and families. Let’s hope Governor Schwarzenegger reigns them in.
would require kids to stay in booster seats until age 8 and prohibit them from riding in the front seat under the age of 13.
"Gooooood morning NannyLand!"
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Does this mean that all school buses will now have booster seats installed? How will the bus driver enforce the law when the 10 year olds are teasing the 8 year olds who have to sit in booster seats? I wonder if this dingleberry though his stupid law through. Of course we know the answer. Will they have to wear seat belts?
The chamber could be equipped with a dispenser stocked with state-approved food which would only be activated after a required one-hour workout on a state-approved treadmill.
Indoctrination tapes would play 24 hours a day of course, and after 21 years, the perfect Nanny State citizen would emerge from the cocoon.
This appears to have already happened in some areas.
That statement is true of many trucks, but not many cars that I know of. My Escape has a switch in the seat that locks out the passenger airbag if there is less than 70 pounds in it, but no button or key to do so like in my F-150.
Anyway, here you have typical government: Nanny state mandates airbags in cars. Airbags cannot be turned off. Airbags are too powerful and kill or maim little people. The government solution? Little people can't ride shotgun anymore.
If liberals were to be believed, the world used to be such a dangerous place that everyone must have died off ages ago.
Thanks for the ping!
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