Posted on 01/28/2006 6:27:57 AM PST by WKB
Carol Johns of Pascagoula says she doesn't need a state law to make her wear a seat belt. But, she acknowledges a law might have helped persuade her to buckle up years ago when she was a teenager learning to drive.
"Whether we realize it or not, young people have a lot of respect for what the law says,'' said Johns, who's 55 and says she has only been wearing a seat belt regularly for three years.
Mississippi could be on the verge of strengthening its seat belt law from a secondary offense to a primary one, meaning a law enforcement officer could pull over a vehicle simply if he thinks the driver or a front-seat passenger is not wearing a seat belt.
The Senate on Friday passed the final version of a primary-offense seat belt bill with a maximum fine of $25 per vehicle.
Under current state law, an officer can issue a ticket for failure to wear a seat belt - but the officer must have another reason, such as speeding or a missing tail light, to pull over the vehicle.
If Gov. Haley Barbour signs the bill, it would become law on May 27, the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend.
Barbour spokesman Pete Smith said "the governor generally supports the issue'' but wants to study the bill before saying whether he'll sign it.
Primary-offense seat belt bills have been proposed for years in Mississippi and have failed amid arguments about individual rights. This year, apparently, it was crunch time: Many lawmakers say they voted for the bill because Mississippi could get about $8 million in federal highway safety money if the state has a primary-offense seat belt law.
"I voted for it, but I think it's too much government,'' said Sen. Terry Brown, R-Columbus. "I hate to give up that federal highway money.''
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, D-Brookhaven, has voted for primary-offense bills for years.
"My husband says I don't even go to the mailbox without seat belts,'' said Hyde-Smith, a cattle farmer whose mailbox is a quarter mile from her home.
The bill passed the Senate with only four opposing votes. It cleared the House on Jan. 12, with some members arguing that a primary-offense law could be abused by law officers with a grudge.
Mississippi NAACP president Derrick Johnson said he still has those concerns.
"Our fear in making seat belts a primary offense is that it will give some bad apples an opportunity to further harass African-American drivers,'' Johnson said Friday.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta released a study in December showing that Mississippi in 2005 had the lowest seat belt usage rate of any state, at 60.8 percent. Hawaii had the highest rate, at 95.3 percent. The study was conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A federal law enacted last August made $498 million available to states over the next four years. To qualify for part of the money, a state has to either enact a primary-offense seat belt law or have at least an 85 percent seat belt usage rate, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The bill is House Bill 409.
Ah, the rub is to find a LEO that thinks.
Have you'll heard the Texas PSA that says you can now be arrested (taken to jail) if the LEO suspects DWI?
I thinks this is the message.
I agree, and know very well the hardships endured by MS folks - especially in Goula and Gautier. But, like I said, no one is forcing them to take the money. This is the other Golden Rule at work. Those with the gold make the rules. I also happen to think that seat belt laws are not only logical, but in check with rational and proper lawmaking.
And this is how it should be.
Hmmmmm, who to thank, who to thank......:)
In all seriousness, Jews go hunting??? I mean with all the "kosher laws" I wouldn't think there's much game a Jew could eat. Unless of course a Rabbi is standing by to do the field dressing.
To me this sounds like the typical phony baloney 'tie up the court' law suit.
What makes you think cars will have ashtrays much longer?
Heard it, they mean it, and it's now almost universal in all the states.
BTW, "DWI" means anything LEO wants it to be.
If you attract the attention of LEO for anything while on the road these days, be prepared for a major hassle.
"How in the world do they ever expect Mississippi
and America to get past the race issue with idiotic
statements like this coming from black leadership."
You are SO right.
Very well said...
This has nothing to do with highway safety, and everything to do with sucking up more federal money.
"I have principals, but I never let them get in the way of money-grubbing!"
I know. However, have you noticed that they run in packs these days? Hardly ever just one.
Another relatively new thing that just galls me is that they position their cruisers partially out in the traffic lane on a stop.
Why is that?
bb, I'm Giddy to Dole out an answer!
The black angle went right over my head.
Watching the news tonight, I thought "right from the motor vehicle laws of CA."
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