Posted on 05/21/2002 7:10:58 PM PDT by Mulder
Police in Georgia -- and throughout the U.S. -- are gearing up for a national crackdown on unsafe drivers this Memorial Day weekend.
Patrols will be on the lookout for drunk drivers, speeders, children not riding in safety seats and passengers not wearing seatbelts.
The campaign is in full swing throughout this week, with the weekend marking the unofficial start of the holiday season. Police officers will be patrolling in cars, on horseback and on foot.
Georgia Law enforcement will also be taking part in the Click It or Ticket program that targets both non- and part-time users of seat belts and child safety restraints.
During last year's Memorial Day weekend, Click It of Ticket showed a 10 percent increase of overall seatbelt usage in Georgia.
Highway Safety Director Yvonne McBride said, "People are seeing checkpoints wherever they go. So, during that two-week period, we're getting people in the habit of buckling up because they're scared that they're going to receive a ticket if they don't."
According to federal figures, thousands of drivers aged 16 to 19 years old die in traffic accidents each year. They more than double the rate of older drivers.
More than 37,000 fatal crashes happened in 2001, according to the National Transportation Safety Highway Association. The accidents claimed 41,730 lives.
A total of 16,652 died in alcohol-related accidents, accounting for almost 40 percent of all fatal accidents in 2001.
However, officers said they aren't picky about who they pull over. Anyone breaking the law can expect to be given a ticket.
"This gentleman was speeding and he was not wearing his seatbelt. A double whammy," said one police officer, "Some people just never learn, but we'll teach them the hard way."
Hundreds of Al-Queda operatives in the US are still at large, and law enforcement is going after folks who speed or don't buckle their seatbelts.
May I point out an obvious truth?
Al Quada doesn't pay fines.
"May I point out an obvious truth?
Al Quada doesn't pay fines."
BINGO! Law enforcement has simply become an extension of the local/federal tax machine. They look for "revenue crooks," (i.e., you and me with a tiny amount money left after taxes) instead of the truly dangerous, (to them, not us, if we were allowed to defend ourselves) so that we have to complain they're NOT catching the real crooks, and government can justify incresing the "police" budget while they spend the extra dollars on midnight basketball.
If they let you out to play you can be sure we will make you pay for your enjoyment...until it's time to work again.
Besides which, we need the money that comes from the tickets, because we have families too, you know!
It is not for safety. Have you noticed how many state and local governments are facing looming budget deficits?
That's right . . . it is only about revenue and harrassing the citizens!
Government is supposed to protect our rights, not "teach us" anything! I am my own person. I left my father and mother and became an adult when I turned 21. I don't need Nanny government "teaching me the hard way".
Yes indeed, welcome to "Amerika".
The tyrants want us to lick their boots. Screw them.
They've always been after the revenue. The conditioning training is relatively new and is accelerating at an alarming pace.
At the current rate, within 5 years, they'll have hardened checkpoints on the interstates.
FBI Director Mueller said approximately 2000 Flight Schools were too much to check on last July/August; doesn't sound like an undoable task, if say, the local police were brought in to do a preliminary check. If we can roust dangers to the public safety like non-seatbelt wearers, couldn't the local cops be enlisted by the FBI. I know it goes against all norms American, but as a short term measure. Guess i don't like hearing "get used to terrorists potentially explodiing near you". If we can set up seatbelt/alcohol roadblocks, why not ones to catch terrorists.
Crack down on Islam
Good question. Occams razor says that the simplest answer is often the correct one.
In this case, the "simplest answer" is that the really don't want to catch the terrorists.
Profiling is not allowed under the Bush/Ridge/Mineta regime.
After all, why should we be harrassing "peaceful Muslims", when there are so many Free Americans to harass instead?
That was another Mueller lie. It could have been done in days if the boss wanted it done. Make no mistake about it.
checks points will be used to stop swarthy middle eastern looking males under the guise
of cracking down on seatbelt abuses and drunk driving. Thereby avoiding any claim of unfair profiling.
It's possible that some of the smaller PD's may engage in this, but I still submit that the primary purpose for this is conditioning, as Fred Mertz stated.
How do you wear a belt part time?
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