Posted on 07/18/2004 12:16:52 PM PDT by Copernicus
Another Triangle woman tells of being stopped by two Raleigh police officers, one apparently in training, who contended she wasn't wearing her seatbelt.
Shown it was fastened, the officers retired to patrol car for a conference before returning 10 minutes later.
One handed her a $75 citation because, he said, the shoulder belt was "too loose".
(Excerpt) Read more at 216.239.41.104 ...
I've been hit from behind, one time very seriously, slid on wet pavement, hit in the side and had people pull out in front of the car I was in and we went 40mph right into the side (not all on the same day of course!).
in none of those sitations except the last (1976) did a seatbelt not assist. Except in the last, I was not wearing the separate shoulder harness and hit the dash (1972 Mustang coupe).
sometimes there's nothing that can be done, and that's the case. Even wearing a seatbelt I was able to duck below the dash of my RX-7 when a deer stepped in front of me (I was going 65mph when I first saw him and got on the brakes immediately, but ducked when impact was unavoidable).
Does this woman and all her friends have Dolly Parton boobs or something? What discomfort and irritation? I don't even notice my seatbelt when I'm wearing it. And I certainly don't know any women who put the shoulder strap behind them.
And quadrupled if she had been driving an SUV while talking on her cell phone.
I don't feel like I'm living in a police state; but it sure as heck feels a lot like a NANNY state.
If they do the cops will probably let them off with a warning.
And helmets for motorists.
Precisely, let the market forces determine the price one is willing to pay for whatever they want to do.
My sister took off her seatbelt to reach in the glove compartment to get her license, WHILE the police officer was standing at her window, and he still said he was going to ticket her for not having on her seatbelt. She explained the above and he still didn't believe her. She says if ever in that situation again, she will ASK the officer if she may please unbuckle her seatbelt to be able to reach the g.c. to be sure the officer has his mind in gear before she moves.
think about an accident, what if you had to escape a burning vehicle, would they claim you didn't have your seatbelt on? ... it could happen in a courtroom ...
I don't know if the secret black box in most cars now records this or not ... I'll bet it's a possibility though, so it might offer proof ...
"Insurance rates are also driven up by those who decide not to wear their belts or motorcycle helmets. They say it is their right not wear the safety equipment while at the same time they demand it is their right if injured to hold everyone else responsible for paying their bills/damages."
Sorry but that's a red herring used by the State to gain more control over your life. Think about it. Since the mandatory seatbelt laws were emplaced, have your insurance premiums gone down AT ALL?
No. They get higher every year.
Seatbelts are not saving us any insurance money. They are merely there to generate more cash flow for the all-consuming State.
"When society is most corrupt, then are laws most increased."....Tacitus, 93AD
So basically she had the shoulder strap BEHIND her.
Not necessarily. My wife wears it the same way, and for the same reason. She slips her arm OVER the belt. It's still on, just across her chest at a lower level.
Agreed.
Best regards,
With all due respect, your account must be characterized as subjective unless you had extensive crash test recording equipment attached to your vehicle(s).
Best regards,
I know, I always have a group of people tell me it's safer without a seatbelt ... I guess you have to ride as you feel comfortable ... FReegards
Ya I finally understood what she was saying.
Still a bad way to wear a seatbelt - actually might be even dangerous, given that it's a recipe for broken ribs and punctured lungs.
In Texas the other favorite "probabale cause" is the vanity license plate holder, if it covers any part of Texas, they can pull you over and Ticket you for that if they can't find something else once they have you stopped.
Even the ones from the dealership don't pass.
Oddly enough, I have made the case for helmets on motorists in my battles with NannyNazis.
The single most common preventable injury in a wreck is related to the skull.
If the Bolsheviks really caaaarrred about saving lives they would pass a law mandating helmets especially since modern technology can produce a helmet which will enhance the Driver's ability to assess hazard with heads-up displays, audio speakers and etc.
Two problems are immediately apparent:
1.The driver is in violation of laws which forbid vehicle operators to obscure their face in Stop Light Camera jurisdictions
2.The uproar from hair stylists and fashion mavens would be an overwhelming defeat for the Mandate Mandarins amongst us.
"Helmet hair"is just too much of faux pas for this society to bear.
Best regards,
Under certain circumstances it MAY be safer without a seatbelt.
Under other circumstances it may be safer WITH a seatbelt.
Either way it is not for the government to dictate.
Best regards,
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