Posted on 06/02/2005 8:20:41 AM PDT by tgslTakoma
Edited on 06/02/2005 8:25:19 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Rockville, Md. (AP) - Maryland State Police are using a military tool in the battle against seat belt violators.
They're using night vision goggles to find people who don't buckle up after dark. Police say 40 percent of drivers don't use their seat belts at night, making the roads much more dangerous after sunset. Police in Maryland are among 13,000 agencies nationwide that are now using the goggles.
With the goggles, Police say they can see inside cars at a distance, allowing them to nail violators who might otherwise go undetected.
The new strategy is paying off. At a seat belt enforcement operation Wednesday night on Rockville Pike, officers issued at least 44 tickets for seat belt violations.
Seat belt stops as a primary offense, in my researched opinion, are basically a new way for ploice to justify pulling over more people likely to be scofflaws in other ways. I will not understand why they do this, but people who drive without licenses, registration, insurance, under the influence, etc.. are also far less likely to be buckled up, and these other offenses can be ticketed as well on a seat-belt traffic stop and discovery.
I think using night vision or goggles is way past bordering on ridiculous. When are people going to stand together against this crap.
Let me say off the top that I wear my seatbelt religiously and thus don't really have a dog in the seatbelt legislation fight. However, I cannot for the *life* of me figure out how not wearing a seatbelt endangers anyone else's life. If someone wants to be stupid and engage in reckless behavior that only endangers themselves, go for it.
I feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that the US civilian population are a testbed for advanced military grade surveillance and interdiction methods for minor offenses like not utilizing lap and shoulder restraints. Ein volk, ein reich,...
I hear ya.
I don't smoke, but I believe people should be allowed to harm their bodies by smoking if they wish.
I always buckle up and make sure my passengers do so as well, but if someone in the next lane isn't buckled, that isn't going to harm me any.
I wish the government would quit protecting me from me. Protect me from something else, like murderers, terrorists, illegals, or outsourcing!
Mega dittoes.
Not only that, but you have an absolute right, affirmed by the US Supreme Court, to refuse life-saving medical treatment and to take risks with respect to your own health in your workplace. Why this precident hasn't been applied to seat-belt laws, I don't know. I was going to try it in California, but moved to New Hampshire instead which is the last state with no adult seat-belt law.
Please explain to me how not wearing a seatbelt at any time makes the "roads more dangerous". The intent of the law is that the "roads" not be "more dangerous" to others, which is the only reason for the "Rules of the Road" comprehended by the states police power. 
As soon as someone declares that African-Americans are less likely to wear seatbelts than Caucasians, and thus these policies are de facto profiling. THEN we'll get this practice stopped.
Now if we went to the PD and told them we would donate $250 for every illegal captured and returned to mexico we might see some genuine law enforcement.
Locally here in Lodi NJ, the Bacon have implimented a stop light cop. He's at a very busy intersection(maywood Avenue, Essex Street) pulls cars out of line at the light into the parking lot right there. He seems to be doing about 10 an hour. From my understanding, the State or maybe it was the Fed, granted these departments funds to do this kind of enforcement.
I wear my seatbelt everywhere, but I think this kind of enforcement is WAY over the top. We used to call the folks engaged in this kind of behavior Highway Robbers.
Sadly, you may be correct.
Oh, no. That's not the case at all, unless you think that the purpose of police is to prevent crime. As a profit center, on the other hand, this is police time and money well spent...or well invested, if you prefer.
Not at all........they are simply protecting the insurance industry and keeping the high priced injury and death claims down.....but I do wish someone would introduce legislation requiring everyone to buy my goods and services..........
It is truly sad that police resources are being wasted on nanny statism. But since nearly every candidate presented by either major party is a nanny statist proponent of reactionary legislation and revenue enhancing initiatives, it's not a surprise.
What a waste of tax payers money. I have noticed some police love to pretend they are in the military.
Like there isn't enough real crime in Maryland.......
Are you kidding me? Sounds like a big time fundraiser.
Or an insurance company. Geico has a history of providing "instant-on" radar guns to some police departments.
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