Posted on 05/26/2006 9:23:51 AM PDT by WKB
Southaven - Not wearing a seatbelt will soon be enough to get you pulled over by police or state troopers in Mississippi. Saturday the state's new primary offense seat belt law goes into effect.
Right now the Mississippi has a secondary offense seat belt law. That means officers need another reason, like speeding, to pull you over. It's only after you pulled over that officers are allowed to ticket you for not buckling up.
Law enforcement officers can also pull a driver over if they notice that his front seat passenger or anyone in the vehicle is not wearing a seat belt.
Law enforcement officers throughout the mid south plan to beef up their patrols over the long holiday weekend. Troopers in Mississippi plan to set up road blocks in several parts of the state to check for seat belt use.
Mississippi is the 23rd state where officers can pull over a driver for not wear a seat belt. Tennessee passed a primary seat belt law back in 2004.
The new law in Mississippi carries a maximum fine of 25 dollars per vehicle.
Annette M. Jordan, 4213 Will O'Run Drive, Jackson - Improper parking (handicap), $200.50 fine.
- Peggy D. Ratcliff, 3008 Smith Town Road, Lot 1, Tylertown - Improper parking (handicap), $200.50 fine.
Kafaren L. Fairley, 203 Ann St., Collins - Improper parking (handicap), $200.50 fine, warrant ordered, failure to pay.
If they really meant business the fine would
be more than $25.00. PING
While I am a big believer in seat belt use, I'm very against these laws, because they are glittering examples of incrementalism.
Michigan lawmakers made the same assurances many years ago -- that this would be a secondary offense only, and that you couldn't be stopped simply for not wearing a seat beld.
Guess how long that lasted? If it says (D) or (R) after their names, they can't be trusted.
Proabably so. Still, I saw 5 different people pulled over between Vicksburg and Jackson this morning. Ususally I don't see any. Probably Memorial Day action but it made me wonder.
I doubt things will change much.
We have that law here in Maryland, It started with just being able to charge you when they made a traffic stop for another violation, then they mde it a primary law. Every spring abut this time they will go into seat belt mode. They will sit up traffic stops where they stop everyone and ticket non-belt wearers, they also set up at intersections and nail you there, Its all part of making a few bucks off people who dont like the damned things.
Welcome to the "You don't have your seat-belt on, so I'm going to search your vehicle now!" Mississippi.
Just the Government looking out for us idiots, everyone knows were too stupid to make the right choices dontcha know?
I figure it will last about 2 weeks
and back to normal.
That would be if the (she) Trooper is suffering from
PMS or
the (He) trooper's wife found out about his girlfriend.
Agreed (my life was saved by a sealtbelt once). But we've seen the incrementalism here in WA.
25 years ago the signs read "Buckle Up: We Love You". (yeah, right)
Years later, the signs read, "Buckle Up: It's the law". (secondary offense)
Now the signs read: "Click It or Ticket." Primary offense, which they assured us would never happen.
Liars.
Just the other day,the Massachusetts legislature (much to the surprise of many) killed a "primary" seat belt law.
Given that cops are nothing more than armed tax collectors in this state,that was very good news.
With that in mind, I think this is a good law.
I to agree with you BUT
My point is parking in a handicap zone
carries a fine from $100 to $200.
No seat belt =$25.00
The state appears to be serious about not
parking in a handicap zone which very seldom
causes death and destruction.
So why not do the same with the deadly seat belt.
These states AND the Federal Government and their laws can go to hell.
When they start enforcing existing laws against Illegal Aliens, then I'll be concerned about their feel good nanny laws for seat belt use.
Damn them, damn every last politician in this country.
Parking in a handicap spot WITH a sticker or rear view hanger when not actually handicapped should be a $10,000 fine.
I disagree, by that reasoning we shouldn't allow people to engage in dangerous activity either.
Let's start by outlawing mountain biking, sking, skydiving and scuba diving (Etc)
Why stop there? let's outlaw soap in the shower, that's too dangerous!!
We might all smell like the French but we'll live longer.
Here in Illinois, it's seat belt week.
They have cops standing at stop signs & stop lights, looking into cars.
Pulling ya over right there to write a no seat-belt wearing ticket.
If they spot ya and the light is green, they radio their buddies sitting in patrol cars every so many feet and they get ya that way.
I understand your reasoning, but I think I am for seat belt laws for this reason.
If there are no seat belt laws and for some reason you are in an accident with another car, and it is your fault. If the other person is not wearing a seat belt and dies, I would be worried about being sued or going to jail for manslaughter.
By having the laws on the books, then I wouldn't be worried about that if the other passenger was wearing their belt.
I think people engaged in those kinds of activities cannot be killed or injured by another person.
The problem with seat belts is that if someone is not wearing them, they can be hurt by someon else (and then they can sue).
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