Anybody noticed an increased emphasis on seat belts lately?

[drew70]

I thought at first it was just local thing here in the "Greater Washington DC Metropolitan Area." The programable light bulb pixel signs over Interstates 270 and 495 keep blaring the same message the last week or so with regards to seatbelts: "Click it, or Ticket!" But I heard something on the radio early this morning that there's some national seat belt awareness initiative or something like that. I was just wondering if this was also being noticed by TMF'ers in other areas of the US.

 

[tulipangel]

Here on Long Island its a huge deal! Im not used to wearing mine but I live up the street from the police station and once I get there it clicks.... I should put mine on! They give HUGE fines here and if the driver is wearing one but the passenger isnt you still get a ticket!

 

[drew70]

Here on Long Island its a huge deal! Im not used to wearing mine but I live up the street from the police station and once I get there it clicks.... I should put mine on! They give HUGE fines here and if the driver is wearing one but the passenger isnt you still get a ticket!

The driver gets the ticket when the passenger isn't wearing one? That's going way overboard.

 

[tulipangel]

Ya, its to make drivers aware that they need to not only protect them self, but the passangers too!

 

[maniactickler]

The senate approved mandatory seat belts here in mass, but it was defeated in the house THANK GOD! its an invasion our your personal freedoms dammit!

 

[tulipangel]

LMAO OY VEY!!!!!

 

[goddess_nemesis]

It's same here in Minnesota. They've been saying that for a couple years now. I usually wear mine when I'm driving and when I'm riding in the front passenger seat, but if I'm in the rear passenger seats, I usually don't.

I think it's always been the law to wear seatbelts when in a car, but lately cops have been cracking down on offenders.

 

[ViperGTS]

When I got in my first car accident, the seat belt, though it made my shoulder sore, probably kept me from serious injury.

I've been wearing my seatbelt for safety like some wear their religion. If I get in the car and don't put it on, I feel unsafe.

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Know what you get hammered for around here? Driving and talking on the cellphone.

Today, this girl I work with called me while on the way to a customer's house to bring him back to the place. She was panicking, as she usually does, she's not familiar with Princeton. I had her on the phone, directing her to the man's house, when she was stopped near the Governor's mansion on Rt 206. She got ticketed for talking on her cellphone ($130), and for good measure, for not having her seatbelt on ($47). After she got back, she cried for two hours, she doesn't know where she's gonna get the money.

I believe in your right to be an idiot. If you don't wanna wear your seatbelt, then don't. However, if you chose to go this route, you forfeit your right to sue for damages, or pain and suffering should some unfortunate event happen to you. Not a realistic scenario in this litigious society of ours, but a nice thought.

In New Jersey, your money is not your money. It's the municipality's money, there for them to confiscate when they need it. Here, you'll see the local police in their new Dodge Durango. You don't have to be Einstein to figure out where they got the funding for this.

 

[Mz Chaos]

The disease has spread out here too. Been here for years. It's a $101.00 fine for us, but... the passenger gets their own ticket.
Oh... and just for shits and giggles... it's also illegal to operate a vehicle out here that has no bag or some other sort of trash recepticle.

 

[ViperGTS]

Oh God. Don't get me started on cell phone car drivers.

At least 50% of drivers in my neighborhoods drive on the phone. Makes me wanna crash into em for good measure.

The bit about not having a bag in your car is a riot, though.

 

[Bugman]

They are doing the Click it or Ticket thing in Ks. and Mo. A fer weeks ago a retired fireman (who should have known better) was killed a on I-435.If he had been belted up probably would have been ok.Left behind a wife and 2 or 3 kids.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

its an invasion our your personal freedoms dammit!

I get into this arguement with my sister-in-law all the time. Think about this...

You're driving down the road, doing everything you can to be safe and honor the rules of the road, with one exception. You're not wearing a seatbelt. You come to an intersection at which you have the right of way and proceed to cross through. BANG!!! Someone not paying attention just slammed into you. They just catch your tail end. But, it throws the car into a skid.

Now, if you have your belt on, you have a good chance to get the car back under control and stop without hitting anyone or anything else. If you don't have your belt on, you're likely too busy trying to get back in place behind the wheel to correct things before slamming into the car coming the other way or the young mother with baby in tow crossing the walk. If you have an unbelted passenger along for the ride, it just adds to the difficulty, especially if they're now sitting in your lap. Which option would YOU prefer? It happens all too often.

I agree that too many rights are taken away from us....like the right of any innocend bystanders to survive your inability to keep your car under control because you refuse to wear a belt. Sorry. Ive seen too many friends hurt and killed to agree with the "freedom" angle on this one.

Ann...stepping down from soapbox

 

[TICKLESRWAY2FUN]

here in nyc they have been running commercials like crazzzzzy warning people to wear their seatbelts like good sheep. nothing like a big brother government always telling you whats good for you. just more ways of enforcing more and more laws that take away your own right to make decisions that affect your own life. government pigs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TICKLESRWAY2FUN]

I get into this arguement with my sister-in-law all the time. Think about this...

You're driving down the road, doing everything you can to be safe and honor the rules of the road, with one exception. You're not wearing a seatbelt. You come to an intersection at which you have the right of way and proceed to cross through. BANG!!! Someone not paying attention just slammed into you. They just catch your tail end. But, it throws the car into a skid.

Now, if you have your belt on, you have a good chance to get the car back under control and stop without hitting anyone or anything else. If you don't have your belt on, you're likely too busy trying to get back in place behind the wheel to correct things before slamming into the car coming the other way or the young mother with baby in tow crossing the walk. If you have an unbelted passenger along for the ride, it just adds to the difficulty, especially if they're now sitting in your lap. Which option would YOU prefer? It happens all too often.

I agree that too many rights are taken away from us....like the right of any innocend bystanders to survive your inability to keep your car under control because you refuse to wear a belt. Sorry. Ive seen too many friends hurt and killed to agree with the "freedom" angle on this one.

Ann...stepping down from soapbox

thanx, but i will make my own decisions in life, i do not need a pig government tellinh me whats good, its sheeple like u that we r losing all our rights. always agreeing with the govcernment like they know anything but how to rob the people.

 

[TICKLESRWAY2FUN]

The disease has spread out here too. Been here for years. It's a $101.00 fine for us, but... the passenger gets their own ticket.
Oh... and just for shits and giggles... it's also illegal to operate a vehicle out here that has no bag or some other sort of trash recepticle.

the disease. beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you are so cool, i remember your excellent posts in the no smoking thread. you are one of the few people here who actually sees whats happening in this country and how we pratically have no freedoms left at all and our abilities to make our own decisions are gone.

 

[TICKLESRWAY2FUN]

The senate approved mandatory seat belts here in mass, but it was defeated in the house THANK GOD! its an invasion our your personal freedoms dammit!

personal freedoms????????/ hahahahaha where do you think you are, america died a while ago, there are no freedoms anymore, only big brother maing our decisions.

 

[venray]

Driving is not a "right"...It is a privilege granted by the authority of the State and governed by it's laws...Dont like the rules? Stay off the road....there are enough ignorant morons driving that have no business doing so.... 😛

 

[venray]

personal freedoms????????/ hahahahaha where do you think you are, america died a while ago, there are no freedoms anymore, only big brother maing our decisions.

Hmmm then why not find a better place to live... instead of whining about it here.....

 

[TICKLESRWAY2FUN]

Driving is not a "right"...It is a privilege granted by the authority of the State and governed by it's laws...Dont like the rules? Stay off the road....there are enough ignorant morons driving that have no business doing so.... 😛

what does being ignorant have anything to do with being forced to do something. if i do not put on my seatbelt does that make me a moron or a more careless driver??? that was a terrible point. apples and oranges dude

 

[TICKLESRWAY2FUN]

Hmmm then why not find a better place to live... instead of whining about it here.....

another ignorant comment. this used to be a free country, but sheep like you who go along with anything the government implements makes it harder and harder to enjoy our freedoms. this is as ignorant a comment as the luv it or leave it crowd. thios is america, you do not have to luv it, that is what makes it great, having your own opinions until people like you belittle others for thinking on their own

 

[venray]

if i do not put on my seatbelt does that make me a moron or a more careless driver???

Yes .....it does...

 

[venray]

another ignorant comment. this used to be a free country, but sheep like you who go along with anything the government implements makes it harder and harder to enjoy our freedoms. this is as ignorant a comment as the luv it or leave it crowd. thios is america, you do not have to luv it, that is what makes it great, having your own opinions until people like you belittle others for thinking on their own

Name calling also shows your lack of education and social graces, John....

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

its sheeple like u that we r losing all our rights. always agreeing with the govcernment

Ummmmm.....I don't recall saying anything about agreeing with the gov't. Frankly, I don't give a flying you-know-what about what they have to say about most things. They're too damned corrupt to care about following what they say. I DID say that the accidents that are avoidable and/or survivable by wearing seatbelts makes it a valid thing to do.

As for sheep.....I think there are way too many people who flock like sheep to condemn everyone for having the nerve to disagree with what they think themselves. So, I guess we're even on our opinions in that regard. 😉

This is why I stay out of the P&R forum, which is where you seem to want to take this thread. It's not a political issue....even if lawmakers are involved. It's a common sense and safety issue.

OK. I'm done. Thanks for the "conversation".

Ann

PS - Laws or no laws, NOBODY rides in my car without a belt on. If they dont' want to wear one, they simply don't ride with me. And if I'm invited to ride in a car without proper belts, I decline.

 

[Italian_Touch]

The driver gets the ticket when the passenger isn't wearing one? That's going way overboard.

Actually, I think it is right, since it is an established safety device.
If you are responsible enough to get a car you must be able to get control of the people you are bringing around.

Personally, I do not even cranck the engine if passengers do not have their seat belt fastened.

I prefer to be taken as a bit obsessed than facing possible consequences of a lousy behavior.