Not Fair!!!

[jonanthans]

Just got another seatbelt ticket today. The officer pulled in behind me and hit the lights, I knew what he was pulling me over for, so as I pulled over I watched him in the side view mirror the entire time, he got out of his car, walked up and asked for my information. He said "do you know what I pulled you over for?" I said "not wearing my seatbelt." He said "correct". I then said, "I watched you the entire time, and you weren't wearing yours either" He said "thats beside the point!" and proceeded to write me a ticket. I was furious, but decided it was in my best interest to hold my tongue. I am not by any means someone who has a problem with authority figures, I understand the need for policemen and I appreciate the job they do, but I HATE a-holes like this guy. He doesn't wear his seatbelt, but tickets everyone else for not wearing theirs. That is bullcrap. Why are seatbelts mandatory? It should be a personal choice, I mean cigarettes not only kill millions every year but also second hand smoke kills innocent non-smokers, yet tobacco is still legal, but I have to wear a seatbelt because they are concerned for my safety? what a joke....

[EquipmentJunkie]

All I can say is not only is it fair but it is the law as well. Sworn Officers are exempt from the seat-belt law (and most other vehicle codes as well....why we get to run red lights to get to an emergency) and it is an officer safety issue, a life or death safety issue. I can explain why but I don't think it's appropriate here (you can PM if interested).

....and take this from someone in Law Enforcement, next time don't admit guilt (respectfully say "no")

....Do not argue with him as soon as you said "You don't have yours on" you sealed your deal.

...and last I can not stress this enough, officer do not make law they are hired to enforce law. If you don't like the law a traffic stop is not the appropriate place to do this, your state senate is.

PS

For the very safety reason I didn't mention above I don't wear by seat belt at work either (well sometimes I do but not on purpose), have seen to many dead cops not get theirs off fast enough. I'll leave it at that. Some agencies request that their officers wear the seat belt anyway but most I know don't, and if they do wear the seat belt they take them off well before making the traffic stop. You have to keep in mind not everyone is an upstanding citizen like you and the officer pulling you over does not know you and has to prepare for the worst. When you become complacent in this job, you die or your partner dies.

-AJ

[Smallville]

I can't say anything about the rule about police officers not having to wear them, but everything else Equipment junkie said I was going to mention in my post.

I will add that if you had been wearing your seat belt, we wouldn't be discussing this right now. Like it or not, it is the law. I have worn mine ever since Derrick Thomas was thrown from his vehicle, was paralyzed and died a month later. Follow the law or get it changed. Or keep paying the fines.

[Shindig]

When I was a kid, my parents wouldn't start the car until my sister and I both had our seatbelts on.

Get in the habit of putting your seatbelt on before you start the engine. Every time. Not because of the law, although compliance with the law is a nice side-effect. Do it because having a routine and sticking to it before doing small things that initiate big things will help you with your golf game.

He said "do you know what I pulled you over for?" I said "not wearing my seatbelt." He said "correct". I then said, "I watched you the entire time, and you weren't wearing yours either" He said "thats beside the point!" and proceeded to write me a ticket.

As EquipmentJunkie pointed out, admitting guilt when you don't have to isn't the way to go. He now has you voluntarily confessing on tape - not that you would be able to contest this ticket anyway.

The first time I was pulled over, the officer asked me if I knew why I was being pulled over. "I hope it's for my broken tail-light," I said, referring to a tail-light that had been damaged when I was hit by (an uninsured, unlicensed, 15 year old girl driving) another car a few days before. He asked why I hoped it was that, and I told him because otherwise, it would mean I had done something illegal without realizing it. He laughed, told me that was why he pulled me over, and asked when I was going to get it fixed. This was about 10 in the evening, and I had a noon appointment the next day - and the confirmation in the car. I showed him, he wished me a good evening, and I was on my way. Anyway, I doubt you'll find anyone who agrees with all the laws they know about. But violating them when you know about them and know the likelihood of getting caught is asking for trouble. You have better things to spend your money on than a ticket (and traffic school, if you can do so to remove it from your record). People ask me why I drive like a grandmother - I rarely go past 65 on the freeway (no, I don't drive in the fast lanes). Back in high school, the teacher who taught driver's ed at my school made fun of me - in front of a full class - for driving the speed limit on a dangerous, one-lane each way road one day after school (he was in the car behind me, and recognized me when he illegally passed me). So, why do I obey the speed limit and not turn at red arrows, even if I could safely do so? Because the slight excess convenience isn't worth the money to me. I'd rather buy that 5-Wood I've been talking about for a month now than pay it as a fine.

[Cizzle]

Could always move to New Hampshire, I think it's the only state left that it's not a law to have your seatbelt on. I do agree with you that it should be your own personal choice, but it's the law. About 75% of the time I wear my seat belt but when I don't and see a cop, I immediately put it on just so I don't have to pay the lousy $50(could it even be higher now?) fine.

[Surefire]

Why are seatbelts mandatory? It should be a personal choice, I mean cigarettes not only kill millions every year but also second hand smoke kills innocent non-smokers, yet tobacco is still legal, but I have to wear a seatbelt because they are concerned for my safety? what a joke....

Ignoring the driver and front passenger for a second. If anyone in the back doesn't wear a seatbelt and the car hits something, its quite common for the person in the back to fly forward and headbutt the front driver\passenger if they are not wearing a seatbelt. This often causes serious brain damage or death. So its not always just for the safety of the person wearing the seatbelt.

[Zeph]

I'm a bit surprised how some people still don't wear a seatbelt, isn't your life worth more than to potentially waste it on the road?

[McGolf-Doggie]

All I can say is not only is it fair but it is the law as well. Sworn Officers are exempt from the seat-belt law (and most other vehicle codes as well....why we get to run red lights to get to an emergency) and it is an officer safety issue, a life or death safety issue. I can explain why but I don't think it's appropriate here (you can PM if interested).

All of the above.

As for how to avoid the ticket. You could make it a part of your routine, just like you make certain things a part of your golf set-up/address routine, to click it in before you drive away or pull into traffic. Personally I've made a point of doing it, and especially since I once arrived first on the scene of an accident (30 years ago) where I ended up helping out a teenager who wasn't wearing one, and who put his face through the windshield/windscreen. I remember helping and it wasn't pretty. Those memories live with you for a long long time.

[michaeljames92]

Just got another seatbelt ticket today. The officer pulled in behind me and hit the lights, I knew what he was pulling me over for, so as I pulled over I watched him in the side view mirror the entire time, he got out of his car, walked up and asked for my information. He said "do you know what I pulled you over for?" I said "not wearing my seatbelt." He said "correct". I then said, "I watched you the entire time, and you weren't wearing yours either" He said "thats beside the point!" and proceeded to write me a ticket. I was furious, but decided it was in my best interest to hold my tongue. I am not by any means someone who has a problem with authority figures, I understand the need for policemen and I appreciate the job they do, but I HATE a-holes like this guy. He doesn't wear his seatbelt, but tickets everyone else for not wearing theirs. That is bullcrap. Why are seatbelts mandatory? It should be a personal choice, I mean cigarettes not only kill millions every year but also second hand smoke kills innocent non-smokers, yet tobacco is still legal, but I have to wear a seatbelt because they are concerned for my safety? what a joke....

All I have to say is you're a joke. Stop crying, put on your seatbelt. It is there to save lives. The day when you crash into someone and your head goes through the windscreen, then you're dead and we told you to wear your seatbelt.

[Release]

Just got another seatbelt ticket today. ....

Please wear your seat belt , as you might have a habit of not wearing it.

It's not just a personal choice, you have also made the choice for all those whom love and care for you, and all of us whom will share your medical expenses in the event of an accident. Life is the accumulation of millions of smaller events by all of us, I hope you live a long and productive life, think of all those people whom will benefit from your being around and have a positive influence on their life.

[deronsizemore]

Just got another seatbelt ticket today. The officer pulled in behind me and hit the lights, I knew what he was pulling me over for, so as I pulled over I watched him in the side view mirror the entire time, he got out of his car, walked up and asked for my information. He said "do you know what I pulled you over for?" I said "not wearing my seatbelt." He said "correct". I then said, "I watched you the entire time, and you weren't wearing yours either" He said "thats beside the point!" and proceeded to write me a ticket. I was furious, but decided it was in my best interest to hold my tongue. I am not by any means someone who has a problem with authority figures, I understand the need for policemen and I appreciate the job they do, but I HATE a-holes like this guy. He doesn't wear his seatbelt, but tickets everyone else for not wearing theirs. That is bullcrap. Why are seatbelts mandatory? It should be a personal choice, I mean cigarettes not only kill millions every year but also second hand smoke kills innocent non-smokers, yet tobacco is still legal, but I have to wear a seatbelt because they are concerned for my safety? what a joke....

It actually is fair. It's the law.

If the state had not told anyone they made it illegal to not wear your seat belt, then yes, it's wouldn't be fair. I don't know your age, but I know I always hated wearing my seat belt when I was younger because it wasn't "cool." I'm telling you, WEAR IT! I don't know if that's your individual reason for not wearing it, but really, there's no reason for not wearing it. For one, it's the law and two, it can and will save your life if you're in an accident. What's better? Being alive or being "cool." Please feel free to explain your reasons for not wearing it if I'm way off on that. Also, you bring up a good point about the sale of cigarettes. Many people die each day from cigarettes, BUT cigarettes bring big money in taxes, so there's your reason they are not illegal. The thing that gets me is not wearing a seat belt is illegal but not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle isn't illegal? That never made sense to me.

[Smallville]

The thing that gets me is not wearing a seat belt is illegal but not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle isn't illegal? That never made sense to me.

Actually, that depends on the state too. In Kansas you don't need one but in Missouri you do.

[EquipmentJunkie]

The thing that gets me is not wearing a seat belt is illegal but not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle isn't illegal? That never made sense to me.

Yes that its a state by state law (as is the seat belt law), and you do have ot wear your Helmet here in Ca....states can over turn these laws there are no federal seatbelt/helmet laws, however it is in the states best interest to implement these. If they do not they will loose a large percentage if not all of their federal infrastructure grants and funding. Hey here in California you can not use your cell phone without a blue tooth or hands free device and if your under 18 you can't talk on a cellular phone at all, even with a hands free device.

[microcrayfish]

I honestly can't see the reason why anybody wouldn't wear a seat belt. It takes 2 seconds to do up and once you've done it you don't even notice it's there. Even if it does bother you a bit, or maybe it's not "cool" to wear it, are you really too much of a big man to put your life at risk? If you don't care about your own safety then at least think about the people who love you. Think how your wife, your children or your parents would feel that the reason they're standing at your funeral is because you didn't take 2 seconds to click in your seat belt.

[Khalua10]

I dont think its fair that they can give you a ticket for no seatbelt in a car but yet you can ride a motorcycle

[EquipmentJunkie]

I dont think its fair that they can give you a ticket for no seatbelt in a car but yet you can ride a motorcycle

It is fair since there are higher stipulations (in most states) for being allowed to operate a motorcycle on a public road. For one you have to have a motorcycle license, which means a check of your riding proficiency by a state approved agent (road test). Next (again depends on states) you have to have both a helmet and motorcycle insurance. Also if your motorcycle gets hit, you don't want to be tethered to it, on the other hand in a car you don't want to fo through the windshield. Having said ALL of this, it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle without a seatbelt. I'll say again officer do not make the law they are hired to enforce, if you disagree with a law a Traffic stop IS NOT the appropriate place to argue that point, your state senate is. While officers do have discretion to some degree on the whole we can not ick and choose what law to enforce, in fact some government grants are used to hire officer specifically for the point of writing seat belt citations, if you get assigned to it, your writing seatbelt citations whether you like it or not.

[dave s]

I'm interested in why you don't wear your seatbelt jonathans? Wearing a seatbelt is free insurance and a complete no-brainer in terms of reducing injury, (or worse) in the event of an accident.

While my two boys continue to grow up, I make it a point to have them read newspaper articles about traffic fatalities. The third or fourth sentence in every traffic fatality articile reads: "Neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt."

Another parent rule: the car doesn't move until everybody in it has fastened their seatbelt.

My college junior wears his seatbelt religously. My hs soph has to be reminded once every 3 months to buckle up. It's pretty rare that a friend of my son (high schoolers) has to be reminded when riding with us.

dave

[jonanthans]

Well, for starters let me say that, although several posters made remarks about my being "stupid" and "ignorant" for not wearing my seatbelt, you are entitled to your opinion so I won't retaliate with any remarks, but I will explain my self and you can choose to either understand or not, doesn't bother me one way or the other.

The point of the posting was not that I don't think I was in the right for not wearing mine, the point was that the officer was not wearing his either. I have several friends who are police officers, so yes I know I should be wearing it, but he should have been wearing his as well. To a man they all swear they wear theirs at all times, their department requires them to. My argument was if he isn't going to wear his, don't pull others over for the same thing. It bothers me with the double-standards. I can't tell you how many times I've seen an officer hit his lights to get through a busy intersection, only to cut them back off after he is through and end up seeing his car on down the road where he is grabbing a bite to eat. My buddies admit they do this, they find it funny that I get upset about it. They see it as a "perk" of their job, I see it as an abuse of having the authority/power to do it.

Lastly, although I was too young to personally remember him, one of my cousins was killed when he flipped his car, couldn't get out because of his seat belt, and burnt to death. Does that make it right for me to not wear mine? No. But it does show that there are instances where wearing a seatbelt has actually been a detriment, so I think it should be a personal choice.

Again, don't make it mandatory for me to wear a seatbelt because you are "concerned for my safety", yet make it perfectly legal for the guy standing next to me to legally smoke a cigarette that is proven can cause me to contract Cancer via second-hand smoke. Even my policemen buddies agree with that logic.

In the end, Yes, I should wear my seatbelt because it is the law here. However, if you are going to pull me over for it, you need to have yours on as well, as, at least here, it is required for the officers to wear theirs while operating a vehicle.