i live in cleveland ohio & i've been hearing this radio advertising about being ticketed for not wearing seat belts. does anybody have any details regarding this seat belt thing? they've been airing this new seat belt thing very aggressively, like a few times per day at the least. the current law now is they will give you an extra ticket for not wearing your seat belt if they already pulled you over for another reason.....

I have no info on your state, but we have had a similar law in Ontario for about 25 years.
Sometimes the cops will park on an onramp and watch the cars go by and pull over anyone who does not have the sholder strap on. Personally, I and everyone I know wear belts all the time and have never had a problem.
Why people would drive without a belt and risk further injury/pain/death is beyond me.

they've had that law in Ohio for a while, but i think they just increased the penalty for it or just decided nobody was paying attention so they started advertising more. i have noticed them advertising it more though

Just saw this click it or ticket commercial on the good ol box and it's saying how their being more strict about seat belts...but they always were here in my area

i agree with magicrat, why wouldn't you wear your seatbelt? if it wasn't for a seatbelt, i wouldn't be alive right now.

i agree with magicrat, why wouldn't you wear your seatbelt? if it wasn't for a seatbelt, i wouldn't be alive right now.
i agree, but the point is that we should have a choice. as long as it does not harm anybody else in another car, we should have the freedom to decide if we want to wear them. it's like communism. pretty soon there will be guidelines when you can drive your car, when you can buy gas, ect! i seen a cop in a mcdonalds drive through checking people for seatbelts & that's just plain ridiculous! just a money making thing i guess, sad but true.....

I remember when the legislature passed the seat belt law (in Michigan) over a decade ago. They said it would never be a primary offense. :rolleyes:


Not everything that is a good idea should be the law. If that were the case, their would be blood pressure requirements to enter a donut shop.

Not everything that is a good idea should be the law. If that were the case, their would be blood pressure requirements to enter a donut shop.

:lol:

I know this click-it-or-ticket thing is in full force here in michigan. on one of the main roads by my house, oh about a week ago, they had one cop about halfway between two intersections (a mile apart) with a pair of binoculars. at the intersection, there was one patrol car and two police motorcycles waiting in the parking lot for the first cop to radio ahead with the poor sap who forgot their seatbelt

i agree, but the point is that we should have a choice. as long as it does not harm anybody else in another car

In most cases the primary impact does not kill people it is the bodies (of the parents)flying in the car that kill 90% of the children who are involved in an accident. Where I live if one of your passangers does not wear their seatbelt the driver gets fined along with the offender. Last I heard it was $250 each person not wearing their seatbelt and i belive if there is more than one offender in the vehicle the driver can be charged the full fine ( X#of offenders times the $250 (or more)= a hole shitload of money!)

In most cases the primary impact does not kill people it is the bodies (of the parents)flying in the car that kill 90% of the children who are involved in an accident. Where I live if one of your passangers does not wear their seatbelt the driver gets fined along with the offender. Last I heard it was $250 each person not wearing their seatbelt and i belive if there is more than one offender in the vehicle the driver can be charged the full fine ( X#of offenders times the $250 (or more)= a hole shitload of money!)
what pisses me off is you know this is being done just to make money--that's the bottom line. i see a lot of people un-strapped & some crooked politicians see dollar signs when he sees this. i ride a motorcycle, so i'm used to take chances. what's next? motorcycle seat belts! lol!

what pisses me off is you know this is being done just to make money--that's the bottom line. i see a lot of people un-strapped & some crooked politicians see dollar signs when he sees this. i ride a motorcycle, so i'm used to take chances. what's next? motorcycle seat belts! lol!
True, there are many stupid things that generate revenue...it's too bad that some of our taxes are being wasted on stupid things, ah well

[QUOTE=saturnsc2]what pisses me off is you know this is being done just to make money--that's the bottom line. i have to laugh when they say that they "care" about us! lol! what a joke! i see a lot of people un-strapped & some crooked politicians see dollar signs when they see this. i ride a motorcycle, so i'm used to taking chances. what's next? motorcycle seat belts! lol!

Just to issue the initial disclaimer I do where my belt, but my story is this: about a year and a half ago I was cruising home from the airport on an empty highway when my radar detector goes off a bit late, so I see the cop going the opposite direction, well he turned around and caught me a few miles down the road. Well I wouldn't admit to speeding and we conversed for awhile, etc.
He then pointed out that I wasn't wearing my lap belt ( I had the automatic sliding shoulder belt at the time) I thought that was sufficient...well apparently not. He wrote me a $20 dollar ticket for the seatbelt violation, then with all the county and EMS fees attached to a ticket it ended up being $60, but that is still a hell of alot better than $250.

I don't think there should be a law about wearing seat belts for one reason only: people should just wear them. But since not everyone uses seat belts, then the law is a good idea. You'll see things a lot differently when you actually know someone who died in a car accident only because they weren't wearing a seat belt. Unfortunately, I do.
And for those of you saying that you have a choice, you do...the choices are: to die, or not to die.

You'll see things a lot differently when you actually know someone who died in a car accident only because they weren't wearing a seat belt. I know lots of people who died because of alcohol and not wearing a seatbelt, so I know that they do save lives. I always wear mine! It does hurt to look inside a mangled wreck and see someone you love dieing because they didnt have a 2" strap of webbing across their lap. Think about that, 1 or 2 peices of webbing and what 2-3 seconds to fasten it correctly or the life of someone you loved. 2-3 seconds, nothing happens in that time that justifies loosing a loved one! If you dont want to wear a belt thats your choice, just remember that your choice does effect others.

Writen in memory of Kate, died : Dec 24, 2000
One piece of webbing would have prevented it all! her father at the funeral

I take it that some dimwits seem to think that just because something is illegal, nobody will do it... If that logic were true, nobody would rob banks now would they? Dylan and Klebold sure as anything wouldn't have shot up Columbine high school if it would have been illegal, now would they? Of course, criminals don't really obey laws... And any person to suggest aboloshing things like the MC helmet law or seatbelt laws is regarded as a whacko crackpot who doesn't care about kids or safety.

If the real intent is on saving people, the emphasis should be on EDUCATION. Yes, seat belts save TONS of lives every year. I work in the auto safety business, and I can tell you first hand there a REAMS of evidence how many more prople could be saved every year if they just wore their belts. But people don't wear their belts because they don't see it as a priority, rather as a burden. If they all realized how important it is, their percentages would skyrocket.

BUT, as an American, I think that people ought to be able to do as they please as long as it does not infringe on anybody else's rights. For example, if you're in an accident, and you are not wearing your seat belt, and you are killed, my insurance company shouldn't be forced to pay your outstanding claims, and subsequently raise MY rates. Nor should my tax money be used to pay for your funeral. Your decision, your consequences.

If our LEO community spend their time prosecuting REAL CRIMES, like speeding in school zones, or burglary, or theft, or murder, perhaps we might see a real decrease in crime. As it is, there is too much incentive to give people tickets for victimless crimes where they can collect big $$$. Speeding 5 mph over the limit on a deserted highway in the middle of the night? How can you justify that? Just to "check if they have been drinking?". That would be a violation of your rights against illegal search and seizure, had you not been speeding (slightly) or wearing your seat belt. Now if you happen to be black, hispanic, or native american, no belt opens you up for all kinds of "secondary" offenses... Think it's farferched, it happens all the time, just ask around. And doubling fines for infractions in work zones, you think that actually causes people to be more careful? All it does is move cops around so they keep a closer eye on the areas, since they have an financial incentive!

Wake up, seat belts save lives, but you shouldn't be FORCED to wear one if you are prepared for the consequences.

:crying: That was beautiful.....:thumbsup: So when can I expect your book to come out?

My manager posed a good point last night at work...they have made such a big deal over the seatbelts in cars, and that you MUST wear them...but when you are on a motorcycle, you don't have anything holding you in place. You ride one of those at your own risk, and I guess they just assume you are dead if you crash, but if that is a legal option, why are seatbelts enforced?

If you wear your seatbelt regularly (I mean it is there to protect you, and it will be there if you use it or not) then WTF are you worrying about... seriously shut-up and put on your seatbelt. fvcking losers.

There is some kinda national ticket or clickit thing going on right now. I only saw a blurb of it on TV. They've made it a primary offense here (NC), or at least if they haven't legally they still pull you for it. I wear my seatbelt but don't believe the gov should tell you to. You think this is silly maybe, but one day future generations will have to wear crash helmuts in cars, then maybe those neck restraints. Just watch..

Don't worry about it. Today i got pulled over by the police chief in Oregon Ohio and he gave me a warning for doing 70 in a 50. Of course when i got pulled over i noticed my seat belt wasnt on and stuck it on there before i came to a total stop. There are ways around it because they have to pull you over for an offense before they can do anything about the seat belts.

Don't worry about it. Today i got pulled over by the police chief in Oregon Ohio and he gave me a warning for doing 70 in a 50. Of course when i got pulled over i noticed my seat belt wasnt on and stuck it on there before i came to a total stop. There are ways around it because they have to pull you over for an offense before they can do anything about the seat belts.
yeah--their doing this seat belt thing through mid june & after that, nobody will talk about it again i bet. i can see wearing a seat belt while freeway flying at 70 mph, to just putter around town doing 30 mph, it's ridiculous. i was in a head on collision when i was a child without wearing a seat belt & i'm still alive. seat belts are no guarantee that your lives will be saved. i lot of people have gotten injured with them on too.....

It varies state by state.
In California, everyone inside the car are required to wear seat belts. A driver can be pulled over if anyone of them isn't wearing one.
But if it is the passenger (age 16+) isn't wearing one, the passenger gets the ticket.

I dont see what the big deal is. The seatbelt law is made to save lives which it evidently does. So if the government is trying to do a good thing, while still bringing in the bucks then i say go ahead with it. It takes at the most 2/3 secodns and i dont see what the big hassle is....

Well unless your like a kid that wants to look cool when driving and all that crap, but even then people have race pads and crap. So i dont see why its turning into such a big issue if theres a law saying that you have to wear seatbelts.

It is a good idea to wear a seatbelt. That can't be disputed. The big deal is, where does the government decide to stop? For examples: redlight camers, where you have to pay the fine first, then go to court to prove you're innocent. What happens if your neighbor steals your plate, and spends all night running the same redlight, giving you $5000 in traffic tickets, that you have to pay before pleading not guilty? <--happened near where I live.
What about a requirement to put a blackbox GPS tracking system in vehicles to stop people from speeding? Certainly this would slow people down, and save lives? Rental car companies are already doing it and issueing surcharges for speeders. What if the gov declares it saves lives and you have to put one in your car?
So the issue (I believe) in people's minds about seatbelts isn't the cool factor, but where does government encroachment on your personal liberties end in the name of 'safety'.

What about the cop that just wants to pull you to see what's up? Hey I didn't see his seatbelt use! Is his probable cause.

What about car companies that were required to put in airbags, which save lives, but were nobody really thought it through, so when 200 mph airbag hits small child's head they are decapitated...

The question isn't whether seatbelts are a good idea, but how many of your liberties are you willing to surrender for 'safety'.

Allright well first off, whats the probability of your neighbour stealing your plate and running the same redlight over and over again, without any cops interference or anything of the sort.....

Second off, what is so bad about a GPS tracking system. If it stops people that speed thats all the better if you ask me. And i dont see how that takes away a personal liberty considering that theres millions upon millions of people living in the same country as you, so what are the chances of them just spying on you? and if they do so what? what are they going to find out? that you went to a strip club? thats nothign major in my eyes.

And if a cop does pull you over to see if you have a seatbelt on when you do, then you have nothign to worry about. And if your going to argue that it embarasses you, well considering your driving what are the chances of someone that knows you seeing you? AND even if they do, you can explain to them what happened...

And correct me if im wrong, but little children sholdnt be in the front seat in the first place, because theres laws against that, well there are atleast where i live (Ontario) So if the child gets decapitated the company shouldnt be blamed since the parents didnt follow the LAW.

And i still dont see which liberty of yours is being taken away when you put on a seat belt....

Exactly my point, in a way. To you, you feel its not a big deal, and frankly its not. 2/3 of a second to save your life, or donate some money to the gov.

But there are others out there that feel just as strongly you should have a GPS box in your car to prevent you from speeding, or, make a donation to the government. You yourself might think this is overkill, government regulations out of control. There would be others, many others actually, who feel if 55 is the speedlimit, then everybody needs to go 55, period, and that it should be enforced stenuously.

It's the same thing. Both save lives. Both raise money for the government. The only question you should be asking yourself is do you want the government to regulate every tiny facet of your life.

And we are not very far away from having those boxes in our cars now, today. The technology exists and there are people that want it implemented.

So is this whole thread about rebellion? So were going to rebel against the government by not letting them make us wear seatbelts. Even if that means losing countless lives, and injuring many others.

I still dont understand why you would want to rebel against something that saves lives. And the government making people wear seatbelts isnt really regulating anyones life (although i understand what your saying, that it piles up etc.) but still, its frankly a little strip of fabric that saves lives, i see it as literally not being a way for the government to show us who's in control or anything.

As long as you accepted my point and agree that at some point 'it piles up etc' I am very happy :)
I'm not saying it is a rebellion, although I have met 1 person that doesnt wear his seatbelt ONLY because the gov tells him to, and 1 person who's mom felt she wasn't killed because she didn't have her seatbelt on, so she doesn't wear hers. Everyone else I know wears their seatbelt, regardless of if they are in a place you don't have to. I'll agree with you that there is a certain percentage of people that would not wear it if they were not afraid of a ticket, and thus in effect the government is saving their lives.
The only other thing: some people feel it is piling up at a different level than you. Besides, if you want to kill yourself in a small crash that would really be a fender bender with a seatbelt, who cares really?

heh i once again understand what you said about "some people feeling it is piling up at different levels" but still i dont think that means taht they shoudl get mad at the government at doing the right thing.

For example, why arent people outraged at the fact that Cocaine is illegal? If somethign happens then it'll only affect you and not anyone else, so why isnt that legal? And what about the fact that suicide is illegal? It harms noone but the suicidee, so with some of the reasoing presented by some of the people in this thread then these should all be legal.

But thats not the case since the government is out to protect the people (although some may not agree) But either way, i have to agree with anyone getting mad at the governemnt for giving tickets for not wearing seat-belts.

Those are good examples. Some would say that heroin/cocaine/weed is illegal because the CIA runs 1/2 the world's drug trade, and the secret USA government needs the money to finance its black box operations around the world. Others might say its simply about jobs: more prisons, more police, more money given to the government in court fees/probation fees/etc. Yet others would say it is up to the government to protect those that are too stupid to protect themselves.
It's the last case I think you mean by the right thing.
But the 'right thing' is determined by each person's beliefs, how they were brought up, etc. Some people think the right thing is when the government makes every decision for you, provides for you, etc. While others think only the very basic government that does almost nothing in regards to their personal life is doing the right thing. Obviously, most people are not at either extreme.

It just all depends on where your thinking comes from. Why stop at seatbelts? Or drugs for that matter? Smoking, donuts, mcdonalds, and soda are all bad for you. Heck, TV is bad for you...
Some people want to not wear seatbelts, some people want to smoke, eat mcdonalds and watch tv. But in general here, people want to keep the right to choose. Like I said before, everyone I know wears a seatbelt. But also, everyone I know feels it should be their choice, not the governments.

yeh man i get what your saying, but look at it from a teenagers age who has just learned how to drive and has just gotten his license.

Why would he want to wear a seatbelt? he knows it'll most probably save his life but he wants to look "cool." I understand that most people do choose the right thing, and hate to be controlled, but some issues have to be controlled such as Seat Belts

..it seems to me that the seatbelt is there for your safety.. if you want it, its there. But if you dont put it on it doesnt hurt anyone but yourself. So why give a rats ass about someone who couldnt care about his own life... it is one more traffic stop that the cops have to do, less late the person will be to work in the morning (for example), less [pissed their boss will be, so they can keep their job and the guy/girls family still has an income to put food on the table...

I know that that was a huge dramatization.. but it COULD verywell happen.

so bmwm3guy, what your saying is, that if the person doesnt care about their own life why should anyone else?

Well lets look at it this way, with your logic anything that doesnt do any damage to anyone but the person doing it, should be legal.

For example;
How come people arent allowed to walk around naked? Hell that harms noone whatsoever, but yet its still against the law, and the person will be charged with indescent exposure.

And why are we only looking at the drivers in these situation, what about the parents who dont wear seatbelts, and dont care if their kids wear them? That not only affects the driver but also the kids, and thats why it should be a law. Because kids cannot do the same level of reasoing as fully grown adults can.

I wear my seatbelt (it probably saved my life or at least severe injury), but I had a friend who was nearly burned to death because he was wearing his seatbelt and he won't wear it anymore. The car flipped and caught on fire and the seatbelt wouldn't undo, luckily for him he had a knife on him.

If you had been in this situation what would you do?

the whole point of this thread is i feel that it should be OUR decision to, or not to wear the seatbelts. OUR decision! not the governments, some crooked politicians that just want to make money off us, some king shit cop, ect. i'm not disputing their ability to save lives. i never wore a seatbelt, & never will. i think their very uncomfortable. i know i'm at some risk without them on & i except that. if i die, i die., but that's a decision i'll make for myself. these so-called "safety" laws are all about making money! that's all! that's the bottom line! nobody in the government cares about us, NOBODY!