$140 No-Seat Belt Ticket?

[Denny]

It is an issue to me for two reasons:

1. Just another cash grab for no reason

2. Precedent. How far does the nanny mentality go? Should we close down fast food places? Or racetracks? How much, as a tax paying responsible citizen, am I allowed to endanger myself? Government taxing or controlling things in the name of my safety will only get worse. I choose to say this is bullshit, rather than waiting for government to go further.

Would you legalize suicide and assisted suicide as well?

[Jimbo]

That's it... expect a call from Rev. Sharpton and the ACLU.

Ha, Damnit don't derail me, I only get enough energy to argue exiguous issues every once in a while.

[Denny]

Ha, Damnit don't derail me, I only get enough energy to argue exiguous issues every once in a while.

We live in the same city. You can have as much opportunity as you want when I'm in town. LOL

[Jimbo]

We live in the same city. You can have as much opportunity as you want when I'm in town. LOL

Opportunity abounds, daily. It's the will to, that I lack these days.

[racrguy]

Would you legalize suicide and assisted suicide as well?

I know the question isn't directed at me, but I would. It's not up to me to say if a person can or cannot kill themselves. Now, the assisted suicide does pose a tricky problem as to what exactly constitutes assisted suicide, but I'd imagine some paperwork could alleviate that problem. Something along the lines of I (suicide name) wish (doctors name) to help me commit suicide. Obviously there would need to be some more wording than that, but you get the jist of it. The docs signature, the patients signature, and either a notary/witness. Then I say if you can find a doc to do it, by all means, go for it.

[Denny]

wow

[jluv]

It is an issue to me for two reasons:

1. Just another cash grab for no reason

I agree it is just a cash grab. That is the only reason it exists. Cops don't care if I kill myself because I didn't wear it. But so what? The way I see it, it's a tax on stupid people. There is absolutely no reason not to wear it, and only reasons that you should, so if you choose not to do so, knowing that you could die, and knowing that the cops can hardly wait to fine you for it, then you deserve to get hit with the stupidity tax. It doesn't negatively affect me or any halfway intelligent people I know in any way, so why would I care if the fools get fined?

2. Precedent. How far does the nanny mentality go? Should we close down fast food places? Or racetracks? How much, as a tax paying responsible citizen, am I allowed to endanger myself? Government taxing or controlling things in the name of my safety will only get worse. I choose to say this is bullshit, rather than waiting for government to go further.

Again, I don't think it's a nanny thing. It's a blatantly obvious cash grab thing. It gives the cops something to do. And it only affects stupid people, as far as I can tell. They kinda deserve it. The other examples you name can at least have another side to them. Race tracks provide an activity for people to enjoy, wholesome competition, etc. Fast food restaurants offer a treat for people who like them, a chance for the owners to make money, and employment for the burger flippers, etc. See, those things have at least some kind of value or reasoning behind them that could be argued if you want to take a stand against an overbearing government. But the freedom to not wear your seatbelt? What's the logical argument there?

To clarify, I'm not saying there should be a law in place. I'm just saying that since there is, and since it's something anyone with half a brain should do anyway, then why care? And more importantly, I'm still wondering why some people choose not to wear one.

[Jimbo]

I agree it is just a cash grab. That is the only reason it exists. Cops don't care if I kill myself because I didn't wear it. But so what? The way I see it, it's a tax on stupid people. There is absolutely no reason not to wear it, and only reasons that you should, so if you choose not to do so, knowing that you could die, and knowing that the cops can hardly wait to fine you for it, then you deserve to get hit with the stupidity tax. It doesn't negatively affect me or any halfway intelligent people I know in any way, so why would I care if the fools get fined?



Again, I don't think it's a nanny thing. It's a blatantly obvious cash grab thing. It gives the cops something to do. And it only affects stupid people, as far as I can tell. They kinda deserve it. The other examples you name can at least have another side to them. Race tracks provide an activity for people to enjoy, wholesome competition, etc. Fast food restaurants offer a treat for people who like them, a chance for the owners to make money, and employment for the burger flippers, etc. See, those things have at least some kind of value or reasoning behind them that could be argued if you want to take a stand against an overbearing government. But the freedom to not wear your seatbelt? What's the logical argument there?

To clarify, I'm not saying there should be a law in place. I'm just saying that since there is, and since it's something anyone with half a brain should do anyway, then why care? And more importantly, I'm still wondering why some people choose not to wear one.

I see your point of view, but the logical argument is arguing in favor of personal freedoms at the basest levels, just for freedoms sake. I don't want to give the inch.

[mstng86]

I will wear my seatbelt because I choose to. Everyone else should, so my healthcare coverage doesn't go up.

[Boondock Saint]

That sucks man. Reminds me of my $160 ticket I got for driving through a grocery store parking lot in Coppell "using it as a detour".

WTF? how can you get cited for that?

[DON SVO]

How about this angle...

I swerve to avoid someone pulling in front of me on a busy street. I clip the car beside me, he spins into the median, hits a light pole and is ejected into the street where he gets hit by another car.

Had he been wearing a seat belt, there's a great chance he would be alive. I wouldn't have the burden of knowing I caused his death. I wouldn't have to deal with his family not having a son/father/husband etc. in a situation that would have been a avoided a large percentage on the time.

Today's vehicles have safety systems designed to work with the seat belts and provide a pretty high survival rate. To me, not wearing your seat belt is foolish and selfish.

[Denny]

WTF? how can you get cited for that?

He avoided a traffic signal.

[Jimbo]

WTF? how can you get cited for that?

Its not a drive through route, its a destination. Using any parking lot as a "shortcut" is illegal.

[Denny]

How about this angle...

I swerve to avoid someone pulling in front of me on a busy street. I clip the car beside me, he spins into the median, hits a light pole and is ejected into the street where he gets hit by another car.

Had he been wearing a seat belt, there's a great chance he would be alive. I wouldn't have the burden of knowing I caused his death. I wouldn't have to deal with his family not having a son/father/husband etc. in a situation that would have been a avoided a large percentage on the time.

Today's vehicles have safety systems designed to work with the seat belts and provide a pretty high survival rate. To me, not wearing your seat belt is foolish and selfish.

And you wouldn't have a wrongful death lawsuit (civil) and manslaughter (criminal) charges to deal with.

[SMKR]

I will wear my seatbelt because I choose to. Everyone else should, so my healthcare coverage doesn't go up.

what are your thoughts on motorcycles and no seat belts?