$140 No-Seat Belt Ticket?

[Jimbo]

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.

You still don't have to worry about it, since you already know it was his fault for not wearing his seatbelt.

[mstng86]

what are your thoughts on motorcycles and no seat belts?

If a motorcyclists dies or is injured, he made the choice to put himself in danger by riding the bike.

It sucks for everyone. he gets hurt, I have to deal with guilt, and everyones insurance and healthcare rates rise.

BAN MOTORCYLES!!!

[Boondock Saint]

I wear my seatbelt 100% of the time. If my kids are in the car with me I dont even move until they are buckled. At times I have to get on their ass to put in on. I dont know how many times I am driving and see kids climbing around in the car like it was a jump house or something.

[Boondock Saint]

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

I honestly did not know that.. Guess I have been really lucky.

[Denny]

You still don't have to worry about it, since you already know it was his fault for not wearing his seatbelt.

No, you're still subjected to a certain level of liability. Civil court can judge you against a certain percentage of fault in his/her death.

[Jimbo]

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

Now there is an interesting angle in which not wearing the belt would affect someone else. I suppose the ruling would go to a jury or judge that would decide whether the action that started the incident is punishable at that level. Without illegal activity or malice, I would hope the decision would be no.

[Denny]

Now there is an interesting angle in which not wearing the belt would affect someone else. I suppose the ruling would go to a jury or judge that would decide whether the action that started the incident is punishable at that level. Without illegal activity or malice, I would hope the decision would be no.

Guilty or not guilty, I guarantee that you're not getting out of civil court without some level of liability. Your action was combined with his stupidity caused his death. Ya... money WILL exchange hands.

[Jimbo]

No, you're still subjected to a certain level of liability. Civil court can judge you against a certain percentage of fault in his/her death.

And I have no problem with that, as long as that percentage is reasonable, which is the goal of our system.

My point was dealing with the mental anguish involved.

[DON SVO]

You still don't have to worry about it, since you already know it was his fault for not wearing his seatbelt.

That's probably the shittiest response I could have gotten but what I expected.

I personally know 3 people that have been involved in fatality accidents that were out of their control. My uncle hit a teenage girl when he was 20 who was playing "car tag" with her friends (apparently they run Ou and 'tag' the rear fender as the car passes), she ran in front of him and that was that.

He's 51 and says he still has nightmares about it.

So save that hard-ass Ja Rule no-heart rapper shit, dude, I imagine killing someone unintentionally with a car is going to affect you.

[Jimbo]

Guilty or not guilty, I guarantee that you're not getting out of civil court without some level of liability. Your action was combined with his stupidity caused his death. Ya... money WILL exchange hands.

I agree. I like I said, I would hope the decision would be reasonable.

[mustgofaster]

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

A very valid point... & you know that it has happened to someone, somewhere.

Even if it goes to court & you are cleared / lawsuit is not awarded... How much did the person have to spend on his defense? Mental anguish?


I do agree that there should be a limit to the rules that Big Brother imposes on us... My point is that it is selfish not to bucle up.

[momo]

personally i think you should get to choose but not on this specific issue.

bottom line is that it saves lives more lives with than without, which reduces the collective cost of auto insurance. end of story.

[Jimbo]

That's probably the shittiest response I could have gotten but what I expected.

I personally know 3 people that have been involved in fatality accidents that were out of their control. My uncle hit a teenage girl when he was 20 who was playing "car tag" with her friends (apparently they run Ou and 'tag' the rear fender as the car passes), she ran in front of him and that was that.

He's 51 and says he still has nightmares about it.

So save that hard-ass Ja Rule no-heart rapper shit, dude, I imagine killing someone unintentionally with a car is going to affect you.

You've got your personal feelings wadded up in your panties today. Ja rule? Unbunch them while I explain.
Its devils advocate stuff, sensitive sally. If you, yourself, are placing the major part of the blame on the seatbelt then you logically can relieve yourself of the major part of the blame. Also relieving the major part of the guilt. This is only if you are actually placing the majority of the responsibility on the mans failure to wear the seatbelt.
I have had experience with the same type of incidents, and close friends and family involved in worse, one involving serious jail time. I know about the difficulties accrued when you unintentionally harm someone, welcome to life. What law should we pass to prevent your uncle's anguish? What should our government do about that?

[Jimbo]

A very valid point... & you know that it has happened to someone, somewhere.

Even if it goes to court & you are cleared / lawsuit is not awarded... How much did the person have to spend on his defense? Mental anguish?


I do agree that there should be a limit to the rules that Big Brother imposes on us... My point is that it is selfish not to bucle up.

I agree, I would hope that our justice system works correctly and the penalty is equal to the inciting action.

[Jimbo]

personally i think you should get to choose but not on this specific issue.

bottom line is that it saves lives more lives with than without, which reduces the collective cost of auto insurance. end of story.

Not bad. I like this point.