Seat belt law

[wilebill]

Should the MS Legislature pass a mandatory seat belt law? The house passed the measure by a vote of 92-25, but it still has to go to the senate.

[aaron]

To be quite honest, I don't think any law should be passed that protects you from you. Laws should be passed to insure you don't infringe on the rights of others. If your going to pass a seatbelt law, throw in smoking and alcohol too. Those two kill many, many more people than seat belts save. And with tobacco/alcohol, you don't just kill yourself, you have a good chance at killing others through second-hand smoke and drunk driving.

[wilebill]

To be quite honest, I don't think any law should be passed that protects you from you. Laws should be passed to insure you don't infringe on the rights of others. If your going to pass a seatbelt law, throw in smoking and alcohol too. Those two kill many, many more people than seat belts save. And with tobacco/alcohol, you don't just kill yourself, you have a good chance at killing others through second-hand smoke and drunk driving.

I tend to agree with your logic, aaron. However, I do believe that there should be a law that children should be buckled up no matter what. I never used to buckle up until I had kids, but I started doing that to set an example for them. I always buckled them up and luckily that habit has stuck with them and me.

[Lylabean]

I thought there was a law to wear seat belts? guess i need to read up on what this law is..

Lynn

[wilebill]

I based this topic and poll on this HA article (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060116/OPINION01/601160329/1014).

From what I understand, the law we have now is a secondary (I think that's right) law, where you can only get a ticket if you're stopped for something else first. In other words, you can't be stopped for not wearing a seatbelt, but if you're stopped for say, speeding, then you can also be given a ticket for no seatbelt.

If I'm not mistaken, the law they're talking about now is a primary law, where if you're spotted not wearing a seatbelt, then you can be stopped for that and issued a citation.

[Lylabean]

After googling this because I already thought it was a primary offense in Mississippi this type of bill has come up before..at least in 2004 and 2005 and has always died in committee.

I see the house passed it and it's on to the senate.

Lynn

[tempatv]

i say make it a law. what is so hard or restricting about putting on a seatbelt? i've worn my seatbelt my whole life and feel naked without it. and i bet if you ask paramedics about the law, they would say the same. they are prolly tired of losing people who could have easily been saved by wearing their seatbelt.

[aaron]

I'm just saying that if your going to get into the business of saving people because they make the wrong decisions, then tell them they can't smoke, they can't drink, they must have health insurance, etc.

I personally thought seat belts had become a primary offense one or two years ago. It has been secondary for a few years now.

[ynotme297]

I based this topic and poll on this HA article (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060116/OPINION01/601160329/1014).

From what I understand, the law we have now is a secondary (I think that's right) law, where you can only get a ticket if you're stopped for something else first. In other words, you can't be stopped for not wearing a seatbelt, but if you're stopped for say, speeding, then you can also be given a ticket for no seatbelt.

If I'm not mistaken, the law they're talking about now is a primary law, where if you're spotted not wearing a seatbelt, then you can be stopped for that and issued a citation.
you are very correct bill.

[ynotme297]

there are plenty of drunks who wear seat belts, and they are prolly drinking and smoking at the same time aaron.

[R1ZOOM]

The biggest benefit that I see in upgrading the law to a primary offense is the money that will be available. A primary seat belt law would make Miss. eligible for a $8.7 billion grant. The law is already in place that you're required to wear a seat belt, so to wear or not to wear really isn't the issue. The issue is whether it should be a primary stop or not. Realistically, its very hard to tell if somebody is wearing a seat belt or not a lot of the time, and nearly impossible at night, so I don't see the public llosing a whole lot by the law being passed. I think we stand to gain a lot more than we will lose if this law passes, and if a few lives are saved in the process then that's a big plus too.

[bulldog]

there is a seat belt law in effect now what they are trying to pass now is if you are not wearing your seat belt you can be pulled over and written a ticket. as it is now seat belt is a secondary offence not primary. this is going to have a lot of rookie cops pulling over everyone

[bulldog]

there are alot of pros and cons when refering to the wearing of seat belts :smt070 :smt070 :smt070 :smt070:smt086

[IGID]

HPD rookies will be too busy catching calls for service that are backed up because of lack of man power instead of being pro-active and enforcing traffic laws and looking for criminals. All rookies go through a stage of showing off their new found authority, but those who take advantage of it will have a short career in law enforcement.

[R1ZOOM]

HPD rookies will be too busy catching calls for service that are backed up because of lack of man power instead of being pro-active and enforcing traffic laws and looking for criminals.

Exactly, HPD seems to be totally reactive now instead of proactive. As long as things stay the way they are now it will only get worse. Hattiesburg is looking more like Jackson every day.

[IGID]

Hawk, every year there are about 10 different ways the radar bill is written up in order to find one they might like and in all of them, the revenue generated would go to the state, not the county. The only money the county will get is the amount to reimburse for the cost of the radar units. The Sheriff and his Deputies salaries are regulated by the state and we can wtite 1 ticket or a 1000 and our paycheck wouldn't change. The only thing is, if we did write the 1000, in 4 years when we come ask for your vote, we might be looking for a job. So, it wouldn't be a free for all. You would have to balance enforcing the law and helping the citizens of your county.

[Conveyor Belt]

[quote=R1ZOOM]The biggest benefit that I see in upgrading the law to a primary offense is the money that will be available. A primary seat belt law would make Miss. eligible for a $8.7 billion grant. quote]

AND THERE SHE BLOWS!!!! It's all about the Benjamin's!

They don't care about you, they care about the $$$$. Don't fool yourself.

The libertarian in my opposes this law in every way. If you want to ride around without your seat belt, who's business is it? If I want to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, it's my choice.

Everyday, I see people come to my business with their kids unbuckled. Women with newborns on their laps in the front seat. People with 5 kids lined up in the back of a Ford Fiesta. 1/2 of the time, the people who don't buckle their kids in have a beer between their legs. Sometimes they are red-eyed drunk/high. I've seen it all. I cringe when I see them, but there's really nothing I can do. The police don't care. I've called before and they say they'll put someone to look for the vehicle. It takes HPD 10 min to respond to counterfeit bill calls, when I've got the criminal there. Of course, they catch on after 3 min or so and bolt. But I digress...

I, personally, wear my seat belt. I buckle up my child and he gets upset when he's not buckled in. He knows the difference. I grew up only putting on my seat belt on road trips, or when it was raining. Still, it's an adults personal choice to buckle up. I don't think it's the government's role to make them wear a seat belt.

[wilebill]

Looks like the MS legislature is reading the forum here. The bill passed and is on it's way to the gov's desk.

And the figure is $8.7M, not B.

[reality]

Speaking of seat belts...

Joaquin Phoenix was unhurt in a car accident where his car overturned on a canyon road and collided with another vehicle after his brakes went out. Phoenix was wearing his seat belt and walked away from the scene. Full Story (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,182954,00.html)