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Unread 05-02-2009, 01:14 PM   #26
Rich Z
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Location: Crawfordville, FL
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Name : Rich Zuchowski
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Originally Posted by Shadow View Post
Although I understand you sentiment, I don't think you'll see any more abuses of it than there may already be. If you're worried about it, install a mini-cam in the car (like some do for the track) and either keep it running or have an instant on switch and switch it on when you see a LEO.

Make sure it's date/timed.

Now that we have the paranoia protection in place don't worry about searches and such. Without PC or a warrant, you're still no more likely to get your car searched than before. Again for the overly paranoid, simply install a big-brother cam and let it run during the stop

The easiest way NOT to get your car searched on a traffic stop, is to simply say NO!

Disregard all the BS they'll try to drop on you, guilt trip you and such, and just stand firm. If there's nothing to hide, even if they bring in a dog, they won't find anything.

Now...For those that disagree with the law, lets look at another side of the coin:



I agree





Ok, here's the problem. Other than our friendships, I generally wouldn't give a great damned what happened to most people!

So why the law? Simple: Cha-Chhing!! $$$$$$

Lets look at some:

The costs involved if you go through the windshield:

1) On scene investigation fatal/Serious bodily injury-Law Enforcement manpower costs.
2) Medical cost (on Scene)
3) Medi-Vac (if required) or general medical transport.
4) ER visit
5) Hospital stay and the associated costs therein.
6) Doctors bill
7) Physical Thereapy
8) Assisted living facility or home nursing care.
9) Coroner costs (if the above were not required)
10) Burial expense/Cremation.
11) Loss of income to your family
12) Increased insurance premiums across the board to make up for the losses.

If you have great insurance, most of the above won't impact you so much other than your deductibles and increased insurance costs. Of course, if your insurance is substandard, sooner rather than later, you or your loved ones will be out of pocket for costs

Unlike years past, hospitals can and do come after you for the overdue medical bills.

Costs to others:

You loose control (because you aren't buckled in and can't CYA and hang on to the steering wheel at the same time!) and hit/injure or kill someone else

Aside from potential criminal issues, that's going to get very expensive to a lot of people, real quickly!

If you have no insurance or your insurance really sucks....You may end up on the indigent care list so the government gets to foot you bills. Ok for you, sucks for the rest of us!

And of course, along with the potential for job/income loss, with HUGE medical bills comes the potential for bankruptcy and loss of your home, property, and "things."

See, when you file bankruptcy, a lot of other bills, not associated with this mess, will likely get swept up in the filing. This way, everyone gets to share in your loss!!

The economy is bad enough as is. Lets not do things to help it get worse!!

And finally, on the economic front, look at the articles on the matter. It was started in ine the other day that the feds were threatening to pull aorud 30 billion or had another 30+ billion for the state, if the laws were enacted. Even Charlie couldn't turn that much money down!

As for the motorcyclist, being one I see both sides. That said, the measly 10k they're required to have to ride helmet less is a joke and whoever thought that crap up, needs to be drug down the road by their cojones!!

It's difficult enough to survive a bike crash (BTDT too) without having one of the least protected and most critical parts of your body, take the "hit" if you will.

See, it's not all about "ME", it's more about the impact of my decisions on everyone else!

Aside from $$$ lets look at another issue.

Ever been in an out of control car? I have. Both belted and unbelted!!

Unbelted I took out part of a widshield and bent the steering wheel of a 1969 Camaro in an almost head on crash on I-4 with a DUI driver! I probably should not be here now.

Also slid out from under the steering whee and into the passenger side (bench seat) of a 71 Super Bee on a turn. Had to pull myself back under the wheel just to see where I was going (there's more to it this but I'll save it for comic relief night).

And I've bounced around the inside of a couple of patrol cars as well. Funny the crap you hit while airborne!
And yes, I've crashed a police motorcycle at speed. The helmet looked like crap afterward, but it did it's job!

On the flip side (no pun intended), I've crashed at high speed and been held in place.

I've taught police tactical (pursuit) driving and hung those thight corners at reduiculous speeds....and been in TOTAL CONTROL of the vehicle because of the seatbelt.

And when dealing with a bad situation, rapid manuever, hi-speed pursuits, and such, it's nice not to have to hang on to the damend wheel while splitting your attention between driving, other drivers, ther perp and your but staying behind the wheel where it belongs!!!

So for the high performance enthusiast out here, it only makes sense to wear them based upon what and where we drive



Me either, but as Ron White says: "You can't fix stupid!"

He's right...so now we're trying to legislate it
Freedom of choice is not necessarily "stupid". It's freedom to choose, whether correct or not, based on what someone else may believe is stupid.

As for being involved in accidents as part of a career choice, well in such a case perhaps it would be best to have the JOB require the use of seat belts, when prudent, based on that likelihood.

As for the collateral damage and expenses caused by an accident, that could be very expensive for the party causing the accident, well, that is part of the risk a person takes in making their own decisions about how they drive and how they choose to protect themselves if such a situation should arise. Someone being sued because of their poor choice of action is not an unusual situation in the legal system, and certainly would be every bit as much incentive to NOT engage in such actions as putting a law in place that creates any penalty for a driver who chooses to not do what the law says he or she must, with or without and damages resulting from that choice.

In my opinion a law that states that you MUST wear a seat belt because you MIGHT get involved in an accident and it MIGHT save you and others from damage and expense is every bit as bad as laws that state that you cannot have this or that firearm because you MIGHT just use it in an illegal manner. It is basically a presumption of guilt before the crime or incident takes place, if ever.

You can't put rubber baby buggy bumpers on the entire world. And the government certainly cannot try to legislate those bumpers into place.
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