Quote:
Originally Posted by floridaZ
...I don't like the idea of Police being able to pull you for it though... it's too arbitrary. They can pull you over to try and search the car or whatever they want. If you are wearing a seatbelt, they can just claim that you put it on while they were pulling you over.
Now hopefully, any lives saved by this will outweigh the negative effect of cops that will abuse it.  |
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:
Quote:
|
...I guess I just bristle at the government TELLING me what I have to do with something I purchased with my own money,
|
I agree
Quote:
|
...and affecting my own body. If I would rather take the risk of having my body thrown through the windshield during an accident, what business is that of theirs? For my own good whether I like it or not?
|
Quote:
|
...Same with motorcycle helmets. It's their head, so let them do what they please with it.
|
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
Quote:
|
Sorry, but I've just never been real keen on a "big brother" like government mandate of this nature.
|
Me either, but as Ron White says: "
You can't fix stupid!"
He's right...so now we're trying to legislate it
) asks to search your car, the answer (IMO) is a very polite no, followed by, is that all officer? Am I free to go?
Linear Mode
