New law lets police ticket solely for lack of seat belt

With a stroke of his pen, Gov. Charlie Crist reversed decades of public safety policy Wednesday and signed a law that allows police to ticket motorists solely for not wearing seat belts.

[chuck69]

like they need yet another reason to "harass and annoy"....

[keith]

Soon to be ex-governor Crist is just demonstrating he considers the rights of the insurance lobby to be greater than the rights of Floridians to liberty. Something to remember in his run for the Senate.

[Jen]

If you already wear your seatbelt, then this should not be a problem.

[Mrs V]

Why is this news? Where I live, the cops could ALWAYS give you a ticket for no seat belt. It's called "click it or ticket".

[Mandy]

MRS V stay where you live

[Tampa sux]

20 years behind New York as usual... I'm still waiting for in-car cell phone laws - which protect the OTHER guy (who may be wearing his seatbelt and NOT texting or yapping on his cell)
Oh yeah - vehicle inspection would be nice too; It would be comforting to know the creep tailgaiting me because I drive near the speed limit HAS BRAKES.

[LOL of New Jersey]

HI

[Len]

A seat belt is always a good idea, but a person shouldn't lose, in some cases, a day's pay just because he/she forgot to buckle up. Noone is at risk except the person who is not buckled. This is nothing more than another way to fleece the public. The Nanny State has arrived!!

[MisInformed]

Len wrote:

A seat belt is always a good idea, but a person shouldn't lose, in some cases, a day's pay just because he/she forgot to buckle up. Noone is at risk except the person who is not buckled. This is nothing more than another way to fleece the public. The Nanny State has arrived!!

As one of the responders who has to go to the scene of crashes and remove dead and broken bodies from cars, I am glad to see the law being enforced. I am not one to want to see the government decide everything for the people, but sometimes, people need help just to keep themselves safe from themselves. This law should help to save a great many lives.

[Len]

MisInformed wrote:

<quoted text>
As one of the responders who has to go to the scene of crashes and remove dead and broken bodies from cars, I am glad to see the law being enforced. I am not one to want to see the government decide everything for the people, but sometimes, people need help just to keep themselves safe from themselves. This law should help to save a great many lives.

...and generate a whole lot of revenue.

But seriously, how much do we allow the Gov't to "save us from ourselves"? When does it stop? Do we start getting tickets for eating more calories than we should? I'm all for a law that protects persons from the stupidity of others (drunk driving laws, etc.) but this goes over the line.
BTW, I have the utmost respect for those of you in the rescue/firefighting field. You guys do a hell of a job.

[fjejk]

How about enforcing the current laws...like speeding, agressive driving, lawn mowers driving on Big Bend Rd, and enforce speed on Big Bend Speedway.