I got my first ticket today...

[mztykal]

...and it's not for speeding. It's for not wearing my seatbelt. Originally I was pulled over according to the police man for an expired safety check. But I just got my safety check last month. So that's a no-go. So he then says he'll be nice and just charge me with no seatbelt. He's being nice? My a**. He can't charge me for the safety check if it's current. So I get the seatbelt charge. Guess how much that's for? You'd think it was cheap, no, it's 70 bucks. Just for a fvcking seatbelt. Oh my fvcking god. When I saw that I freaked. 70 dollars for a seatbelt violation? That's bullshit. I hate cops. That bastard just wanted to make his quota. What a fvcking prick. I hate cops. They suck. :|

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Could've been why you were pulled over to start with. I don't recall what the term is, but sometimes they aren't allowed to pull over ONLY for no wearing a seatbelt (primary infraction, something like that?) but if they pull you over for something else then they can go ahead and issue citation for not wearing belt.

Personal freedom issues aside, just make it a habit and you won't have to worry about it

BTW, are there "points" for not wearing the belt?

 

[mztykal]

What do you mean by "points"?

Today is not my day. :|

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Well, points are added to your driving record to let your insurance company know they can make some more money off you (They are not permanent though, they drop off after a year or so I think) Speeding/moving violations usually have points, but I don't know about the seat belt.. hope not for your sake!

 

[ThundercatHO]

i think cops are asses all over the place, i got pulled over one time and my friend didn't have his belt on, so the cop wrote me a ticket!!!! WTF, i wasn't the one not wearing the seat belt. i can't make my friend wear his either, what am i going to tell him "put your seatbelt on or i'll shoot you.".......it's just another way for states to get more money off of fines....

 

[kumanchu]

that isn't a moving violation. don't worry. its a fine. he wants to make your government some money and "keep you safe" eh? just be glad you didn't get a speeding ticket before you had a liscence like i did ^_^

 

[mztykal]

Thanks for the kind words. I wish it was a speeding ticket. At least that's justifiable. I mean if I don't want to wear my seatbelt, why should I? I'm not jeopardizing anyone else but myself so whats so wrong about that? Damn, cops are all assholes! They deserve to be put in a room with all the people they pissed off for ten minutes with no weapons. I'd love to be in the room with the cop that gave me the ticket. I'd kick his a**. He deserves it.

 

[shopbruin]

is it law in hawaii to have your seatbelt on at all times? it is in california... you must have it on at all times, if someone in your car doesn't have it on they will get a ticket also but if that person is under 18 the driver gets a ticket...

 

[mztykal]

I'm not sure if it's the law in Hawaii. But I think it's the same as Cali. Something to that effect. But don't you guys think 70 bucks is a little steep for something as minor as a seatbelt infraction?

 

[Whisper]

$70 actually isn't too bad for a ticket. I've seen ones that are much, much higher; be glad it was for a seat-belt as opposed to speeding, as speeding usually ends up in the range of a base price (around $50 or so) plus $8-12/mph over the posted limit.

Also, don't blame the cop for the law being passed. Far as I know, the mandatory seat belt law is a federal one; the officer is just doing his job by nailing people for not obeying it. If you have issues with the law itself, then write your congressman/woman...don't get pissed at the officer for doing what he gets paid for.

I know that in Ga, a seat belt violation is not considered a primary offense, and so a cop can't pull you over for that alone (at least that's how it was a few years ago) UNLESS the police officer thinks you look under 18 years of age, in which case he/she CAN pull you over for just that. In all other cases they must stop you for something else, and then tack on seat belt if they notice that. And yes, if your passenger is not wearing a seat belt in your car then you will get the ticket for it. Much the same way that if your friend is driving your car and is pulled over for speeding you -not your friend- will receive the citation.

 

[The Stigenator]

my friend got a $100 for not wearing his seatbelt.. so go figure..that too it was in the city he lived..

as for anybody not wearing seat belts. I dont start the car if you dont wear them.
If you take em off, well I am going to have you put it on again.

sorry rules of the driver.

 

[Thegonagle]

Right on, Whisper, that's exactly how I feel, you just said it better than I could have.

Once, I was pulled over for blowing through a yellow/red light and I didn?t have my seatbelt on. I started to put it and quickly thought better of it, so I dropped the seatbelt. The cop was obviously less than pleased, and let me know it. Turns out my license was suspended from some past due ticket revenue, and I?d be walking from there.

The cop didn't give me a seatbelt ticket, but told me the reason cops like to give them (in Minneapolis, MN). The extra revenue from the $70 ticket funds training and education for paramedics.

If mandatory seatbelt use is a federal law, these tickets probably fund paramedic training throughout the US.

I bet the cop's "quota" had nothing to do with it. It's only the 5th of the month.

 

[ThundercatHO]

i forgot to add to my story, the cop was just being an ass and getting money from me.....needless to say my friend payed the 80 dollar fine for not having the seat belt on, but on the way to pay the fine i wrecked my FVCKING CAR!!!
that really pissed me off, i felt like beating the living sh!t out of that cop........i think i just don't like too many law enforement officers.....mainly because most are dicks

 

[mjquilly]

When I was 17, I got pulled over on my way to work for speeding. It was very early in the morning, driving in my pickup, 2 friends in the truck with me (they had the same job). My friend sitting in the middle was 15, other friend was 17. I only recieved a verbal warning, my 15 year old friend got nothing since he was under 16, and my other friend got a fine for no seatbelt (he was acutally sleeping at the time). I didn't get anything!

 

[kranky]

Why do people blame the cops for enforcing laws? The legislature makes the laws and people should complain to them if they aren't happy with certain laws. (Not a flame, just curious)

 

[mjquilly]

<< The legislature makes the laws and people should complain to them if they aren't happy with certain laws >>



Cops have too much behind them to fight anything like traffic tickets - If a cop says you didn't come to a complete stop at a stop sign and you did, too bad, you can't win that argument in court.

 

[iamwiz82]

in michigan it is a primary offense, and oyu can be pulled over for no seatbelt. Personally, i dont see the big deal in wearing them. Not uncomfortable or anything. In my car, all passengers must wear a seat belt, or i'm not goin anywhere.

On the other hand, i was pulled over for stopping too late for a stop sign, my front tires crossed the crosswalk, now that cop was an ass.

 

[Soybomb]

What kranky said. Some of you guys can be real punks when it comes to police. Trust me be happy it was a seatbelt ticket and not a speeding ticket or your insurance would be goin' up. I support seatbelt laws and have no problem with them being enforced.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Why not just wear a seatbelt?

 

[StageLeft]

Let me get this straight. You drive without a seatbelt? And you're calling the cop an ass? He was enforcing the law, as he is obliged to do. Damn, its no wonder that its a law...some people _need_ the gov't to tell them what to do quite clearly - why in hell don't you wear a seatbelt?

 

[JasonG]

The problem is that it does affect everyone when you don't wear your seatbelt because when you're in an accident, the cost is more for everyone because you're injuries will be more severe.

So, everyone's insurance costs go up!

I can't understand these stupid people who won't wear a seatbelt.

Driving is not a right, it's a privilege. If you can't follow the rules, then you should not be allowed on the road.

It's especially bad when parents don't belt their kids since they are too young to know better.

Jason

 

[NFS4]

Why the hell weren't you wearing your seatbelt in the first place? I mean, that's pretty much common sense. Even if you have airbags in your car you should have been wearing one. Hey, it's your life, but I'd rather see you get in a wreck and have minor injuries than to get in a wreck and go flying head first through the windshield or crack your sternum on the steering wheel.

Personally, I think it serves you right. Next time do yourself a favor and put your seatbelt on. If you don't, make a seperate fund for paying off the tickets.

And to call the cop an ass for giving you a ticket? Comeon!! Get real man!!

To quote Jim Carey in Liar Liar...&quot;Stop breaking the law *******!&quot; j/k

 

[Thom]

I'm glad that Yawmark is not around here much anymore to see you being such arseholes.

If you are too stupid to know how to use a seatbelt, you shouldn't even be driving, let alone complaining.

Go and grow up, develop some respect for the laws of your country and those whose job it is to enforce them.

then realise what a complete ass you are.

 

[Preyhunter]

You can probably place part of the blame on insurance companies for seatbelt laws. Because of the high medical costs involved in fixing someone involved in an accident that was not wearing a seatbelt, the lobbyists for the insurance companies most likely put a lot of pressure on the legislators to pass that law.

 

[Total Refected Power]

I don't think the seat belt is the issue (yes, it's wrong and techically againist the law). Its the power that police have to selectively enforce the laws. Often they &quot;profile&quot; people and this wide net will catch many innocent people. I was pulled over once for a &quot;odd-looking inspection sticker&quot;. Of course all was in order. The cop was just looking for an excuse to harass a young kid on July 4th. Maybe something grander would have turned up.

In general they have a very tough job but when law-abiding citizens get caught up in their web it leave a bad taste in their mouth.