I oppose helmet and seat belt laws. I wear my seat belt not because I need told to, but it is the direction I've chosen. on track, I wear my helmet too.
that's just you though.
You have to think of a stressed out person with kids straight from hell, who refuse to buckle up.
If there's a clear and present risk (certainity of punishment) of getting a big fine, that person is going to insist.
If there are no laws, plebs begin to make assumptions about probabilities, like it's just a short drive, it's just around the corner etc. and they end up not using the seatbelt, despite of the facts.
The risk of accident is just not perceived strongly enough.
The risk of a fine is well perceived because if you routinely don't respect the law, you get a fine, but you will get in a real accident (not just bumping around) once in your life if ever.
You might say that it's their business if they get killed, but in reality it means higher insurance and healthcare costs that hit everyone in the wallet.
Definitely a sad story, but I have to say, I am disgusted at the vehicular homicide charge they're throwing at the driver. Don't get me wrong, he was definitely in the wrong here, but throwing a kid like that in jail for driving like an idiot?
Maybe I am way off base here, but I just don't see how that is beneficial in this situation.
what if someone steals a car with a baby, drives recklessly and crashes it, killing the baby?
That charge makes sense.
I don't think you can write in law that depending on how much people you cared about you killed, you get a lighter maximum sentence.
In this case it seems disgusting because he already has the guilt coming from the consequences of his actions, but the judge has wiggle room to take repentance into account. Unless you have minimum sentences that include jail time to be served for this.