Getting a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt

[Phoenix84]

I've seen a lot of adds on TV and online lately saying if you don't wear a seatbelt while driving the cops will ticket you.  They say cops are out in force and can spot you not wearing a seatbelt, even at night.

There's a couple of comments/questions I'd like to pose.

1. My personal belief is that if you don't wear a seatbelt that's your problem and they shouldn't ticket you for that.  What do you think?

2. I don't usually wear my seatbelt when going on short drives on local roads.  Perhaps I should.  But anyway, I've driven right by cops without a seatbelt on several occasions and they either don't notice or don't care.  And it seems like a waste of police resources and time to chase down seatbelt violators.  One would think they should be going after "real criminals."  Do you think it's a waste of police resources?  And have you, or anyone you know, been ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt?

I personally just have not seen anyone ticketed nor the cops seem to notice, despite what all the ads say.

[Deleted]

They do seatbelt checks on the highway entrance ramp which I use when commuting from the office back home. They are probably there every other month, recently. I see lots of people getting pulled over. I assume they are getting tickets, but I don't know.

[HoneyBBQ]

I find it amazing that anyone would consider even not wearing one. Doesn't your car beep at you when you don't put it on??

Just because you want to die doesn't mean I want to pay more taxes for the police, ambulances, and traffic jams caused by an accident and then having to scrape your remains off the side of the road.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

A couple years ago, we were visiting a friend of mine in NY.  We had gone out to breakfast and were getting ready to get onto the road when I realized that I didn't see my purse, which was normally by my feet on the floor.  I took off my seat belt in order to turn around in the car to see if I had thrown it in the back seat (I had), and then IMMEDIATELY put the seat belt back on.  My seat belt was off *maybe* 10 seconds.  I was not driving.

We got pulled over a block later.  I think the fact that we were in a rental car and I had a KY driver's license got me a written warning rather than a ticket.

[zibazinski]

If you weren't driving when you took it off, there's no violation. It has to be on while car is in motion not you just sitting there. For a lot of states it isn't a secondary violation anymore. Good revenue source. Ticket you in under the guise of "safety."

[muttleynfelix]

Hubby got an additional fine on his last speeding ticket (this was 4 years ago) for not having a seatbelt. It was an additional $10 for the seatbelt violation   Not exactly a huge deterrent for him. That said, they still have to have a reason to pull you over other than a seatbelt violation in our state.   

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

If they want to ticket someone who has a primary traffic violation, I have no problem with this.  But in a time where the police resources are already stretched, to have someone on seat belt patrol seems to me that there are better uses of their time.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 30, 2013 12:29:23 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

If you weren't driving when you took it off, there's no violation. It has to be on while car is in motion not you just sitting there. For a lot of states it isn't a secondary violation anymore. Good revenue source. Ticket you in under the guise of "safety."

Not so in NY.....

www.dmv.ny.gov/broch/c-1.htm

All passengers in the front seat must be belted in and both the person and the driver can be fined.

[justme]

FYI - When they fill out a crash report one of the things they ask you is whether you were wearing a seatbelt. I assume if you say no they'll probably write you a ticket and it may effect how the claim shakes out. Though I suppose most people probably lie and say yes.

As for not wearing a seat belt being just your problem - it can easily become the passengers' problem or the problem of the person in the other car in an accident.

[zibazinski]

That's such BS and such an obvious revenue grab. That's why people have issues with cops. Bad PR.

[Deleted]

May 30, 2013 12:35:04 GMT -5 justme said:

FYI - When they fill out a crash report one of the things they ask you is whether you were wearing a seatbelt. I assume if you say no they'll probably write you a ticket and it may effect how the claim shakes out. Though I suppose most people probably lie and say yes.

As for not wearing a seat belt being just your problem - it can easily become the passengers' problem or the problem of the person in the other car in an accident.

i was in a fender bender last fall where I rear ended someone.  Cop asked if I was wearing my seatbelt and I said no.  He didn't give me a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt and he also said he felt bad but he had to write me a ticket for following too closely.  he was cool.  it probably depends on the cop.

[Deleted]

IMO it's the same argument about making helmets for motorcycle drivers mandatory - fine, don't wear it.  But don't complain when your body and entrails are strewn across the road because you failed to do a simple thing that could have saved your life. 

[zibazinski]

Supposedly in Michigan anyone texting is also breaking the law and will be ticketed. We were rear ended by someone texting but the cop was so pissed at having to show up that he didn't bother ticketing her. Bad PR again. I wanted to get his badge number and report him for his attitude but DF said not to because of repurcussions. Horse pucky!

[Deleted]

I personally don't know anyone who's gotten a seat belt ticket, but I know several people who have been ticketed for talking on their phone while driving. 

[Deleted]

I'm pretty sure that my insurance policy does not cover the accident if I am not wearing a seat belt.  In Alabama, they can only ticket you for not wearing a seat belt if they pull you over for another traffic violation.

I did get stopped for a driver's license check (they do those frequently around here) and got verbally "warned" because my dog (in the back seat) was not restrained.  There is no such law in Alabama, but the police officer said there should be.  I don't take the dog out to go joyriding; I take her to the vet and back.  She does not distract me; she sits quietly on the seat. 

[Tiny]

How do you get your car to not ding endlessly (the 'seatbelt' buzzer)? Or do you just hook up the seat belt before getting in? Maybe you've got an older car?

Why is it so hard to pull on the seatbelt when you get into the car? If it's not big enough to get around your girth - just put on your big boy/girl pants and call a local dealership (for your make of vehicle) and ask them for a seatbelt extender - they are generally FREE! Then you just have to suffer the embarrasment of stopping there to pick up the thing. Of course, if you are that embarassed by this - maybe it's a sign you need help. <-- being snarky and sarcastic - but, I feel brutally honest in my opinion. Especially since the really large people I know, are fully aware, they are really large and aren't embarrassed by asking for 'not a booth' at a restaurant OR making sure they'll fit into whatever seating is available BEFORE they attend a restuarant/bus/show, whereeverthey need to sit. They all have seatbelt extenders.) When I got my new car - I asked for (and recieved) seatbelt extenders for it. This way the really large people can ride in my car, too.

If the seatbelt feels like it's gonna decapitate you - newer vehicles come with adustable belts - check it out and adjust the belt. OR you can purchase a seatbelt clip thing (I had one for over 15 years) to help make the seatbelt fit correctly. I love my 2012 model car - the seatbelt is adjustable - no more little kid 'seat belt fixit' thing for me!!! YEAH!!

On another note:

In the olden days I use to park my car cheap in downtown chicago at a lot down under the City near a police tow lot. At least once a week there'd be a car that had been in an accident with a "head bump" in the windshield (sometimes even two head bumps) - basically when a driver or passenger's head slams into the windshield - the windshield cracks - but doesn't fall apart - leaving the windsheild pushed out in a 'bubble shape' - usually cracked and bloodied.

I guess most cars have air bags - so even if you aren't wearing a seat belt - your head won't hit the windsheild... but I still see those wrecked cars and the bloodied head bumps.

Also, I don't really want to get ejected from my car if I'm in an accident - I'm ok if I'm a broken bloody corpse inside my vehicle - I don't want to be a broken bloody corpse hanging out of the vehicle OR tossed onto the road or someone's lawn. ICK!

[movingforward]

Just because you want to die doesn't mean I want to pay more taxes for the police, ambulances, and traffic jams caused by an accident and then having to scrape your remains off the side of the road.

 

You mean our taxes go to pay for other things besides poor people

[midjd]

I always wear my seatbelt (my car beeps very angrily if I don't). DH got a seatbelt ticket once, I think it was $20 - not a huge deterrent. He always wears his now, though.

I have more of a problem with helmetless motorcycle riders. When I'm going 70 on the interstate, I really don't want to have to watch someone's head explode on the pavement. IMO if seatbelts are mandatory, helmets should be too.

That's such BS and such an obvious revenue grab. That's why people have issues with cops. Bad PR.

Sure, because cops are the ones who write the laws.

[midjd]

May 30, 2013 12:49:03 GMT -5 movingforward said:

Just because you want to die doesn't mean I want to pay more taxes for the police, ambulances, and traffic jams caused by an accident and then having to scrape your remains off the side of the road.

 

You mean our taxes go to pay for other things besides poor people

Rich people don't have car accidents, duh.

[Phoenix84]

Yeah, I had not considered cell phone talking tickets, or texting tickets.  I still feel that any adult should be able to do those things but don't complain when something bad happens. 

Anyway, I am surprised that in a lot of states it's only something they ticket you for if they pull you over for something else.  But it does seem like a stupid waste of an officer's time to go on seatbelt patrol. 

It only being a secondary violation is not the impression the ads give.  And I think Zib is onto something that all these fines are a way for cash strapped municipalities to generate revenue. 

[Tiny]

I always thought the seatbelt law as for 'stacking' with whatever other things you were guilty of when you got pulled over... So, if you ran a stop sign and got pulled over the Officer would write up tickets for everything they could in addition to the traffic violation. A convenient way to add to the cost of being pulled over without making running a stop sign a $300 fine (which I suspect wouldn't go over really well politically).

[Phoenix84]

I have noticed newer cars do ding incessantly when you don't put your seatbelt on.

I have a (somewhat) older car, a 2003 corolla, it does not beep at me to put my seatbelt on.

When I travel for work, the rentals sometimes do.  But it actually does the opposite for me.  I don't want to give into the machine and do what it wants so I refuse to put my seatbelt on unless I feel like I want to. 

[movingforward]

Yeah, I had not considered cell phone talking tickets, or texting tickets.  I still feel that any adult should be able to do those things but don't complain when something bad happens.

What about the innocent person who ends up in the hospital for days because some dumb ass who was texting ran into them.  Is that person allowed to complain

[Tennesseer]

If other don't want to wear seat belts that is up to them. But if they are in a car accident, get thrown around inside their vehicle and lose control of it, and then crash into other vehicles and/or pedestrians, they should be prosecuted to the max allowed.

[Peace77]

I got a ticket for not wearing a seat belt.  There was no other reason for the officer to pull me over.  Cost me $25 fine.

 He asked me why I wasn't wearing one and I told him because it cuts into my neck.  He didn't respond to that, he just gave me the ticket.

My belt does not have any way to adjust it.  

If I think about it, I put the belt on and put the shoulder strap behind my left elbow so it doesn't choke me.  

The purpose of the law is to limit the number of people walking around unable to work due to TBI (traumatic brain injury) from hitting their heads on the windshield.

[Abby Normal]

May 30, 2013 12:46:52 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

I personally don't know anyone who's gotten a seat belt ticket, but I know several people who have been ticketed for talking on their phone while driving. 

Here they give tickets for both.  Only the person not wearing the seatbelt gets the ticket (unless it's a minor) instead of the driver. It's also illegal to use a cellphone while driving (texting or talking). 

I have an issue with giving tickets for not wearing a belt. To me, it should be your choice. I think it is stupid not to wear one, but I'm only endangering myself if  I don't.  But I totally agree with texting/ cellphone use tickets because then you are endangering others.  

[tskeeter]

Phoenix, I agree with the seatbelt laws.  They protect the rest of us from having to pay for the increased public services and increased insurance rates that would result from the bad decision you and other people would make.

[greeniis10]

Phoenix84, this may be a recent regional thing.  I think I'm in the same general area as you and I've noticed these new commercials as well.  I agree that they are a waste of our law enforcement resources here.  Texting while driving is much worse and so is drunk driving.  My truck is also a 2003 and doesn't ding when I don't have my seat belt on.  I DO wear it most of the time, but there are exceptions:

I was in a car accident in high school.  Had I had my seat belt on it probably would have strangled me, first of all (due to the way the car rolled) and second, I would have been stuck upside down in a burning vehicle.  Surprisingly, even though the car rolled multiple times I didn't hit my head at all and I was able to climb out as soon as the car came to a stop and crawled away as the car burned.  I did have multiple other injuries, but nothing to my head.  Again, I still believe in wearing seat belts, but they aren't safe in EVERY case.

[Angel!]

The overall cost to taxpayers of your death in a traffic accident is considered to be ~1.2 Million.  Considering you are far more likely to die when not wearing a seatbelt, then I would say it is in everyone's best interest that people wear their seatbelt.

[zibazinski]

Cops have discretion about what they ticket about. If you're going fifty in a school zone, I have no issue with you being ticketed. You're an ass that deserves a ticket and a big one. If you're sitting in a parked car without your seat belt on, that's just bullshit. I don't hate cops, they do it to themselves. My future son in law maybe is a cop. Am I thrilled about it? No, but I don't hate him, yet. He hasn't turned into a prick yet either. Give him time and the exposure to the things that make cops pricks and I'm sure he will be.   Such a nice young man now, too.