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Do you believe in seat belt laws for consenting adults?

Do you believe in seat belt laws?


  • Total voters
    99
  • Poll closed .
Yeah, I was once pulled over for speeding(which btw is a victimless crime)

Maybe, maybe not.

and the cop wanted to know what was in my passenger seat. Guess what it was? A gun. Did he need to know about it? Nope.

I don't want to derail the thread, much less turn this into a gun control discussion which really isn't my thing, but if a cop sees a gun lying on a car seat doesn't he at least have a right to ask if you have a permit for it?
 
Maybe, maybe not.

Unless I hit someone it's not. I was going fifteen over the speed limit and hit no one.

I don't want to derail the thread, much less turn this into a gun control discussion which really isn't my thing, but if a cop sees a gun lying on a car seat doesn't he at least have a right to ask if you have a permit for it?

No.
 
Is it all about safety or those $150 traffic tickets and making revenue dollars for the state or counties? :thinking
Follow the money trail.
 
Unless I hit someone it's not. I was going fifteen over the speed limit and hit no one.

Reckless endangerment is a thing. I don't know if what you were doing would qualify because I know too little of the facts surrounding your speeding incident, but you don't have to cause harm first before you're arrested/cited for behavior that could likely lead to it.

There are, unfortunately, blind spots in this regard in crime, but mostly that's the case.




Legally or according to your principles?
 
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They force you to buckle up, which might save you and let you smoke and drink, which will definitely harm you. There's something incongruous.
 
Do momentum and kinetic energy apply to consenting adults?

That's ridiculous... Look, I not only think people should wear seat belts, but I myself wear them and even if there wasn't a law requiring me to, I would still do so. This isn't a question of safety either, because we all know that wearing them is by far the smart move. The issue here is about freedom... Freedom to live your life the way you want too. As long as a person isn't endangering other people, then they should be able make the choice for themselves on things like seat belts. That goes for wearing helmets for motorcycles and bicycles too.

We live the first 18 years of our lives under the supervision of our parents. We follow their rules and they teach us the things we need to know, so when we go out on our own we can not only survive in this world, but hopefully thrive as responsible, productive adults. When a person grows up and leaves the nest, their parents no longer make the rules for them. The strings are cut and it's their turn to make their own decisions, good or bad, and take responsibility for themselves. That's what being an adult in a free country is all about.

I don't know about you all, but I'm an adult and I take responsibility for my actions. I don't need, nor do I want the government to step in and play mommy and daddy for me. Our government is not God or the all knowing man behind the curtain, it's made up of people just like you and I. They should no more be allowed to punish me for not wearing my seat belt, than my parents could. I do think it's the governments role to educate people on things like the safety behind wearing seat belts, but that's as far as it should go.
 
Reckless endangerment is a thing. I don't know if what you were doing would qualify because I know too little of the facts surrounding your speeding incident, but you don't have to cause harm first before you're arrested/cited for behavior that could likely lead to it.

There are, unfortunately, blind spots in this regard in crime, but mostly that's the case.

Reckless endangerment is crap. You can't show that a harm occurred, so you go with some idiotic idea that people are endangering people by doing a certain thing. Meh..

Legally or according to your principles?

Legally he can ask, but there is no reason for him to do so, just like there is no argument to be made that people should be required to have a permit.
 
That's ridiculous... Look, I not only think people should wear seat belts, but I myself wear them and even if there wasn't a law requiring me to, I would still do so. This isn't a question of safety either, because we all know that wearing them is by far the smart move. The issue here is about freedom... Freedom to live your life the way you want too. As long as a person isn't endangering other people, then they should be able make the choice for themselves on things like seat belts. That goes for wearing helmets for motorcycles and bicycles too.

We live the first 18 years of our lives under the supervision of our parents. We follow their rules and they teach us the things we need to know, so when we go out on our own we can not only survive in this world, but hopefully thrive as responsible, productive adults. When a person grows up and leaves the nest, their parents no longer make the rules for them. The strings are cut and it's their turn to make their own decisions, good or bad, and take responsibility for themselves. That's what being an adult in a free country is all about.

I don't know about you all, but I'm an adult and I take responsibility for my actions. I don't need, nor do I want the government to step in and play mommy and daddy for me. Our government is not God or the all knowing man behind the curtain, it's made up of people just like you and I. They should no more be allowed to punish me for not wearing my seat belt, than my parents could. I do think it's the governments role to educate people on things like the safety behind wearing seat belts, but that's as far as it should go.

This is straight-up yelling fire in a crowded theater territory.
 
This is straight-up yelling fire in a crowded theater territory.

No it isn't.

Reckless endangerment is a thing.

Nope, he was not ticketed for that. Try and stay on topic.

It was an example of momentum and inertia affecting the driver.

Which occurred after, which is not your argument.

Look, if seventh grade science wasn't taught at your school there isn't actually any need to go back and take it.

Does "seventh grade science" prove your claim? Of course not.
 
This side of the pond, we have "policing by consent", but "consenting adults" is a term largely restricted to discussion of sexual mores.
 
This side of the pond, we have "policing by consent", but "consenting adults" is a term largely restricted to discussion of sexual mores.

That's actually the case here too, but I knew what he meant.
 
This is straight-up yelling fire in a crowded theater territory.

What? This is about allowing people to make their own decisions concerning their own lives. I don't need the government to protect me from myself, and it's not their place to do so.
 
Where is the intent to invade the person or property of another?

We have plenty of laws based on safety of others. Speed limits are one. Texting/distracted driving bans is another. Not all laws are based on an intention to do harm to others, but simply the ability to do harm to others due to actions that a person can control and where controlling those actions will not cause undue hardships to anyone.
 
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What? This is about allowing people to make their own decisions concerning their own lives. I don't need the government to protect me from myself, and it's not their place to do so.

I'm not arguing from the position of protecting yourself from yourself. If it was I'd have very little interest in even participating in this thread.
 
I'm not arguing from the position of protecting yourself from yourself.

You are arguing that people lose control because they do not wear their seatbelt, which is false.
 
If seat belt laws are so needed as many claim, what's to say things like this won't be next:

Helmets for swimming pools - You could hit your head on the side of the pool, or on the bottom if you dive in... So helmets are for your own protection.

Flotation devices for all other swimming - Because you could swim out too far, get a cramp and drown. So flotation devices are for your own protection.

Chaps and leather boots for nature hiking - There is the danger when hiking of getting bit by poisonous snakes, and being out in the wilderness this could kill you. So if you hike, you are required to wear leather chaps and boots to prevent snake bites. It's for your own protection.

Illuminated pedestrian night vests - From sun down to sun up, all pedestrians on public sidewalks, streets, and public parking areas, are required to wear government approved illuminated safety vests at all times, to better alert people in motor vehicles of your presence. They are for your own protection.

Cold weather protective shoes - All citizens are required to wear cleated, government approved shoes, boots or over-shoes when a) walking on sidewalks, streets, or any public areas and b) the official temperature locally is 28 degrees Fahrenheit or below. This is to prevent serious injury due to falls occurring, from possible ice that may have accumulated. These shoes are for your own protection.

Summer water requirement/GPS beacon for motorists - Each year from June 1 through September 30, all motor vehicles are required to carry within the vehicle, 1 liter of drinking water for every person in the car, as a safety precaution in the case of vehicle breakdown in rural areas. It's to prevent dehydration, serious illness or possible death that could occur, should motorist find themselves stranded for several hours or more. All vehicle must also carry a GPS distress beacon at all times to alert public safety officers you've been stranded. The summer water requirement and GPS beacon are for your own protection, and the protection of your passengers.
 
Absolutely not. It was never about safety, just revenue as most traffic laws are.
 
Yes. For those who claim that not wearing a seatbelt does not jeapardize others on the road, consider attempting to maintain control of ones car after being tossed on top of the dashboard. It's good law on a individual and societal level.
 
If seat belt laws are so needed as many claim, what's to say things like this won't be next:

Helmets for swimming pools - You could hit your head on the side of the pool, or on the bottom if you dive in... So helmets are for your own protection.

Flotation devices for all other swimming - Because you could swim out too far, get a cramp and drown. So flotation devices are for your own protection.

Chaps and leather boots for nature hiking - There is the danger when hiking of getting bit by poisonous snakes, and being out in the wilderness this could kill you. So if you hike, you are required to wear leather chaps and boots to prevent snake bites. It's for your own protection.

Illuminated pedestrian night vests - From sun down to sun up, all pedestrians on public sidewalks, streets, and public parking areas, are required to wear government approved illuminated safety vests at all times, to better alert people in motor vehicles of your presence. They are for your own protection.

Cold weather protective shoes - All citizens are required to wear cleated, government approved shoes, boots or over-shoes when a) walking on sidewalks, streets, or any public areas and b) the official temperature locally is 28 degrees Fahrenheit or below. This is to prevent serious injury due to falls occurring, from possible ice that may have accumulated. These shoes are for your own protection.

Summer water requirement/GPS beacon for motorists - Each year from June 1 through September 30, all motor vehicles are required to carry within the vehicle, 1 liter of drinking water for every person in the car, as a safety precaution in the case of vehicle breakdown in rural areas. It's to prevent dehydration, serious illness or possible death that could occur, should motorist find themselves stranded for several hours or more. All vehicle must also carry a GPS distress beacon at all times to alert public safety officers you've been stranded. The summer water requirement and GPS beacon are for your own protection, and the protection of your passengers.

Cute, but you're still ignoring how seat belts help the driver retain control of the vehicle and thus not be a danger to other cars and pedestrians.
 
Cute, but you're still ignoring how seat belts help the driver retain control of the vehicle and thus not be a danger to other cars and pedestrians.

They do not.
 
Yes. If you apply the brakes strong enough without a seatbelt, your chest will be against the steering wheel and you will have virtually no control over your car for a couple seconds, which is long enough to accidentally hit an innocent driver or even a pedestrian. Your seatbelt keeps you back against the seat.
 
Yes. If you apply the brakes strong enough without a seatbelt, your chest will be against the steering wheel and you will have virtually no control over your car for a couple seconds, which is long enough to accidentally hit an innocent driver or even a pedestrian. Your seatbelt keeps you back against the seat.

↑ Said by a guy who's driven a car at least once in his life.
 
↑ Said by a guy who's driven a car at least once in his life.

Yes. If you apply the brakes strong enough without a seatbelt, your chest will be against the steering wheel and you will have virtually no control over your car for a couple seconds, which is long enough to accidentally hit an innocent driver or even a pedestrian. Your seatbelt keeps you back against the seat.

That occurred after losing control.
 
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