More Government = Less Freedom

What a shocker. The Democrat-led North Carolina General Assembly wants to reduce your freedom even more to save you from yourself. The North Carolina House just passed a bill that would send you to jail if you are in a vehicle without a seat belt -- that's every person in the vehicle, regardless of age.

The only question left is whether it will be a primary offense (which will allow the police to pull you over just because someone's not wearing a seat belt) -- which the House bill says; or a secondary offense -- which the Senate bill says. And yes, the driver will get tickets for any and all passengers under 16, while other riders will get their own tickets.

Oh, and you commercial vehicles that have been exempt from the law? Sorry, but no more exemption from you. And yes, if you're from out of state, you're certainly going to be a target because you don't know about this law, do you?

And here's the heart of the issue:

the bill’s supporters say public safety, not individual rights, are the priority

The Democrats of North Carolina are clearly staking out their position -- freedom is not allowed in North Carolina. Their opinions about what you can and cannot do with your own body is more important to them than freedom of any sort.

Good think our crime levels are so low in North Carolina that the police have so little to do that they can support this safety measure, eh? Oh wait, I forgot. The police in North Carolina are not about public safety, they're a revenue source for the state and nothing more.

Posted by: Ogre at 10:08 AM

Comments

1 "The police in North Carolina are not about public safety, they're a revenue source for the state and nothing more."

That about sums up traffic tickets all over the country. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar or a politician ( sorry, a duplication of effort ).

Yes, I know, some tickets that are issued are for real safety issues; but a good percentage of them are to bring in the money, not for any other reason.

Posted by: TF Stern at July 12, 2006 01:27 PM (dz3wA)

2 That would explain things like stop signs in residential neighborhoods, "checkpoints," and red-light cameras now, wouldn't it?

Posted by: Ogre at July 12, 2006 01:37 PM (/k+l4)

3 Michigan has had the seatbelt law for a long time now. Just recently it was admended to include pulling you over just for not having your seatbelt on now.

They are now legislating for stupid people.

I say if you are too stupid to wear your seatbelt by now you are smart enough to deserve what happens to you when you get into an accident without said seatbelt on.

Posted by: Quality Weenie at July 12, 2006 02:57 PM (XG7jZ)

4 But I'm pretty sure North Carolina would be the first state in the country to DEMAND that adults in the BACK seat of cars wear seat belts!

Posted by: Ogre at July 12, 2006 05:48 PM (/k+l4)

5 Nope, Michigan was before you. All passengers in the vehicle must have a seatbelt on or be in a child seat.

Posted by: Quality Weenie at July 12, 2006 08:34 PM (BksWB)

6 I somehow can't picture That 1 Guy in a child seat...

Posted by: Ogre at July 12, 2006 09:17 PM (6PiYg)






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