Does anyone think that $125 is a fair amount of money to be charged for a no seatbelt ticket?

Question

I don't remember voting for such a law, and I don't know one person who agrees with it. I was only a mile from my house, I had intended and did put on my seatbelt after I brushed my hair. I was late to lunch. In the meantime some tyrannical police officer with a skin condition decided to pull me over and conclude that my driving was fine, my proof of insurance and tabs and everything were fine, but since I wasn't wearing my seatbelt he'd have to give me a ticket, for $124. What does America stand for anymore? Is this extreme punishment, basically forfeiture of a days wages reasonable for me doing something that puts no one in danger but myself if I so choose in a country that is supposedly free? Whatever happened to the constitution. If Thomas Jefferson rose from his grave, he would be disgusted with the police state America has become. I told the officer to read 1984. What a jackass!

I didn't say Thomas Jefferson wrote the constitution, but he was one of the founding fathers of what our country is supposedly based on, freedom. Freedom over our own life, liberty and personal property, so as long as our actions are not harmful to others, our freedoms should not be hindered. That is what our country was founded upon, not a bunch of little rats driving around searching for people are putting no one but themselves at risk, and charging astronomical amounts collected by the government for commiting something which in no way affects anyone elses safety but that person. This is in no way exercising freedom. I think anyone with half a brain can figure that out.

And for the record, the police do not fight crime. My grandfather has dementia and we have a worthless relative who has been stealing my paralyzed grandmother's morphine. The relative tells my grandfather things to put him into a rage so that he will throw out anyone in the house, so that he can steal the drugs. My grandma needs 24 hour care, however, one night my grandpa freaked out, started waving his gun at everyone and threatening them. We called the police, they said unless he fires a shot, they wouldn't come out. We told them to take Luke away so that a caretaker may stay with my grandma, but they refused. Hmm, stealing morphine is a felony, threatening people with a gun puts lives in danger. Would the police respond to this, no, they must have been too busy writing seatbelt tickets. This is a true story. If they actually did their job, which is to serve and protect, maybe I wouldn't feel so bad supported them with my hard earned money. Fact is, they are worthless idiot

So now, in America, my life and my safety should be in the hands of the government. Maybe we should all just move to communist China.

Answer 1

Yes, it is a fair amount to pay. You were aware of the law that says you must wear a seat belt. It doesn't say 'only if you are more than a few blocks from home'. You knowingly didn't wear your seat belt. Pay the ticket and next time wear the darn thing. The officer was doing his job. Get over it!

Answer 2

Its not unreasonable at all. And just because you didn't vote for it that doesn't make it wrong or illegal or tyrannical.
It costs the government far more than $125 to deal with the aftermath of a car accident. It takes up police time, emergency services like fire trucks, and also government workers to clean your blood and brain matter off of the pavement when you've been thrown from your vehicle because you were too stupid to buckle your seatbelt. Plus they would need to pay the medical examiner to do the autopsy.
The issue with your grandfather is completely seperate from your seatbelt citation, no matter how incompetent the police were in that instance.

Answer 3

We call them gun toting badge flashing idiots around here. In GA the seatbelt fine is $15. I think, truth be known, it probably costs the state to write those tickets, by the time they process all the paperwork and the officer's time.

Then, to the issue of civil rights. I wear my seatbelt, because I am more comfortable with it on. My husband has arthritis and a seatbelt makes him very uncomfortable. I do not think that the government should tell me that I have to wear a seatbelt. I hear all the arguments about saving taxpayer money if I'm hurt. Well, let me tell you something. I've had hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical bills, and not ONE DIME of tax payer money has ever been spent on me. I don't think if I were in accident and hurt it would be any different. Yes, the seatbelts save lives. Children should be forced to wear them, because they can't make the decision for their own life and be held responsible for it. Adults, on the other hand, should be able to decide for themselves.

We own a 63 model Chevy, and it didn't even come with seatbelts as an option back then. We've had it retro fitted with a driver's lap belt, because our son drives it.

I 1000000% agree with you that the police and the judicial system of this country have turned exactly 180 degrees from what the founding fathers meant it to be. The police are for the most part, writing tickets and filling out reports. This fighting crime and putting their life on the line is a joke.

I was stalked for over two years, and the police laughed in my face as I screamed that I feared for my life. Stories like the one you told are everywhere. They just don't want to do their jobs.

Answer 4

Grow up Alison, you broke the law. $124 is a day's wages? God, you need a better job.

Your answer is very telling. So the cop has a skin condition? So you are better than he? He earns 3 times your pitiful paycheck. You really are an airhead. Get an education instead of cracking gum at some receptionist's job, earning crappy wages. Then maybe you be able to read a newspaper and be aware of the laws enacted by our representative government.

You were late, that's not the officer's fault. Brush your hair at home.

BTW, Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. That would have been James Monroe.

Answer 5

Hey that's cheap I think in my state it's closer to $300.00 dollars and it's higher for a child who isn't properly buckled up. Make it a habit to buckle up every time you turn on the car. If might save your life! Their are some pathetic police officers out there and it stinks when you cross paths with them. The officer that detained me LIED in court. LIED right through his TEETH. The court believed a lying police officer over me, a citizen with no criminal record and NO tickets. I thought the legal system worked and was fair but I know now that anyone can be jaded! I believe their are Innocent people sitting in jail because SOME cops LIE. I have friends that are cops and they agree I was jaded that night! Watch out!

Answer 6

Next time put your seat belt on before you leave your driveway.

In the Representative democracy we have, we elect legislators, who enact laws based on the views of the constituents. If you don't like the law, lobby to get it changed.

But in a nut shell here is what you said.
"That cop gave me a ticket because I broke the law! What a jackass!"

DR B. hahahaha You wish you knew anything. I am about 3 classes away from a masters degree. I'll give you a hint. If you speed through 4th district in Cleveland Oh, they are not going to pull you over, because they are dealing with other crime. Now if you go speeding through say, Parma, you bet your *** you will. Because Parma has far less crime to deal with.

Your wrong with your numbers. 80% of all police calls are calls for service, that have nothing to do with fighting crime.
The other 20% are everything else.

Answer 7

China is an awesome place. Shanghai is one of the most modern cities in the world. The architecture is very modern and the buildings look futuristic. The economy in China is growing 12 percent a year . You should seriously consider them as a place to reside as they have a lot ot offer. The seat belt ticket is much too expensive. I don't agree with the law or the fine.

Answer 8

It depends on the state, and I'm sorry but you can't say you didn't know about it. It's a law in all 50 states for at least 10 years. Where I live, it's 80 dollars. But I wouldn't even think about leaving my driveway without buckling up. There's too many nuts out there.

Answer 9

You appear to be too young to see the big picture. America and its Criminal Justice is not perfect; there's no argument about that. But when mixing in facts and statistics, freedoms, politics that are beyond our control, it is what you currently have. Have you ever seen a young teenage girl's head smashed into nothing because she flew through the windshield in an car accident? Exactly...wear your seatbelt. And cops don't make the ticket prices. Your politicans that you voted into office did. But, putting your anger of the whole situation aside...$125 will make you think twice about not wearing your seatbelt eh?

Answer 10

SORRY YOU FEEL THAT WAY.
BUT; THE POLICE DO NOT SET A PRICE FOR CLICK IT OR TICKET IT.

THE COURTS DO NOT SET AN AMOUNT TO BE CHARGED EITHER.
THE LEGISLATURE ENACTS A BILL AND IT THEN BEING VOTED UPON BY YOUR CHOSEN LEGISLATOR BECOMES LAW.

BETTER THEN TAXING CIGARETTES AND BOOZE SOME MORE.

FOR THE OTHER SIDE:
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT?
I HAVE SEEN A SIMPLE ACCIDENT THAT IF THE PERSON HAD A SEAT BELT ON WOULD HAVE LIVED.
I HAVE ALSO PULLED CHILDREN OUT OF VEHICLES DEAD BECAUSE THEIR WAS AT THAT TIME NO RESTRAINT LAWS.(1968-74)

I CHALLENGE YOU TO GO TO AN ACCIDENT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF ONE DEAD PERSON WHO WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AND TELL ME THE LAW IS INSANE.

AS TO 1984 WE HAVE SURPASSED THAT. STAR WARS 1989.
WE ARE ON THE THRESHOLD OF CY BER WORLD AND COLOSSUS THE FORBIN PROJECT. COMPUTERS DOMINATING EVERYTHING AND REPORTING EVERYTHING SAID AND DONE. GOT YA.