On the 14th there was a seat belt enforcement checkpoint at the TJ bridge. I drove through it and saw no less than 12 police vehicles and at least 15 officers and other officials. I am a strong supporter of the various law enforcement agencies but I have to wonder about the economics of a checkpoint that checks 916 cars and gets 21 seat belt violations (2.3%). Those officers could be better utilized enforcing laws such as DWI. There will never be 100% seat belt usage because there will always be the few that just won't wear them, (the same as 0% unemployment, some people just won't work!). But, 97.7 percent is an excellent compliance rate. I would offer that we need to enforce seat belt usage through vehicle stops, not checkpoints. And no I was not one of the 21 violators!
Seat belt checkpoint
- Thread starter limblips
- Start date
AK-74me
"Typical White Person"
I find any knd of check point BS, I don't care what the courts have ruled. Of course I do wear my seat belt because I know it is the right thing to do, I just don't need a cop telling me I should wear it. Especially through a "fishing point" which is all it really is.
mainman said:
I was out of town, and I wanted to get the numbers right bbefore I posted. The point was not to alert anyone to a checkpoint, just to question the return on investment. And if you were to reread my post, you would see I was not complaining, just questioning the economics.
sockgirl77
Well-Known Member
I think it is a good thing. It still amazes me how many people do put their kids in carseats/seatbelts. I cannot tell you how many times I have been at a traffic light and looked over to see a small child in the front seat of a car. My ex neighbor has been busted in a checkpoint. She has 3 kids under 5. None were restrained. I do not care if adults wear seatbelts. Its their decision if they want to risk their lives. But it sickens me when people do not buckle their kids up. 
sockgirl77 said:I think it is a good thing. It still amazes me how many people do put their kids in carseats/seatbelts. I cannot tell you how many times I have been at a traffic light and looked over to see a small child in the front seat of a car. My ex neighbor has been busted in a checkpoint. She has 3 kids under 5. None were restrained. I do not care if adults wear seatbelts. Its their decision if they want to risk their lives. But it sickens me when people do not buckle their kids up.
My sentiments exactly.
Lugnut
I'm Rick James #####!
sockgirl77 said:I think it is a good thing. It still amazes me how many people do put their kids in carseats/seatbelts. I cannot tell you how many times I have been at a traffic light and looked over to see a small child in the front seat of a car. My ex neighbor has been busted in a checkpoint. She has 3 kids under 5. None were restrained. I do not care if adults wear seatbelts. Its their decision if they want to risk their lives. But it sickens me when people do not buckle their kids up.
:shrug: Kids are a renewable resource.
sockgirl77 said:I think it is a good thing. It still amazes me how many people do put their kids in carseats/seatbelts. I cannot tell you how many times I have been at a traffic light and looked over to see a small child in the front seat of a car. My ex neighbor has been busted in a checkpoint. She has 3 kids under 5. None were restrained. I do not care if adults wear seatbelts. Its their decision if they want to risk their lives. But it sickens me when people do not buckle their kids up.
An excellent point you make that supports what I said. You SEE violations. The police can SEE violations. Pull over all of those in violation especially the ones with unrestrained children. (BTW, most non-seatbelt wearers will buckle up when they see a checkpoint long before they get to the actual checkpoint itself).
High EGT
Gort! Klaatu barada nikto
Back in the Day
My how wev'e evolved. Anyone out there who grew up in the the late Fifties and Sixties remember those car rides with the family? I remember Dad driving, Mom on the passenger side both smoking
with me standing in between them both looking over the front hood. Looking back have to say that was crazy but for the day it was comon place. 
My how wev'e evolved. Anyone out there who grew up in the the late Fifties and Sixties remember those car rides with the family? I remember Dad driving, Mom on the passenger side both smoking
with me standing in between them both looking over the front hood. Looking back have to say that was crazy but for the day it was comon place. 
Charles
New Member
That's why you now wear a tin hat.High EGT said:My how wev'e evolved. Anyone out there who grew up in the the late Fifties and Sixties remember those car rides with the family? I remember Dad driving, Mom on the passenger side both smoking
Attachments
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Mousebaby
Guest
I remember getting up in the back window and laying down and I would sleep there for the whole trip back home to TN. Talk about not safe! 
MMDad
Lem Putt
These checkpoints give these officers the chance to stop cars and look for other things, like DUI, drugs, and weapons. It also gives them an oppurtunity to run the non belted drivers through the system and look for warrants. There are usually non-seatbelt arrests that happen in conjunction with this, so it is not always the waste it may appear to be.limblips said:
The increased seatbelt enforcement is done with federal funds, so there is no decrease in local enforcement in other areas. They usually bring in off duty officers to run the checkpoint, so the regular shift is not being pulled off the street.
The funds are due to the safety advocates who yell loudly and cite studies that show you are more likely to die without a seatbelt. Along with their outspoken support for enforcement, they bring campaign contributions to support candidates who promise to increase enforcement. In answer, the lawmakers then throw money at the problem without any concern about wether or not they are actually helping anything.
Personally, I see seat belt laws as 75% stupid. I agree with laws requiring lazy ignorant parents to restrain their kids, as well as requirements for underage drivers to be belted. However, seatbelt use should be optional after age 18. We are interfering with the ability of the stupid to eliminate themselves from the gene pool, and all of humanity is paying the price. If people want to get themselves dead, let them.
sockgirl77
Well-Known Member
MMDad said:
for the cameraman
Midnightrider
Well-Known Member
Sounds to me like a violation of our right WRT unreasonable search and seizure. "Let me see your Papers"MMDad said:
MMDad
Lem Putt
Midnightrider said:
These are legal searches because they are not looking for the other offenses, but if they see them they take action. If you are dumb enough to roll up to a group of cops without your seatbelt on, your stash sitting on the seat next to you, and your glock sticking out of the glove compartment, don't you think you deserve what you get?
I don't have any problem with the checkpoints or the searches that go along with them, but I do see this as moving down the slippery slope. If this is okay today, what rights will we give away tomorrow?