Click It or Ticket Campaign gets underway
ADVERTISEMENT
Podcast Episode
WCLO's Stan Stricker reports on seat belt enforcement
Local law enforcement takes part in another seat belt enforcement campaign.
Milton Police Sergeant John Conger believes in the “click it or ticket” campaigns. That’s why he’s glad area agencies will be stressing seat belt use for the next month. This time around, Conger says added focus will be on school zones. He says if young drivers can be taught to wear seat belts early, they may keep up the habit all their lives. Throughout the state, 300 law enforcement agencies, including Milton, are participating in the effort.
The State Patrol says 75% of drivers are putting on their safety belts Wisconsin, compared to 82% nationally.
Jul 9, 2008 at 12:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
I know this is an old blog, but I had to throw in my 2 cents anyway...
For those of you against seatbelt and helmet laws, tell me what you think of the following scenarios: you're driving through town and a motorcyclist runs a red light and you hit him. He dies, specifically because he is not wearing a helmet and his brains are splattered all over the ground. Like it or not, you killed someone. It wasn't your fault, you certainly didn't mean to do it, but nonetheless, the motorcyclist is dead and your car hit him. If you're lucky, his family won't sue you for involuntary manslaughter. But they might. You'll probably win the case, but is it fair you'll have to go through all the trouble?
Okay, next scenario: you're driving through town and you run a red light, maybe just barely, and you hit a motorcyclist who, again, not wearing a helmet, smashes his head on the ground and dies. Now, you are at fault and you will probably face involuntary manslaughter charges and you might even spend some time in prison, all because a person died, a death that very well could be prevented if he had been wearing a helmet.
I used to think, so what if someone doesn't want to wear a helmet or a seatbelt...if they die, that's their problem. And their family's problem. But what about when it becomes your problem?
This is one instance where I think the rights of the individual can be forsaken.
May 30, 2008 at 5:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
Their persons are protected, their rights are forfeited.
May 30, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
thats funny term " protecting the rights of the individules" arent they being PROTECTED by forcable trying to make them wear their seatbelt.
I cant even put my car in gear with out putting my belt on. I feel unsafe!
I started wearing mine all the time when my boyfriends sister was hit and somehow she flew out of a tiny rear side window in a small sports car. Luckilly she wasny hurt bad. Lots of cuts and glass in hear head seemed to miss her face. I believe she also started wearing hers after that. Just out on lunch break when it happened.
May 30, 2008 at 2:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
seat belts not only save your life BUT give you the ability to steer you car while not being tossed around the cab if youre in a situation that you have to change lanes or avoid something. I am tired of hearing but I would rather be thrown from the car- sounds real good when it lands on you. Or you bounce off a tree.Yes some of the situations it prob didnt matter one way or the other. but MOST cases prove youre better off belted it!!! And if you were belted in maybe you could have corrected some of the steering iof you went in to the ditch when youre being flung around hard to control the car!
May 30, 2008 at 2:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
nogo- it is a law now and you can get pulled over just because and ticketed for no seatbelt.
May 30, 2008 at 1:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
The motorcyclists who opposed helmet laws used a duel strategy. One was based on civil rights, an argument that can be applied against seat belt laws, and one on safety, claiming that helmets interfered with sight and hearing causing more accidents. The anti-helmet motorcyclists prevailed.
The seat belt laws were mandated by the federal government. The states were forced to create seat belt laws or forfeit federal funds for transportation. Anti-seat belt advocates tried to make the same civil rights point as anti-helmet advocates had, but to no avail as the state decided that protecting the flow of federal money was more important than protecting the rights of individuals.
May 20, 2008 at 6:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
I am an avid seat belt user. In fact, I don't remember the last time I went anywhere with out wearing a seat belt. One thing I will never understand about the seat belt laws is why there is a law requiring pasengers in vehicles to wear seat belts but there isn't a law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. If any one can clarify this I would appreciate it.
------------------------------------------
SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES!!!
May 20, 2008 at 1:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
JimB- thats still the case.
May 20, 2008 at 9:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
Remember when they sold us the seatbelt mandate? Remember how they told us that seatbelts would only ever, ever, ever be secondarily enforced and that nobody would never, ever, ever be pulled over just because they weren't wearing a seatbelt?
Boy, those were the good old days, huh?
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: WCLO.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.