The Nanny State Strikes Again

Fox News ^ | 12/26/03 | William A. Niskanen

[jimkress]

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who must have little else to do, has recently urged state governments to pass "primary" seat-belt laws, which allow police to stop and cite motorists solely for failing to wear a seat belt.

And the Bush administration has proposed a $400 million incentive to reward state governments that pass such laws.

[jimkress]

Eschew tyranny. Support the US Constitution Party.

[Drango]

Support the US Constitution Party

Support nutjobs...

[FairOpinion]

Your conclusino is wrong. Bush is NOT a "CINO".

This illustrates more that this is what happens when you appoint a Democrat in the name of bipartisanship to even what seems at the time an unimportant position. Democrats only exist to do damage to the US and the Constitution.

[bc2]

Here in NY, not wearing a seatbelt is already reason enough for the police to pull over your vehicle and I believe it also is acceptable as "probable cause" to search your car for drugs, firearms, or cash.

Very "conservative" of people to support a policy which is antithetical to the 4th, 9th and 10th Amendments to the US Constitution.

[Orangedog]

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who must have little else to do, has recently urged state governments to pass "primary" seat-belt laws, which allow police to stop and cite motorists solely for failing to wear a seat belt. And the Bush administration has proposed a $400 million incentive to reward state governments that pass such laws.

I'd like to know how this can possibly be considered a conservative agenda.

All this does is give more of our tax money to the states as an incentive for police to write more tickets and have yet another reason to harrass the public.

[joesnuffy]

The Primary law gets them into your vehicle...its a win win situation....terrorists not wearing seat belts will be caught their vehicles searched and WMD they are carrying will be confiscated...
and millions of Americans will be safer...

Also the states can rake in lots of bucks for all the seat belt tickets..."other" goods they find can generate even more cash...leading all the way up to confiscation of one's property..

Of course bad cops can plant stuff and really do some damage...

Homieland security...wont close the borders profile terrorists or arm all commercial pilots train crews or bus drivers...but they will nail every single non seat belt wearing terrorists....

You can take that to the bank....anyway somebody can....

[mvpel]

I am firmly convinced that if a seatbelt law were challenged in just the right way, framed in the context of health-care self-dtermination, the Supreme Court would overturn all of them. See Echazabal v. Chevron, for example.

Even a prisoner has a recognized right to refuse unwanted medical or health measures.

[RLK]

allow police to stop and cite motorists solely for failing to wear a seat belt.

------------------------

Bridging over the dangerous transition of necessity to prove probable cause to interfere into the lives of citizens versus frivoulous or arbitrary, even whimsical, intrusion into one's life. Telescreens in our homes will be next.

[microgood]

I would prefer they burn the $400 million rather than use it for this. The seat belt laws we currently have are only about money anyway.

[Orangedog]

You can take that to the bank....anyway somebody can....

Yeah, the police departments certainly will. Yet another way to shakedown the taxpayers.

[Paleo Conservative]

William A. Niskanen is chairman of the Cato Institute...

One of my favorite economists.

[FairOpinion]

Life is full of priorities. Bush put solid conservatives in important positions, like Rumsfeld, but tried to cater to the bipartisanship, as a "small" gesture and let Mineta stay on.

It was a mistake, in retrospect, but Bush was doing it as a good will gesture to the Dems, who of course bit his outstretched hand.

What some people need to learn, is that you can't have a 100% or NOTHING demand, because in that case you will consistently get nothing.

If you don't support Bush, who do you think you are going to get as next president, probably Dean. Do you consider him preferable to President Bush?

[Orangedog]

am firmly convinced that if a seatbelt law were challenged in just the right way, framed in the context of health-care self-dtermination, the Supreme Court would overturn all of them. See Echazabal v. Chevron, for example.

Right...and the supreme court has done wonders for the first amendment lately as well. [/sarcasm]

[politicalwit]

The Constitution Party looks better with each passing day. Not too much difference between the republicans and democrats.... I think it's rather humorous that the majority of posters here think that GW is going to win the 2004 race by a landslide. They had better think again. There's enough of us that are thoroughly disgusted with the rampant social programs being boosted by the current administration. Unless things change in the next 10 months I'll stay at home on election day...many other conservatives will do the same. No offense folks, GW ain't no conservative.

[Orangedog]

If you don't support Bush, who do you think you are going to get as next president, probably Dean. Do you consider him preferable to President Bush?

The GOP has about one election cycle left in the tired mantra of "We're not as bad as the other guys!"

[Old Fud]

Support the US Constitution Party.

I'm there.

[Orangedog]

Unless things change in the next 10 months I'll stay at home on election day...many other conservatives will do the same.

I will be if he signs the extension of the assault weapons ban, as he promised that he will when it reaches his desk. That will be the last sraw for me.

[bigfootbob]

"Unless things change in the next 10 months I'll stay at home on election day...many other conservatives will do the same."

What an IDIOT position to take for a conservative. I guess you'd prefer Pres. Dean's policies. People like you make me ill.

[Triple Word Score]

This copy of the Constitution must be out of date. Does anyone have the current version, the one the government is using?

[mvpel]

They're not the ones who wrote or signed the law, don't forget.