[Egon]

It's a big push in Minnesota right now, too. I think it's part of a coordinated, nation-wide campaign by the U.S. Department of Transportation, actually.

Sure am glad we can have all these laws to protect me from myself.

[ShadowDancer]

We have the same thing going on here in Michigan right now, too.

[billbears]

it's part of a coordinated, nation-wide campaign by the U.S. Department of Transportation, actually

Hmmmmm, now which DOT Secretary was it that practically forced the states to implement seat belts. Who was it.....wait a minute, it's on the tip of my tongue. Surely it had to be a Democrat because we know Republicans do no wrong. Hmmmmm.....

Dole’s failure to inform the U. S. Supreme Court of the safety risks of airbags coupled with creating a pro-airbag atmosphere with her public statements and incentives for manufacturers to make airbags, ultimately resulted in Federal mandates for both seatbelts and airbags. Not that that bothers Elizabeth Dole; indeed, statements by Dole and her supporters since her departure from DOT appear to claim credit for the eventual passage of airbag mandates:

"So we changed the climate for automotive safety in America by fighting for the ultimate protection: the use of both seat belts and air bags in cars."

Dole speech to the Kennedy School of Government,6/3/98

"Elizabeth Dole led efforts to make airbags and automatic seatbelts mandatory in new passenger cars."

Bio of Elizabeth Dole on the National Safety Council web site: www.nsc.org, Oct 12, l999

And mandatory airbags to boot!! BTW, this is the person we just had to elect to 'win back the Senate'.

here

[OKIEDOC]

I wear my seat belt because I think it makes driving safer for me and my family.

HOWEVER:

I remember years ago the legislature of Oklahoma said that they would pass a seat belt law. It was only to encourage drivers to wear a seat belt.

However, many communities saw a way to add cash for their coffers. So police departments started to give tickets.

As usual , the do goober creeping laws became full blown.

Having small children causes many problems. I got a seat belt violation in Alabama from a county mounty along with a scathing lecture about loving my children and obeying laws. My four year old at the time spilled his drink while buckled in his safety seat.He unbuckled his seat belt and stood up just as we passed the cop. It mattered not to the cop that I could not control what my child did. He told me that he just loved to stick it to people who had no love for their children. Needless to say I paid but not before writing a strong letter of protest.

What surprises me about all these nitpicking laws is that more people are not going off the deep end and taking it out on the general public.