Monday, May 29, 2006
Law Enforcement
On the way home from work, my wife heard that seatbelt use was going to be strictly enforced. I don’t know whether it was for Memorial Day traffic and right now.
The put that in juxtaposition with the lack of enforcement of the law against illegal immigrants.
"Be sure you wear a seatbelt when you cross the border," the woman who makes me smile, just said.
Not a lot of consistency in the enforcement of laws in the United States, is there?
And, which should have higher priority?
The put that in juxtaposition with the lack of enforcement of the law against illegal immigrants."Be sure you wear a seatbelt when you cross the border," the woman who makes me smile, just said.
Not a lot of consistency in the enforcement of laws in the United States, is there?
And, which should have higher priority?
Comments:
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Traffic laws are enforced by state and local police. Immigration laws are enforced by the far less numerous federal police. It's far easier to issue an offender a ticket than it is to arrest and keep him in custody.
Why should there even be a law requiring wearing a seat belt? Who is harmed if someone doesn't wear a seat belt? Law enforcement can't find any more damaging crimes to go after?
...and why should children have to sit in car seats?
Why should the government be concerned with our safety at all? It's our own life with which we're gambling, isn't it?
Why should the government be concerned with our safety at all? It's our own life with which we're gambling, isn't it?
Each of you brings up a very valid point regarding this as a significant infringement on individual rights. I too am opposed to the constant assult on our individual freedoms.
But a funny thing happened to me along the way because of this law. When seat belts were introduced generally in cars - circa 1973 - I remeber them as metal obstructions that sometime made riding in the front seat uncomfortable (because we sat on them, not used them). Then when my childeren were young, and seat belt use became mandatory first for the driver and young passengers, I used my seatbelt because i wanted to set a good example for them and get them to wear thiers. I became comfortable wearing them and haven't stopped.
But the interesting thing here is that seat belt use saves lives. None of us will argue with that. It's juts that to save those lives, we have had to give up some more personal freedom...not much really, but some..
Question is, is it worth it?
As for "Why should the government be concerned with our safety at all? It's our own life with which we're gambling, isn't it? " rusrus, as long as cars are manufactured and sold over interstate lines, the federal government can require they be in cars, just like saftey glass, turn signals, rearview mirrors, etc. And States have the right to decide what they can require of you for the privelidge to drive. Yes, priveledge, for the constitution does not grant driving as a right...
So no rusrus, if enough of your fellow citizens decide not to oppose the governments concern with our saftey, that part of it is no longer your life with which to gamble...
But a funny thing happened to me along the way because of this law. When seat belts were introduced generally in cars - circa 1973 - I remeber them as metal obstructions that sometime made riding in the front seat uncomfortable (because we sat on them, not used them). Then when my childeren were young, and seat belt use became mandatory first for the driver and young passengers, I used my seatbelt because i wanted to set a good example for them and get them to wear thiers. I became comfortable wearing them and haven't stopped.
But the interesting thing here is that seat belt use saves lives. None of us will argue with that. It's juts that to save those lives, we have had to give up some more personal freedom...not much really, but some..
Question is, is it worth it?
As for "Why should the government be concerned with our safety at all? It's our own life with which we're gambling, isn't it? " rusrus, as long as cars are manufactured and sold over interstate lines, the federal government can require they be in cars, just like saftey glass, turn signals, rearview mirrors, etc. And States have the right to decide what they can require of you for the privelidge to drive. Yes, priveledge, for the constitution does not grant driving as a right...
So no rusrus, if enough of your fellow citizens decide not to oppose the governments concern with our saftey, that part of it is no longer your life with which to gamble...
I was joking, of course.
People complain about "losing some freedom" by being forced to wear a seat belt. Well, that's the price that must be paid. Let's not forget, this isn't YOUR PERSONAL road, it's all of our road. We, as the public, have agreed that we want people to wear seatbelts. The benefits are obvious - the freedom vs. benefit debate is personal.
Also required are safety seats for children.
"Freedom" may not be the right word when attempting to defend your "right" to not behave in a safe manner regarding a vehicle. After all, you don't have the freedom to NOT wear a seatbelt on a roller coaster - how come people aren't up in arms over that one?
Let's save "freedom" defenses for breaches that REALLY affect our freedom: NSA monitoring of phone calls, the Government listening-in to our phone calls, and other TRUE breaches of freedom.
A seat belt is just an attempt to keep you safe - that's all. If you want to kill yourself, just don't use your car.
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People complain about "losing some freedom" by being forced to wear a seat belt. Well, that's the price that must be paid. Let's not forget, this isn't YOUR PERSONAL road, it's all of our road. We, as the public, have agreed that we want people to wear seatbelts. The benefits are obvious - the freedom vs. benefit debate is personal.
Also required are safety seats for children.
"Freedom" may not be the right word when attempting to defend your "right" to not behave in a safe manner regarding a vehicle. After all, you don't have the freedom to NOT wear a seatbelt on a roller coaster - how come people aren't up in arms over that one?
Let's save "freedom" defenses for breaches that REALLY affect our freedom: NSA monitoring of phone calls, the Government listening-in to our phone calls, and other TRUE breaches of freedom.
A seat belt is just an attempt to keep you safe - that's all. If you want to kill yourself, just don't use your car.
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