More big brother by state
Routinely failing to solve big problems, state legislators busy themselves solving minor ones.
In another case of gradualism, supporters of requiring motorists to wear seat belts are on the brink of complete victory.
Legislation recently passed the Illinois House that will require back-seat passengers to wear seat belts or face a $25 fine.
This newspaper will not take a back-seat to anyone in terms of advocating, as opposed to mandating, the use of seat belts. They have proven to be highly effective in preventing passengers in motor vehicles from injury. Everyone should wear them.
But wearing them, in our view, ought to be a matter of common sense, not law enforcement. Adults should be able to make up their minds for themselves on this issue.
The state, however, has other ideas. It's been moving slowly, but steadily, to criminalize the issue of seat belts.
It was not all that many years ago that legislators decided to raise the public profile of the seat belt issue by declaring the failure to wear them a secondary traffic offense. That meant that while police officers would not stop people for not wearing a seat belt, they would issue tickets for seat-belt violations if a motorist was stopped for other reasons and found not wearing a seat belt.
A few years later, the General Assembly toughened the requirement by dropping the secondary-offense requirement and authorizing police to stop motorists and issue costly tickets if front-seat passengers were not belted.
Now the Legislature is on the brink of extending the requirement to back-seat passengers.
Those who ride in the back seat from time to time probably realize that strapping on a seat belt can be awkward, particularly for those who are older and less agile. But the idea of a new regulation trumped any objections in the Illinois House.
The intentions of backers of this legislation are certainly good, and it would, of course, be wonderful to live in a risk-free world. But there comes a point at which adults ought to be allowed to make decisions for themselves, even if in the view of others that choice is different from what the well-intentioned would make.
If this is a problem, public education is the best way to address it, not granting more authority to law officers to hand out more tickets to more unlucky motorists.
I'm fine with education over regulation but then I'd like to pay a life, health, and car insurance premium and taxes without subsidizing the costs of injuries someone sustains while not wearing a seat belt. Just like I can get a life insurance policy as a nonsmoker and pay less, I should be able to get preferred seatbelt wearer pricing.
Education, NOT legislation is the answer. Motorcyclists have been preaching this for years, and actively fighting unfair and unreasonable.....even unconstitutional, legislation.
It's so very true, education is the answer. Making something against the law will not stop it. If it did, we would just need congress and no court system.
We are letting government take away all our basic freedoms one by one, and allowing it without protest. Write or call your congressmen people!! Complaining from the barstool is useless. Let your voice be heard where it counts!!
Education creates piecemeal awareness but does not address the real issue. Those of us who wear seatbelts are forced to subsidize the life, health, and car insurance; taxes paid out on medical, disability, and death benefits; and hospital write-offs incurred by those who are injured or die due to not wearing a seatbelt. As long as those who wear seatbelts can get a discounted rate, I'm fine with no legislation.
Making something against the law will not stop it but making something more expensive sure makes a big impact!
Writing your congressperson won't do a bit of good here. Congress is the national legislative body. You need to contact your state representative or senator because these are state laws under discussion.
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