Teen seatbelt enforcement to take place
Special to The Gazette
Monday, February 28, 2011
Local law enforcement will be on the lookout for teens driving without their seatbelts.
From Feb. 27 to March 12, law enforcement agencies across Kansas will participate in an aggressive enforcement in and around high schools to educate and enforce the restraint laws. This part of the program called SAFE (Seatbelts are for Everyone). SAFE is a program that promotes and rewards seatbelt use among Kansas teens while encouraging law enforcement to enforce the restraint laws. SAFE is in more than 100 high schools in 27 counties in Kansas.
The Kansas Highway Patrol, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Emporia Police Department and Americus Police Department continue to work with all the high schools in Lyon County on the education phase of the SAFE program.
In 2009, 706 Kansas young adults were involved in automobile crashes. Forty-five of those young adults died as a result of those crashes. Seventy-five percent of those teens were not restrained, and this is an unacceptable number.
It appears from early 2010 crash reports results, the numbers will not be any better in 2011. So, in an effort to change this trend, the Kansas Highway Patrol in conjunction with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, the Emporia Police Department and the Americus Police Department will be participating in this seatbelt enforcement.
All area law enforcement agencies are asking for you to buckle up every time, no matter how long the trip and make sure all occupants in your vehicle are belted.
Buffalo_Breath (anonymous) says...
Seat belt Nazis.
February 28, 2011 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Alright, extra patrols around the high school and university. More tickets and fines help out the cities budget and keep the kids safe too.
IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN !
February 28, 2011 at 6:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
would you not think that would be one of the things that cops are hired to do anyway, Sure am glad they and this rag are posting it everywhere, to make sure they do it for a couple of days, and then just go back to texting and no seat belts while driving, once again laws are to be broken
February 28, 2011 at 7:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
imarun_r2 (anonymous) says...
Hey here's a thought, how about they make sure they are pulling people over that actually aren't wearing their seatbelts! I was pulled over this morning, given a ticket, WHEN I HAD MY FREEKIN SEATBELT ON THE ENTIRE TIME! Absolute BS.
March 1, 2011 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reality (anonymous) says...
I was pulled over this morning and given a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt. I wasn't wearing it, and deserved the ticket I got. I only became frustrated when I was told it was a $5 ticket. Are you kidding??? You wasted 20 minutes of your time, gas in your car that ran the entire time, and held me up to write me a ticket for $5? Do people really wonder why we are broke? How many $5 tickets does he have to write today to cover the cost of his salary, the cruiser, the fuel, etc. What a joke, I honestly would have been less pissed off if the ticket had been for more money.
March 1, 2011 at 10:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reality (anonymous) says...
I think maybe I will go to court over it, waste as much of everyone's time as possible.
March 1, 2011 at 10:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
reality,
Sorry, I had to laugh. I think the $5 is supposed to be a warning. But I wonder how many parents will be raising hell when their kids bring home that ticket. You are right , $5 will not deter anyone. If this is law and it's going to be enforced, make it hurt by not following it.
March 1, 2011 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
allintogether (anonymous) says...
Don't worry reality. It will probably run you $85 in court costs. The ticket is just the price of admission.
March 1, 2011 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reality (anonymous) says...
Allin -
I can mail the $5 to pay the ticket, that literally is the only cost unless I choose to take it to court.
Steve -
I haven't researched it, I suppose it is possible that for future offenses the fine may go up. If that is the case, I guess I am ok with it. I am going to find out though. I need to know how much my future "criminal" acts are going to cost me. Again, what a joke. Warm weather will be here soon and I can go back to riding a motorcycle without a helmet, and then drive by the same cop and waive.
March 1, 2011 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
reality,
Don't get me wrong. I think the law is bogus. Another intrusion into our lives by government.
March 1, 2011 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chevy_Guy (anonymous) says...
imarun,
That was probably the same cop who pulled me over last summer because he thought my 64 oz soda from the gas station in a white styrofoam cup was a beer bottle. He even opened it up and smelled it to make sure it was just soda. At 8:30 in the morning!
March 1, 2011 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ToxicPink (anonymous) says...
I was under the impression that we are basically warned with a smaller fine the first time and then it will go up accordingly. I swear I read that.
March 1, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Blue_Dog (anonymous) says...
Steve,
Probably most of the tickets will be given to parents not students. Kids today are way better than we older adults are about wearing them. I myself am a lousy example. But I will say my kids wear theirs even as a passenger with me and do it without even thinking about it.
March 1, 2011 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Come on, people it's March 1. The law goes into effect and they're just trying to get your attention and doing a fine job of it too to hear you guys bitch.
Click it or Ticket!!! You've heard it for how long now? GET OVER IT.
About fifteen years ago, a kid took a huge spill off his motorcycle on the corner where I live. He was speeding. No helmet. I've never seen anyone's scalp peeled all the way back like his was. It was all I could do to cover him with a blanket while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. I'll bet they played hell getting all the gravel and dirt out. I was a motorcycle rider myself back then, and always wore my helmet after that.
March 1, 2011 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reality (anonymous) says...
create,
Hopefully your yelling of "get over it" wasn't directed at me. If so, you didn't read my first post very carefully.
March 1, 2011 at 3:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
imarun_r2 (anonymous) says...
Create, I was complaining because I got a ticket and had my seatbelt on---i think its GREAT to enforce this but lets enforce the people who need enforcing. My husband is a paramedic and I have heard about numerous horrible wrecks that occur from people not using them, which is why I always wear it. But YES im pissed, I had it on and still got a freekin ticket!
March 1, 2011 at 7:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Not you, reality.
Sorry imarun, I should not have jumped on you. I'm guessing there is no real way to prove you were wearing your seatbelt if you were alone. I wouldn't know the first way to do that. Sorry.
March 1, 2011 at 7:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
educ8r (anonymous) says...
Yep... even though they say they are targeting teens...they have given MANY MORE tickets to adults. Whatever... there were 4 police cars by EHS. Is this really a good use of manpower??? Once the cat is away the mice always play anyway. So, I think if a teen isn't wearing one they will continue to do so. What about looking out for teens texting while driving?
March 1, 2011 at 7:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cookatwork (anonymous) says...
I don't think a seatbelt should be the LAW for all ages. I do believe that children should wear them (at least under the age of 12ish - they just don't sit still well without them). I do believe that animals riding inside a vehicle should be restrained somehow (they too move around alot). I do NOT, however, believe that the wearing of seatbelts for adults should be the LAW... yes they CAN save lives, in an accident... but the driver & front seat passenger NOT wearing seatbelts does not CAUSE accidents (and before someone says 'with the seatbelt on it would stop them from picking up something off the floor while they were driving and THAT could cause an accident' - I say 'really? have you ever dropped something and picked it up while driving? you either use your feet to move it to where you can pick it up with the seatbelt on OR you undo the seatbelt, pick it up and keep going). Wearing the seatbelt should be the CHOICE of the adult - they KNOW the risks of not wearing them vs wearing them.
I do wear my seatbelt because I have children to care for and be an example for. I have not always worn it. A ticket of $167, for NOT wearing it (and it was my FIRST EVER ticket in my 42 years of life - so that debunks the "warning" ticket - and, yes, it was ONLY for not having seatbelts on in the front seat me & passenger) made me start to put it on EVERYTIME I drive and insist that my riders do also.
I am still torn over it though, because I have had a friend who would have most likely lived IF they HADN'T had their seatbelt on and one that would have died if they HAD worn it.
March 1, 2011 at 8:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )