While wearing a seat belt is your choice it isn't your choice when someone is drunk driving and runs into you. Emergency workers don't have a choice then to treat you, so save everyone the heartache and just buckle up.

If somebody doesn't have the common sense to wear a seat belt, they deserve a ticket.

What about the psychological damage an unfastened body can cause for others involved in the accident? Also, there is a good chance that the body itself can do further damage to other people or property after it is projected from the vehicle.

None of the Articles listed below and that you noted have anything to do with our seat belt laws. Can you give us your interpretation of how they do fit into them?

Article [IV.]

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Article [IX.]

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Article XIV.

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age,(See Note 15) and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

There are such things as a rescue hammer yanno, which has a small cutting surface to cut through your seat belt, a hammer to crack through glass, and a puncture point to pop your air bag. I have one in my car right next to the driver's seat.

How in the world are seatbelt laws "unConstitutional"?? Please...

Why would you criticize the government for enacting a law that will protect you? Its like slapping somebody in the face for reminding you to wear a bullet proof vest in a gun fight. The fine for being caught without a seatbelt on is only there to help you remember to wear your seatbelt.

yes. they should have such laws.

People usually overlook the importance of seatbelts until they

actually experience the "tragedy"

They just think nothing of it because they are too lazy to wear it. Laws can prevent them from actually having to experience the importance of seatbelts. It can help people stay safer.

Of course there should be seat belt laws. It is not just personal choice because by not wearing a seat belt, you endanger others as well as yourself because your body can project itself through the windshield etc. Plus, if you expect people to pay for damages etc, you have to do everything you can to protect yourself.

I remember back when you were not required to wear seatbelts by law. (I hate to date myself, but alas...for the sake of argument, I must).

Back in those days, few people wore seatbelts, and the majority of people did not, myself included. I would occassionally slap it on if I took the time to think about it, but most trips about town would be taken belt-less.

It wasn't until it was made law that I had to wear a seatbelt that I began the habit of wearing it every time I was in a car.

The law is the reason it has become my habit, instead of just something I'd do when I was thinking about it.

There are plenty of laws restricting how we can drive. There are speed limit laws, restricting how fast you can drive. Child carseat laws, restricting where children can sit, and how. Cellphone laws, restricting how you can use your cell phone while driving. I don't see why we shouldn't have this additional safety measure as law too.

No, not as long as I have the means with which to extricate myself and I do have that. I have an instrument made from steel that acts in three ways. It is an extra handle to be used when it's difficult to exit the vehicle, it is a windshield basher that will pop out your front or side window and it has a razor blade in it so that I can cut my seat belt if needs be. It cost me about 40 bucks online and it's quite impressive.

Yes. If a person is gravely injured because they weren't wearing a seatbelt, it costs the state money on healing them, so they should be able to make people wear seatbelts.

it does ave lives but it should be up 2 u. so if you die its your fult.

Generally speaking I would say you're correct, however, in this case you may be dead wrong and someone else may be as well. You're hardly the only person in danger when you're driving with or without a seatbelt. Any other person, in your car, on the road or any pedestrian is in danger as well. That goes without saying in any accident. The manufacturers can put in any amount of air bags, 4 or all wheel drive, an ABS and traction systems which work virtually without your input. Seat belts and harnesses are the only things that are up to you.

If you become unseated while entering an accident you have no more control of your vehicle. You and anyone around can be hurt more if you have no control of your vehicle.

Do you know what the word "Doublespeak" refers to tbird267? Your argument is a pretty fair example of it. If the safety of the people is paramount to anything else, how do you infer that it is OK to hurt yourself but just not anyone else? How do you see that the driver is in no danger of harming another citizen other than themselves? Unconstitutional? Please explain your comment!

"Motorcycle users aren't required to wear helmets, why should car riders be different?"

I don't know where you live but motorcycle helmets are required in the majority of states. All helmets and restraints save lives and serious injuries whether you care about people or not.

That makes no sense whatsoever heelspider! It's apples and oranges. No one is above the law and the police should be setting an example for the citizens of their jurisdictions. When you see them doing something they could ticket you for and you cannot return the favor, it makes a person angry and frustrated...not opposed to the law in question.

Hey Billy...don't we all have the moral responsibility to protect ourselves and others riding with us to have the opportunity to save their own lives by wearing a seatbelt? The government can suggest we do so, giving us the fatality and injury figures but them having a moral responsibility to do so, I do not agree with. I don't happen to like the government interfering with adult morality issues. So it's not the end of this debate.

I do think wearing a seat belt is a very good idea but when you take a look at the figures that represent the people who have died despite wearing a seatbelt, it staggers the imagination. So much depends on where you were hit, the speed you were traveling and the maneuvers you took to avoid an accident or change the hit. But we have the laws and they are good ones. I wear mine about 90% of the time now and am trying to get that figure higher.