I agree that wearing a seatbelt might in fact save you from serious injury and ultimately, death. My problem is that it IS a violation of human rights. It is MY descision whether or not to wear one. No body elses. The fact that there was legislation passed that fines you when you don't comply is astounding. It simply is not right. Since this guy's post stated that the government is supposed to protect people from themselves, I wonder how he, or anyone else would feel if Big Brother were to pass laws that you must allow yourself enough time to get ready for work in the mornings so as not to be in a rush to get to work. Restrict your speed limit to such a rate that no vehicle can cause damage. If you are on any type of medication, you cannot get behind the wheel. You wear corrective lenses, guess what, you can't drive. It is entirely too dangerous to drive at night. If there is a storm coming in, you cannot be on the road, for whatever reason. You must have both hands on the steering wheel at all times. Can't be messing with the radio, talking on the phone, texting, looking in the mirror. But you know what, all of the things I just mentioned are dangerous to everyone that is on the road the same time you are. Seems to me those would take higher order over when considering personal safety, but they don't. You know why? It puts WAY too much restriction on human rights. The ultimate protection from ourselves is to have to be armed with a deadly weapon, or else, and if you didn't comply, you were fined? (We all know this will NEVER happen). The primary function of government is to regulate interstate commerce. Make policy for the advancement of our society. NOT to infringe on our right to personal choice, so long as it is not in contradiction to the moral fabric that was instilled in mankind.

I am a former cop and Nooooooo. What people fail to understand is that you can not put a value on freedom. The guy that said we would have to carry the burden well what about the burden of death that every soldier carried protecting the rights and Constitution of this country? As Benjamin Franklin said, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." I have seen people kill because of seat-belts and if it is a game of chance then the choice should be yours. Child safety is up to the parents not the state same as medical treatment for your child its up to you.

Wake up people if you think a pencil pushing blood sucking member of the National Transportation Safety Admin has a clue think again! The people that put the crime statistics out want go to where there is real crime LOL.

We're becoming a nation willing to give up our tiny little freedoms in order to become just a tiny bit more safe. I don't believe the "social contract" obligates us to abide by laws which protect us from ourselves. So I only wear my seatbelt whenever I choose to. When I'm eventually caught, I will loudly and proudly pay my debt to society.

If someone wants to risk there life not wearing a seatbelt, let them. Police need to be worried about more important things then if some idiot is wearing there seatbelt. Only exception to this is if they are under 18

dude you are speaking it just how i see it as well. It's about control and money and it has very little to do with saving lives. Read about what I wrote earlier just follow the money I have a cop friend that tells me everything and it is a business to them of writing tickets

No it's a personal choice. Police don't even use their own seat belts. they say its all about safety and saving lives and all of those good things they tell us. It's about writing tickets and getting money for their dept. I have a cop friend and their department needed a new helicopter so they would have rallies like you would see at a car dealership, but rallies to see who can write the most tickets. For every ticket a cop writes 60% of the total payment of the fine goes to that department. Just follow the money people.

It has been shown that seatbelts do not save lives statistically...so why force people to use them. If it make you feel safer then by all means go ahead. The agrument that it reduces insurance rates for all, is pure bull....has your insurance rates gone down...oh right this is where you say they did not go up as fast as they would have. Proving the not argument is a waste of your intellect. What it all means, is simple...another way for the Government to make money. SAS

Not wearing a seatbelt does not threaten the safety and the lives of others. It is not like drinking and driving or speeding, where other drivers could easily be hurt by your actions. Buckling up is not a public safety measure like street lights and center lines. It only affects the driver’s well being and the driver’s safety. Not wearing a seatbelt is currently a crime. But who is it a crime against?

How easy some of us give up freedoms. The feds bribed the states with money to pass this law. It is funny how the ones pushing this bill can claim " They died because they where not wearing a seat belt" and if they where wearing one "they would have died anyways". Then there's "trapped in a burning car by a seat-belt", ''drowning unable to release seat belt". The list is endless on both sides. My brother-in-law was T-boned and lived because he did not have one on. I myself put it on in rain and expressway driving, but 30 to 40 my fear is the side not the front or back, so i do not like them on. To call someone stupid for not using one or using one, is just that. All this law does is give the feds and gov the ability to say what you must do with your property and your body, and you think it will stop there? In the publics best interest you should not skydive, mountain bike, ski, scuba, and by the way that radio station you listen (studies have shown) makes you agitated when driving. I am not property of the state, neither is my car. If you need the state to tell you how to live or die catch a flight to Cuba or Russia. It cost society! o please everybody makes money in crashes and death, body shops, lawyers, doctors, florist, insurance company's with higher rates, heck even the grave diggers. I know its cold to say that but for the love of this country fight for your freedoms to be able to decide.

IF I AM ALIVE IS BECAUSE I WAS NOT HAVE THE SEAT BELT ON

MY CAR TIP OVER AND LEAKING FUEL AND I ESCAPED FAST

We are American!!!! Why did so many people have to die for our freedom of choices if we are not able to be free? If we are not harming anyone than we should be able to make our own choices...This is just another way for the goverment to fine us and make money... The truth is, we all need to fight for our constiitutional rights. Pease stand up and fight for our rights of justice. I can not fight alone,are you with me? Let's show them what the constitution, and the deaths of so many, really means!!!!

The reasons given in support of seatbelt laws in this debate seem ridiculous to me. One argument was that is was the purpose of government to protect its people from themselves. FALSE. Another argument was that it is proven seatbelts increase safety and save lives. Also FALSE. Then, someone was creative enough to say we should have seat belts laws, because of the benefits to ourselves and society and that they do NOT infringe on any rights, even though they would NOT support laws against smoking, drinking, etc. because those activities have "utility" - which I interpret to mean purpose.

In opposition to seat belt laws there are research studies that have shown that while wearing a safety belt may increase an individual's safety in certain types of crashes, it actually INCREASES risk and injury in other types of crashes. Don't just read the government, auto and insurance industry reports - dig a little deeper. Because the research that proves seat belts can actually CAUSE injuries in many types of accidents don’t fit the politically correct view, they are completely ignored. The result is that we never get a true comparison of whether wearing a seat belt actually saves more lives or causes more deaths because those numbers are ignored.

In addition, if the purpose in enacting laws is to save the taxpayer dollars - which was a common argument - why do we focus so intently on infringing on citizens rights when it comes to seat belts as a way to save money, but totally disregard it in other areas? The list of laws we could enact, or repeal that would end up saving dollars is innumerable. I would love to read a research statistic on comparing the costs that are saved due to wearing seatbelts ( a true one that actually addresses the fact that in many types of accidents, they actually CAUSE injuries that would have been avoided without a seatbelt) vs. the costs that would be saved by the taxpayer if smoking were outlawed completely, if overeating were outlawed completely, if drinking were outlawed completely . . . I mean we wouldn't get 100% compliance, but increasing the numbers of individuals in compliance would effect our health care costs immensely. Then, of course, we could jail the violators and thereby force compliance. If this sounds ridiculous to you, is cost really the issue?

If protecting us from ourselves is the argument, and according to more than one supporter, that is (after all) a primary role of government, then the same arguments could be made. Smoking is bad for us - 100% of the time. Therefore, making smoking completely illegal would provide 100% benefit. Seatbelts (if the propaganda is true) are only beneficial for us in the event of an accident. According to the US Census, in my state of Michigan there are approximately 1.3 accidents per 100 million miles driven. Statistically speaking, we would save a LOT more money and lives with a smoking ban . . . IF our concern is really the health of our citizens.

Ultimately, it's a question of liberty. James Madison noted that "there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachment by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." When we support the encroachment on ANYONE'S liberty, we open the door to encroachment on our own. Sometimes, even when there are benefits, the benefits RARELY outweigh the loss of liberty. Those willing to give up even a little bit of liberty for any amount of safety deserve neither. (paraphrased)

if u die it should be your fult. so you make the choice to die or get hurt.

We should not have to wear our seat belt its my choice wether i want to be safe or not. It is rediculous how the state/goverment runs our lives we have no freedom anymore we have to do what they say or we pay.

You make a great argument. For arguments sake, I would say that I do get utility from not wearing a seatbelt and... I'm not unique. I also would like to retain my right to forget to wear my seatbelt (in spite of all the dinging and donging in my car). We shouldn't empower the government take away freedoms simply because "no one is truly bothered" by it. Freedom is too precious and fragile.

We all (including our government) have the responsibility to protect our freedoms. The government does not have the responsibility or the right to protect us from ourselves.

I agree;

The goverment has no right to tell me what to do. I am eighteen, when I go on trips with my friends they all put their seatbelts on, i just say "i'll put it on when i want to". Even on planes most of the time i dont!

The government has no right to tell me what I should do to protect myself. As long as I'm not hurting anyone else with my decisions then i really don't see the point in seat belt laws..... oh wait yea i do REVENUE!! The only argument for seat belts is that you might be in a crash with another driver that is not wearing a seat belt and he/she might fly out of their car and hit you! When AND ONLY WHEN their actions infringe on your rights can you put laws in place to protect innocent people!

What the f#%& does utility have to do with it? And I think that is a poor use of the word utility. I'm not even sure if it makes sense. Euphoria would have made more sense.

The only discussion is that it's unconstitutional.

Here is a view to ponder on, if i die due to the seat belt being jammed by an accident and drown, burn or suffocated by the pull of it and you by law, force me to wear it should you not be charged with murder and full liability.