Big argument in my house yesterday.

I would have laughed, too. Yes, people should get ticketed for not wearing seatbelts. It's not the government trying to control us in yet another way, it's the government saying, hey, stupid, you want to live through that crash or not? I had a bad accident once because I wasn't wearing my seatbelt. There was no law in place about them at the time. I had just had my brakes "fixed", then I hit the back of a truck because I had no brakes. (I sued, I won.) I started wearing my seatbelt all the time after that. If I had been wearing it at the time of this accident, I would not have gotten a sprained shoulder, sprained neck, sprained knee or broken ribs. Wearing a seatbelt would have saved me from a lot of pain. But, I doubt most people would wear them if it wasn't a law. People, as a whole, don't think it will ever happen to them, until it does. My husband often goes well over the speed limit. I'm talking 25 to 30 miles per hour over the speed limit. He rationalizes this by saying that he's in full control and traffic was light. I keep telling him that the posted speed LIMIT is a LAW, not an option. I've now added "Tell that to the traffic cop who stops you. I bet you still get a ticket." (And, yes, he has.) Some people simply refuse to obey traffic laws. Eventually, they'll get caught and realize that the law doesn't make exceptions. The laws are there to protect us. If the majority of people don't agree with a specific law, that law will eventually get changed. The fact that the seatbelt law is still in effect says that most people are okay with it. I have the feeling that your husband will come home from court even madder than he was when he just got the ticket because he's not going to get out of it. (If it were my husband, I'd laugh even harder then. )

I think people should always be responsible for their misdeeds.It is always been the law to wear seat belt no matter how short or far the distance that you will drive.So I think we have to stop making excuses and play by the rules...:D

Well... If there is a law about something, people must follow it. And when one is fined for breaking the rule, it should be accepted. That is the general situation! Of course, one feels bad to pay where the money is not going to give any returns... I guess, you found that even funny and you laughed. But your hubby was in no mood to laugh, so he got angrier and that is what caused the argument. I believe, he is convinced in his mind that what he did was wrong and he had to pay for it! He is feeling bad about 'paying' and the argument between you and him has challenged him to prove 'something'. That is why, maybe, he will going to court.. I am not sure, if the fine will be lowered. Try to refrain him from doing that... Have a good time!

I agree with you that if there is a law then we ghave to abide by it whether we agree with it or not. They are compulsory hre too, for back seat passengers too if the car was built after a certain date. I always wear mine so as not to throw away some hard-earned money if Iget stopped. I don't see the point in going to court and wasting more time trying to fight it. Pay it and learn a lesson. Belt up as soon as you get out of the garage!

Hi bonbon, I agree with you. We should follow the road rules because it is create for our own safety, and not for our convenience. Accident can happen anytime and anywhere. It might happen in your own yard. But most of us neglect it, including me. Just pay the fine and do not argue. Your husband would not win the case. The traffic polices should give the tickets if there is any wrongdoing in the road. If they ask the offender, they will get one million excuses for that. If they always be lenient then everyone would break the law.

I don't think they'd pass a bill for that. lol. this will only confuse the enforcers more.

If there is a law, you follow it. If it needs to be changed, go through proper channels, but he will not get the law changed. Maybe he will get the fine reduced, but how can he prove he was only going a short distance. Seat belts are so automatic with me, I feel uncomfortable when I have not fastened them.

hi bonbon, I don't really like wearing my seatbelt either and I also really hate being an adult and being told what to do. I got caught once driving without it and the fine was either 50.00 or 75.00....more than I really cared to pay. I just bit it and learned. If I really cared that much about the law, I'd be out there doing what I could to try to get it changed. In the meantime, it is the law and your husband should just obey it or pay the price of getting caught. They don't usually give warnings for that and I doubt they'll even lower it for him. Pretty sure he does not have a case. Let us know the results!

I think the real issue is that your husband probably needed a little empathy first. He is an adult and he knows that there would be consequences for his actions. He knows rationally that this could or would happen at some point but even having known that he may have still been in a little shock. Even though he is protesting it might be in defense to your laughing. Anyway who knows what might happen in court? He could possibly win even if it is the law. There are always extenuating circumstances.

I agree totally with you on this one. No matter if you are driving a short distance or not the first thing that you do when you get in the car is put on the seatbelt. He has to remember alot of accidents happen within a mile of your home. This ticket could have so been avoided but when you break the law the cops are not going to always have mercy and understanding. They want to write those tickets out at every chance they get, they will. Thats why if you abide by the rules they can't give you a ticket.

hie bonbon, there are like 3 kinds of laws. there are the natural law, civil law and spiritual law. in the case of your husband, the civil law applies. he did not wear a seatbelt. as far as the civil law is concerned, your husband has run foul of the law, thus given a ticket.if the law enforcement was not there, your hubby would not be given the ticket. i had friend who parked their car outside a food outlet, went in to purchase a drink, came out and there the ticket on the windscreen. hopping mad and next day went to plea to settle for less. he was lucky as he managed to get the amount reduced. hope your hubby has luck and favours on his side.

Tell him most accidents happen within three miles of home! He needs to protect himself, and by protecting himself, protect you and his loved ones!  No, there is no defense. You don't get extra "protection points" when you get hit nearer home, and there are no "backsies" or re-dos if you do. It's straight to the hospital, which is more expensive than a ticket, in pain, in time lost, in money, too. I'm sorry, but the only thing he can plead is stupidity. I hope they can open his eyes to the error of his ways.

Well that "short distance" should be defined like how short a distance is it that driving without seatbelt should be allowed. lol. This will just confuse the enforcers more. I don't think they'll pass a bill for that. lol. So no matter how annoying it is or no matter how near the drive is, we should wear seatbelts at all times.

i'd say your husband is a stubborn man that doesn't like to be told what to do. just defuse the entire thing pointing out how ridiculous it is to have an argument about something so futile and ask him (don't tell him) to pay the fine and forget about it.

I don't know why he would waste the time in court. They say that you get an instant ticket, no warnings for seat belt. I don't think they will even reduce the ticket in court. My problem with that law, is the fact that Motorcycles do not have to even wear helmets, golf carts and the other smaller vehicles don't have belts. You are more out in the open with them, and it again should be your choice, not the governments.

If the person is caught speeding or breaking some other law that definitely affects the safety of the public, I have no problem with the person getting an additional fine for not wearing a seat belt. I will have a problem with it if that is the only reason being stopped. It is like the helmet law here, requiring those who drive motorcycles to wear helmets. The half population who think they can go down residential districts exceeding freeway speed limits, definitely need to get off the streets, and the time maximized as much as possible. When only adults are involved, and when no other law is being broken, especially if it does not involve other people, I do have a problem. I drive with them on (or will when I start driving again) because I'm more comfortable with being fastened to the seat, especially with the angry lunatics here in Sacramento California (and I suspect every urban California environment.) If the person is only putting themselves in danger though, I don't think the state should play mommy and try to prevent any injury being experienced. Adults have to pay for their decision. Now that we have this public health bill though, and if it sticks, and if it causes taxes to be raised to pay for more serious injuries, then we have an issue that I would have to meditate more on.

How long has your husband been driving? Seat belts saves lives. How many times has a car been hit leaving their driveway and been hit or some one pulling out of a driveway hit a car because they were not looking? Yes, it annoying but laying in a hospital bed for months is a lot more annoying. I bet he was more angry at himself then he was with you but your laughing at it gave him the excuse to vent on you. Tell him to save his time and money and pay the fine. To many seat belts have saved lives to get any sympathy from a judge and I bet the judge gives him a very long lecture on being safe no matter how far you go.

yeah i think that people should really obey it . but i get his point that the law enforcer should be more considerate but still a law is a law. we can't argue with that. and i am not that kind of person that argues just to prove a point. if i were in the situation i will just pay the fine and not do it again next time and be more careful next time. whether a cop islooking or not better wear that seat belt.

You are absolutely right, there is no reason or excuse for not wearing seat belts. The law makes it obligatory and common sense should also kick in. I don't think he has much of a chance to get the ticket reduced. They make laws for a reason, so that we obey them. They have penalties fro a reason so that those that disobey the laws get punished. Looks like he wants to learn the hard way. I wear my seat belt!

In the UK you have to wear your seat belt, children must be sitting in the back and use their car seats and they must wear seat belts too if the car has them fitted. All new cars have them in the back as well as the front. I think it is a fine if you are caught without one on.