If you watch television in the State of Georgia, you’ve seen them. They show people not buckled up being stalked, in one it’s by tickets themselves and in another they make it sound like the drivers are being stalked by UFOs or something. They make it clear that everyone who doesn’t wear a seat belt is going down…to the court house to pay the ticket if nothing else.
And it’s so many levels of wrong that it’s silly.
On the minor side is the commercials themselves. They show all manners of vehicles…including a pickup truck. Of course, light truck drivers are exempt from wearing their seat belts in Georgia, and we don’t get as much in federal funds as we could because of that. However, these commercials paint a very disingenuous picture that those in a truck will be breaking the law and get a ticket.
It’s entirely possible, even likely, that these are canned commercials that the State buys to run on television. However, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to watch a 30 second spot and make sure it fits with the State’s laws, now does it? How much time does it take? Oh, about 30 seconds I’d say.
However, the commercials themselves is really just “small fry” as some of my friends say. What’s worse is the reason behind them.
In this nation, there is one right that is rarely talked about but it does actually exist. That’s the God-given right to be an idiot. We have a fundamental right to do things that are bad for us. Smoking, drinking, dating Paris Hilton, we have a long history of being free to screw ourselves up in various ways.
Seat belt laws represent one attempt to do what is for our “own good.” Studies everywhere show that you are far more likely to survive a severe crash if you have your seat belt on. It’s obviously smart to do so. But no where does any governmental body have the authority to take away our right to do what want just because it’s “bad” for us.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that there are instances when not wearing your seat belt can save your life. Everyone has heard the stories, where so-and-so wasn’t wearing their seat belt and for whatever reason that lack of a seat belt is what saved their lives. Those stories are, in actuality, pretty rare but they do happen. Those few people would have died had they complied with the law.
Compliance with the law should never result in death. I’m sorry, but it shouldn’t. This says nothing of the fact that these laws are just wrong. They erode our right to make a decision for ourselves as adults. Nothing in this law protects others from an illegal use of force. Instead, it authorizes the police to use force on you just because you haven’t worn a piece of equipment that is often uncomfortable and may result in your own death.
Oh yeah. The State always does what’s best for it’s people, don’t they?
The government has no business in protecting us from ourselves. If I drive 90 mph and weave in and out of traffic I deserve a ticket because I am endangering others. If I drive 60 mph down an interstate highway and stay in my lane and don’t wear a seatbelt who am I endangering. No one even myself. It’s just another example of nanny government because many of us don’t want to take personal responsibility. Thanks for letting me vent my spleen.