Repeal Seat Belt Laws
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Governors and State Lawmakers
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We the supporters and members of the Seat Belt Choice Coalition and its web site, www.seatbeltchoice.com, do petition the governors and legislatures of the 49 states with either primary or secondary seat belt laws to promptly enact legislation to abolish such laws and allow their constituents to determine their own safety measures as they see fit.
The seat belt law is offensive to most Americans, regardless of whether they wear one. Most people do not want to be told what to do in their own vehicles but are nevertheless being admonished all across the fruited plain to "buckle up or pay". It is perfectly acceptable for police to ticket drivers who put others at risk through actions such as speeding, tailgating and drunk and aggressive driving. It is unacceptable to stop otherwise law abiding citizens whose only "crime" was to not use a safety device installed in their vehicles.
Seat belt laws create strained relations between law enforcement and law abiding citizens. Most Americans obey our laws and are more than willing to aid police when it comes to tackling crime. At a time of high alert for terrorism and crime, it is important for citizens to have good relationships with the police. But when one has to look over his or her shoulder to see if an officer is nearby peeking to see whether a seat belt is used, it symbolizes an acrimonious relationship between the public and the police and such is a form of a police state.
Seat belt laws violate the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, that being the right to be secure in one's own "persons....papers and effects". Seat belt laws also create unequal protection under the 14th Amendment. Such examples include: exemptions of certain vehicles from seat belt use, exemptions of passengers in back seats, exemptions for certain jobs such as postal carriers and weak or no helmet laws for cyclists while those riding in enclosed vehicles must buckle up or face a ticket. And since laws regulating seat belt and helmet use vary from state to state, one could be in compliance with state law in one state and be in violation in the next.
While a seat belt may have saved a life, a seat belt never prevented a crash. And whereas seat belts have saved lives, the converse is true as well such as in cases of fire, submersion, jackknife and whiplash. Persons buckled in their vehicles during such occurrences have often suffered a worse fate than if they were not. Since seat belts work both ways, is it not better to let competent individuals make that decision for themselves instead of it being forced upon them?
Finally, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council have shown that increased seat belt usage has not resulted in a reduction in fatalities. In some jurisdictions, forced seat belt use has contributed to more injuries and loss of life. The only state with no seat belt law, New Hampshire, has consistently ranked second or third since 1994 in lowest percentage of fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, according figures from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), an arm of the NHTSA. And Massachusetts, ranked first every year since 1994 but ranked second since 2002, has consistently been in the bottom 5 states in terms of percentages of seat belt users in the state.
We urge the governors and legislators of the 49 states with either primary or secondary seat belt laws to rescind and repeal enforcement of all seat belt laws. We never oppose voluntary seat belt use but vigorously oppose forced usage. Too many people across America, including men and women who have served this country to protect our freedoms, have seen their liberties eroded by receiving needless seat belt tickets, some with exorbitant fines. This is unacceptable in the land of the free and the home of the brave. America's policy regarding seat belt use must be "let those who drive or ride decide". God bless America.
The seat belt law is offensive to most Americans, regardless of whether they wear one. Most people do not want to be told what to do in their own vehicles but are nevertheless being admonished all across the fruited plain to "buckle up or pay". It is perfectly acceptable for police to ticket drivers who put others at risk through actions such as speeding, tailgating and drunk and aggressive driving. It is unacceptable to stop otherwise law abiding citizens whose only "crime" was to not use a safety device installed in their vehicles.
Seat belt laws create strained relations between law enforcement and law abiding citizens. Most Americans obey our laws and are more than willing to aid police when it comes to tackling crime. At a time of high alert for terrorism and crime, it is important for citizens to have good relationships with the police. But when one has to look over his or her shoulder to see if an officer is nearby peeking to see whether a seat belt is used, it symbolizes an acrimonious relationship between the public and the police and such is a form of a police state.
Seat belt laws violate the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, that being the right to be secure in one's own "persons....papers and effects". Seat belt laws also create unequal protection under the 14th Amendment. Such examples include: exemptions of certain vehicles from seat belt use, exemptions of passengers in back seats, exemptions for certain jobs such as postal carriers and weak or no helmet laws for cyclists while those riding in enclosed vehicles must buckle up or face a ticket. And since laws regulating seat belt and helmet use vary from state to state, one could be in compliance with state law in one state and be in violation in the next.
While a seat belt may have saved a life, a seat belt never prevented a crash. And whereas seat belts have saved lives, the converse is true as well such as in cases of fire, submersion, jackknife and whiplash. Persons buckled in their vehicles during such occurrences have often suffered a worse fate than if they were not. Since seat belts work both ways, is it not better to let competent individuals make that decision for themselves instead of it being forced upon them?
Finally, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council have shown that increased seat belt usage has not resulted in a reduction in fatalities. In some jurisdictions, forced seat belt use has contributed to more injuries and loss of life. The only state with no seat belt law, New Hampshire, has consistently ranked second or third since 1994 in lowest percentage of fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, according figures from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), an arm of the NHTSA. And Massachusetts, ranked first every year since 1994 but ranked second since 2002, has consistently been in the bottom 5 states in terms of percentages of seat belt users in the state.
We urge the governors and legislators of the 49 states with either primary or secondary seat belt laws to rescind and repeal enforcement of all seat belt laws. We never oppose voluntary seat belt use but vigorously oppose forced usage. Too many people across America, including men and women who have served this country to protect our freedoms, have seen their liberties eroded by receiving needless seat belt tickets, some with exorbitant fines. This is unacceptable in the land of the free and the home of the brave. America's policy regarding seat belt use must be "let those who drive or ride decide". God bless America.
737 Signatures
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Geary L Madison
- Address, City & State
- 2285 Oak Forest Rd Buchanan, MI
- Zip Code
- 49107
- Political Party
- Democrat
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Jessica Ginn
- Address, City & State
- 5825 Sundance Ct. Kalamazoo, MI
- Zip Code
- 49004
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Brian Capanoli
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Nathan Lyle
- Address, City & State
- 615 Jopling, Ishpeming, MI
- Zip Code
- 49849
- Political Party
- Independent
- Comments
- Laws should protect us from others, not from ourselves.
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Dan Goebel
- Address, City & State
- 1394 NE Tagholm R.d, Pouslbo, WA
- Zip Code
- 98370
- Comments
- Life, Liberty, and Freedom before safety belts
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Dennis Ball
- Address, City & State
- 13206 Burgundy Warren Mich.
- Zip Code
- 48089
- Political Party
- none
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richard wilbur
- Address, City & State
- albion michigan
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Richard Franklin
- Address, City & State
- Idaho
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Stephanie
- Address, City & State
- Fall River, MA
- Zip Code
- 02721
- Political Party
- D
- Comments
- it's a 50/50 chance it's either going to kill me or save me, I'll take my chances
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gary yelton
- Address, City & State
- oregon
- Zip Code
- 97116
- Comments
- I DESPISE COMMUNISM
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Felicia Crabb
- Address, City & State
- 2 s. Greeley Ave. Johnstown CO
- Zip Code
- 80534
- Political Party
- democrate
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Michael DePastene
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Peter A. Drahozal
- Address, City & State
- 1815 Canal Shore Dr. SW; Le Claire, IA
- Zip Code
- 52753
- Political Party
- disappointed with both
- Comments
- I will fight unceasingly for the cause of liberty through the abolishment of these tyrannical, unconstitutional laws of harassment.
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Angelo Dallas
- Zip Code
- 53081
- Political Party
- whom ever is doing "right"
- Comments
- stop forcing choosable issues upon us!
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Sandra King
- Address, City & State
- Bellingham, Washington
- Zip Code
- 98229
- Political Party
- Independent
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Jake
- Comments
- It all comes down to money! If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident and are not wearing a seatbelt you are more likely to be injured, plain and simple. Unbelted passengers involved in a crash have 50% higher healthcare costs in which taxpayers cover 85% of that cost. Why have there been more deaths since seatbelt usage has increased? Again its simple, the number of cars on the road has increased tremendously as well, more cars = more accidents. Seatbelts don't injure occupants like they used to, in the nineties car companies started installing "force limiters" on their safety systems that limits the force of the seatbelts. A passenger involved in a frontal, side, or rear crash will benefit from seatbelt usage (these types of crashes are the MOST common). The chance that you will be submerged underwater is unlikely. However, it is your right to engage in whatever reckless behavior you desire, just make sure you have full medical insurance; I dont want my tax dollars wasted on your stupidity.
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Evita
- Address, City & State
- Mass.
- Zip Code
- 01757
- Political Party
- Free spirit
- Comments
- If it only hurts the person that makes the decision. Then why make it illegal?
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Charles E. Fontaine Jr.
- Address, City & State
- 701 Camilla Ln Garland, TX
- Zip Code
- 75040
- Political Party
- Republican
- Comments
- NEVER wear my seatbelt and won't ever.
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William D. Huneycutt
- Address, City & State
- 2125 Rancho Road, Hartsville, SC 29550
- Zip Code
- 29550
- Political Party
- exrepublican
- Comments
- The goverment need to be brought under control
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Denise Weber
- Address, City & State
- Ohio
- Political Party
- Republican
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Holly Jordan
- Address, City & State
- Cedarville, OH
- Political Party
- Republican
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David Beard
- Address, City & State
- illinois
- Zip Code
- 60410
- Political Party
- Republican
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Bill Holdorf
- Address, City & State
- 5839 S. Harlem Ave., #517, Chicago, IL
- Zip Code
- 60638
- Political Party
- Republican
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Susan W. Wells
- Address, City & State
- 47 W. Division St., # 213, Chicago, IL
- Zip Code
- 60610
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Gina Glenewinkel
- Address, City & State
- 117 Ellicott; Roanoke TX
- Zip Code
- 76262
- Political Party
- Libertarian
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Rena Dagenais
- Address, City & State
- 3531 Orchard drive Hammond Indiana
- Zip Code
- 46323
- Political Party
- Republican
- Comments
- I believe the seat belt law is a violation of my civil rights. I will not vote for any politician that supports this anti American law.
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Raj K. Goyal
- Address, City & State
- Morton Grove
- Zip Code
- 60053
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Judy
- Address, City & State
- LaGrange
- Zip Code
- 60525
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Santos Corpus
- Zip Code
- 46394
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george hudgins
- Address, City & State
- eva alabama
- Zip Code
- 35621
- Political Party
- republican but thinking about libratarian
- Comments
- take click it or ticket & stick it
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Ronnie
- Address, City & State
- 211 6th ave
- Zip Code
- 98339
- Comments
- its just a scam for more money,it makes the law a legal mugger,and us an illegal muggee.this law is a crime.
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Brian Stangler
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Derek Crager
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Justin Will
- Zip Code
- 49090
- Political Party
- Demo
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Laura Bouchard
- Address, City & State
- Seattle
- Political Party
- Green
- Comments
- . . . and the helmet law!!!
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Sam Dargo
- Address, City & State
- Indiana
- Political Party
- Democrat
- Comments
- This is outright abuse of powers! We the people do not need big brother protecting us!
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Gary B. Plunkitt
- Address, City & State
- Frankfort, IN
- Zip Code
- 46041
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Zach Campbell
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Steve Roseman
- Address, City & State
- Iowa
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sandy campbell
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Steve Bucknam Jr.
- Address, City & State
- 42 Main St. Salem, NH
- Zip Code
- 03079
- Political Party
- independent
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Robert Shaffer
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scott albertson
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Bill
- Address, City & State
- Arroyo Grande, California
- Zip Code
- 93420
- Political Party
- R
- Comments
- Protect me from others, it's NOT government's job to protect me from myself
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Carrie Renick
- Zip Code
- 48125
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James R. Haggerty
- Address, City & State
- 225 N Water St, Keyser, WV.
- Zip Code
- 26726
- Comments
- Am sick and tired of being on guard if I see a cop on the roadway and the only thing I'm fearful of is my not wearing a seatbelt. When they pry my guns from my cold dead hands they can buckle my seatbelt for me as it's the only time they will make me wear it !!!
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Blenda D. Haggerty
- Address, City & State
- 225 N. Water St., Keyser, WV.
- Zip Code
- 26726
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James Feaster
- Address, City & State
- New Creek WV
- Zip Code
- 26743
- Political Party
- Rep,
- Comments
- To be fair, anyone who signs this petition must agree to forfit all insurance coverage when injured or killed because they refused to ware a seat belt. THINK ABOUT IT !!!!
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William F. Little
- Zip Code
- 81132
- Political Party
- Republican
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lukjohn gallegos
- Zip Code
- 81132
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737
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