Pubdate: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY) Copyright: 2003 Watertown Daily Times Contact: http://www.wdt.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792 Author: Scott Chawgo LAW IS UNJUSTIFIED How justified is the seat-belt law in New York State? Being pulled over and recently ticketed in a seat-belt trap made me realize the law is very unjustified. There are two main reasons the law is extremely unjustified. The first main reason is that police officers have bigger problems to take care of within the area. Every day I drive by well-known methamphetamine labs and drug dealers' homes, and the police are worried about a handful of people not wearing their seat belts? Jefferson County has one of the higher percentages of drug use in Northern New York, and still the police seem to be worried about me not wearing my seat belt. Do they need to meet their quota? How many parents would rather have their child not wear their seat belt than taking drugs? Second, not wearing my seat belt only effects one person in a accident, me. If the United States is supposed to be a pro-choice democracy, shouldn't it be my choice to wear my seat belt? If it effected other people in the car or outside of the car, then the seat-belt law would be reasonable. However, the only person that gets hurt in a accident if I don't have my seat belt on is me. Therefore, it should be my choice to wear my seat belt. I realize I have a greater chance of being injured or the chance of death is higher, but if it doesn't affect anyone else it should still be my choice. The law seems to be very unjust, and with the law in effect it seems to be abused. There should be some changes made. Scott Chawgo Sackets Harbor - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin