A SAMPLING OF YOUR RESPONSES:
A great deal of our teenagers think because they begin to drive they no longer have to buckle and it might save a life. Also riding in the back of a truck should never be allowed in case of an accident the people are going to be ejected.
Lorie Curry, Delbarton
I think yes,because it has saved many lives and contiue to save many more lives,but i do think that if u are a adult u should be able to choose if u ant to wear u seat blet or not
Mitchell, south charlston
Yes, many people wreck and get hurt because of they do not where seat belts some even die but that would be their parents fault or their faut.
Amanda Chapman, Whitesville,WV
Don't the police have better things to do than harrass innocent citizens about their seat belts? They should spend more of time trying to solve all the murders we've had lately!
Janice Keeter, Weston, W.V.
It is veryhard to tell, in most cases, whether a seat belt is being warn or not. In the case of small children, it may be a good idea if the child(ren) would be wondering all over the vehicle distracting the driver. Tis would be a true safety issue. However I still believe that the use of seatbelts should be left up to individual. Being educated and advised (as with cigerette smoking), it should be a matter of personal choice to use or not use a seatbelt.
Victor Coltey, Charleston, WV
A seatbelt cannot always save your life, sometimes it just takes common sense.
Jean West, Poca
Safety Belts save lives!
Matthew, Charleston
There have been alot of times that I have had to go to the grocery store, or just on errands and you would not believe the number of children that I have saw CLIMBING around in cars. I have even saw people holding their babies on their lap. Being a mother of two beautiful children myself, I dont understand how people can risk their childrens life like that. Yes I think that all people should be buckled up,and that people should get a pretty hefty fine for not having their children buckled up properly.
Dale McNeely, Danville
The seat belt law only concern is money. Before the fed. gov. said they would without fed. dollars for highways, west virginia voted down the seat belt law. Now, pull a car over for a seat belt violation and watch the driver wreck trying to fasten up before doing 70 mph when they see a police officer. Want to save lives instead of make money for the State? Put guardrails where they are needed, between the interstates, to keep traffic from crossing into oncoming traffic in the opposite lanes. Do a history of deaths on the interstates and you will probably find a higher death rate when oncoming traffic cross' over than the ones that run off the road and over a hill. Seat belt laws save lives???? I m sure they do but the make more money for the state and that s the bottom line. Guardrails between the interstates save lives??? I m sure they would but how would the police officer get across to give out tickets? No tickets, no money and that s the other bottom line.
PL Hopkins, Clay, West Virginia
I support the concept so far as the children's safety is concerned, but disagree with the proposed law alowing police to pull someone over simply for lack of a seat belt. I also disagree with the seat belt laws in general.
Ken Sellards, Huntington
I don't entirely agree with this proposed bill, the part about requiring back-seat passengers to wear seat belts and banning children from the beds of pick-up trucks, YES. But NO on stopping someone soley for a so-called seat belt violation, this would be difficult [if not impossible] for officers to observe moving vehicles for possible violations as it would almost open the door for profiling. An officer only has to say, I thought he/she wasn't wearing a seatbelt The officer could use this as an excues to pull anyone over.
K. L. Fliger, Oak Hill
Well in some sence I do support this and then in the other i don't. See if they pass this it will cause the police to pull over many people. In this case it will cause them to forget about their main job of stopping the people who are speeding and endangering their lives as well as others. The people who don't wear their seatbelts on the otherhand are only endangering their own life. Hello stop the drunk drivers first and then worry about seatbelts.
Ashlee Smith, Point Pleasant, WV
I think its okay to stop people for kids with no seat belts but not adults. That should be are choice!
Melinda, Gordon
It's not a law already? what was the click it or ticket all about? also people riding in beds of pickups. I thought it was laws already? but if not so, then yes it should be a law. selt belts do save lives, just look at the reports.
Shaun, Charleston
I still believe in freedom
cloyd thorn, parkersburg
To me that is taking away your freedom! But I do beleive in children wearing their seatbelts.
Kathy, Charleston
this law is just like gun laws if you give them a inch they want it all, this started out as being ok but now its getting Outta hand our government is becoming communist they can say what they want but when you are made to do something what do you call it?
Scott, Charleston
If I have to have my seat belt on all the time then why aren't they on the school busses for all the children to wear. I feel that if they are needed anywhere at all, thatís where they are needed. I feel that wearing a seat belt should be left up to the individual. I was a voluntary fireman for 20 years. As for as adults, for the most part I believe I saw more live because they didn't have a seat belt on than those that did. But with smaller children it was just the opposite. Thank you
Michael McComas, Jodie, WV
I believe it should be our own choice to wear seat belts.
Stephanie, Kanawah Falls
It's about time. This bill is way over due. At $25.00 a ticket the city wouldn't have to worry about laying off any police officers that's for sure.
Chris Conner, Cross Lanes
In a free country, seat belt use should be voluntary. Stopping a driver for not wearing a belt can be just another excuse to visibly search a vehicle or harrass minorities or women.
Richard L. Evans, Varney, WV
If the people are stupid enough to jeapordize their lives w/o endangering anyone else leave them be.
Carla, Charleston
As the law now stands, the only place in a car that cops can't go poking through is your pockets ó particularly if you're a passenger and not the driver. No matter how comfortable you feel with the windows rolled up, the radio cranked, and the glove compartment locked-up tight, you should assume that the police can pull you over at will and turn that nice upholstery inside out in search of the latest contraband-of-the-week. But you can bet that none of the Supreme Court justices will ever run into that particular roadside delay. So much for the Fourth Amendment!
Jim Smith, Ripley
I support this legislation. I think that it would be a much safer if this law was passed! It is important that u bickle up! his is a good law !
jennifer Walters, Pikeville
I see too many children that are not under a seat belt and if this law will address that issue, then I support it 110%!!!!
Beverly Sommerville, Charleston
Our police don't need to be looking into cars to see if the seatbelt is on. They are more important crimes to fight.
Randy Stepp, Charleston
I don't think they should inforce the seat belt law at all, I think it should be the persons right wether to wear it or not, seat belts do save lives but in some instances it could kill you, i think this is a law that should be up to the person not the legislation!my boyfriend was in a car wreck and even the police agreed if he would have had seat belt on it would have killed him, so are they to issue a ticket for something that would have took his life, instead of saving it!
Tessa Neal, Walton
this contry is heading towards communism like a speeding bullet. i dont believe the government should even bother with seat belts. we are not children, we are full grown adults. i think the decisin of wearing seat belts should be left to the driver. how would the government feel if we were at there door telling them to stop buying such high priced food and start saving money? we have a right to make decisions for ourselves. All this law does is to give auto insurers the right to raise premiums and so the state can get rich off of its people. we have enough rules as it is give some leeway and stopping passing so many stupid laws
William Rowe, Welch
There is enough drugs and crime in the streets to keep the police busy as it is, as far as Im concerned, its a waste of resources, theres been far too many times Ive heard people complain of where were they when I needed them? It seems our local and State Police agencies are more now than ever all about writing tickets for moving violations than they are about solving and preventing real crimes. It would seem to me, that if they put the same effort into fighting drugs, and homicides, our state would be in far better shape.
Robert A. Ewing, Elkview
Too many West Virginians are dying needlessly on our highways. This legislation will help stop this growing epidemic.
Mark Holmes, Charleston
i have worked in many trauma situations.the number of the severely injured compared to 1968, are less severe. it works, bar none and we need to help get this state on the right track, in everyway
Vickie S Tuitt, Charleston
This law is long overdue. Police should be allowed to stop vehicles just for seat belt violations, it may seem like an inconvenience, but it will save lives. I also think seatbelts should be put on school busses. Why shouldn't school busses have seat belts? It is the same as having an accident in a car without a seatbelt. We must protect our children.
Charles Williams, Drennen
I think as American's we should have the right to decide if we wanna wear seatbelts or not, everyone knows the benefits of wearing and the risks of not wearing them and we should have the right to decide what is best for us and there are more important things the cops can be doing besides pulling people over because of seatbelts. There are far more greater problems that the cops need to be addressing then seatbelt violations.
Jessica Fultineer, Weston
I support back seat passengers buckling up and banning children from the beds of pickup trucks and cargo areas. But I do not support stopping people solely for not having a seatbelt on.
Charlotte Johnson, Julian
absolutely give the police the right to stop a car for seat beat violations. this may save some adult and children's lives.
J. Fanning, Charleston
I feel the seatbelt law is an infringement on my rights as a citizen. Choosing to wear or not to wear a seatbelt should be a choice, not a law.
Alyce Diaz, Chapmanville
Some people simply can not wear a seatbelt due to physical limitations. Does this mean they can not ride in a motor vehicle. Also, children in school buses are not required to wear safety belts. This seems a direct violation of the current law requiring individuals under 18 to wear safety belts regardless of position in the vehicle. Will all school buses be pulled over for students not wearing seatbelts? If not, why not? If so, who pays the ticket.
Cate Brown, Summersville, WV
Last year I was on my way to work, already about 15 minutes late, when I looked in my mirror and saw I was being pulled over. I had no idea why because I knew I wasn't speeding or breaking any laws. Anyway, the upshot is I got a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt. It took the officer almost half and hour to issue me the ticket and I was an hour late to work. I am a grown adult and am fully aware of the consequences of not wearing my seatbelt. If I don't want to wear it - then I'm not going to wear it. I do think children under a certain age should be required to, but certainly not an adult.
Alayna Bochenek, Johnstow, New York
It is about time for this bill to pass. Too many people ignore the law for themselves and even worse, in my opinion, for their children. Maybe if they knew they could get in trouble they would be more willing to obey the law!
Loretta Williams, Dunbar
435 west virginias died in 2002 over 80% were not using belts and 35-40% were ejected from their vehicles
B Tipton, Daniels WV
I think wearing a seat belt should be a persons choice. If you think about it , you are strapping yourself into the most dangerous man made weapon there is . I choose to use one , but thats my choice . I agree that children should use them. What about school buses? Where's the seat belts ?
Teresa, South Charleston
Yes and No I support this. I think for one thing that a person wants to not wear a seat belt then it should be up to that person. I think that kids should have to buckle up and not be allowed to ride on truck beds and cargo vehicles. So that is what I think.
Elain Lanham, Page WV
The law is the law. It has been proven that seatbelts save lives. Children should not be allowed in the beds of pickup trucks.
Kelly Pauley, Clendenin
Yes and No, I think children should banned from back of pickup trucks but I don't think they should be able to stop you for not wearing a seatbelt.
Frank, Scott Depot
It seems our legistators are again wasting time and money passing and trying to pass bills that do not benefit WV as a whole. Why can't they uphold what is already on the books instead of adding and adding to what is already been out there. They are driving people out of this state in droves and then have the audacity to wonder why we are the laughing stock of the east coast! Give us a break and deal with issues that are imperative to each and every one of us.
Rae, Oceana
I think this is an unnecessary proposal. In my opinion with out having done any real research on it, the WV seat belt law was only passed so that we could get more federal tax dollars for the maintaince of roads. If I am correct West Virginia was one of the last states to even pass a seat belt law. Why does everyone in political power these days want to dictate every move we make? This type of add ons to current laws, to me says: Hey as your Representative I didn't do it right the first time. So, I need to add to the law. I just think that they [our representatives] need to focus on the new problems facing WV and stop wasting time on issues that have already been dealt with.
Alan Paintiff, Strange Creek
This is just another tactic for the police to be able to stop cars and then find other violations that then they can say we stopped him/her for seat belt but then found this(other violation)
Rose, So Charleston
Polic routinely stop vehicles to check for safety belt use in Connecticut AND issue hefty fines for not wearing one. Whether driver, passenger, front or back seats. $65.00 per person.
Dawn LaMarche,
I think they would have more important crimes/emergencies to be dealing w/ vs. stopping vechicles solely to check to see if everyone is buckled. Though I do believe that all children should be in seat belts/safety seats and violations should be given for those breaking the law.
Jennifer, Charleston
I think it would save lives
Sharon White, Parkersburg
Unlike smoking, or drinking - the choice to wear a seatbelt or not wear a seatbelt (as an adult) should be that - a choice. If you are not wearing a seatbelt you are harming no one but yourself. Or - are you helping yourself? Dottie West is an example of a person wearing her seatbelt and it ruptured her splean... If you smoke, second hand smoke can harm others. If you drink, you can get drunk and accidentally kill others. I can understand laws to regulate those behaviors, but the behavior to wear or not wear a seatbelt is ridiculus.
R.D., Sissonville
While I believe it is totally in the best interest of an occupant of an automobile to wear a safety belt, I believe the objective of this proposed law is to encourage revenue. Defining beneficial, educational and public awareness programs focused on promoting the benefits of wearing a safety belt is the appropriate avenue to effectively raise levels of seat belt participation. It would certainly take strategic and tedious efforts on the part of law enforcment to monitor automobile drivers and passengers,so If ourlaw enforcement personnel have this kind of time to actively look for seat belt violators,then is our state really in that dire straits financially.
Joyce Holland, Huntington
It just gives the law the right to take away another one of the AMERICANS right. It would seem like they could have a better way of spending tax payers dollar instead of watching for a vehicle to by without a seat belt.
Jill Housman, Cannelton
Its time they quit bleeding people of every penny yhey can get. This is suppose to be a free country. Now ther telling us smokers they wont 60 millon dollars taxs. They dont wont anyone to quit. Greed is what its all about
Joann Coen, Ivydale
what if they r unable to wear a seatbelt for any reasons....what then...give them a ticket. people should have the right to choose. I personally, don't put my car in gear without my seatbelt on.
Kathleen Shirkey, South Charleston
The police would use this as excuss to harass people.
Donald Butler, Ravenswood
I wholeheartedly support a primary safety belt law. Numerous deaths occur each year that could have been prevented had occupants of motor vehicle been buckled up. Each year millions of dollars are spent on health care as a result of persons injured in motor vehicle crashes that were not restrained. Health care costs could drastically be reduced and many lives saved just by occupants of motor vehicles properly restraining themselves. This would decrease the severity of injuries received in motor vehicle crashes thus reducing health care costs. My only concern is the enforcement of the law if passed. If the legislature is going to pass such a bill then the law enforcement community needs to strictly enforce the law. If the enforcement is not there then there is no need to pass the bill. I truly believe in a persons right to chose however if you could actually see how many of your tax dollars go to health care and rehabilitation costs for injuries an uninsured motorist receive in crashes you might change your way of thinking.
Robin Turley, Winfield
Because Children learn good habits from adults
D White, So Charleston
The only thing wrong with this whole sollution of theirs...is what about school buses?? These are loaded with all of our children, every day.If the law says we need to wear our seat belts to be safe....why do they do nothing about the buses?That is where the belts need to be, Protecting our children.
Jonathan Neace, Danville
We constantly are talking of passing ATV legislation and overweight coal truck legislation in order to save lives. This bill would more than likely save over a 100 lives a year on WV roadways, even though some estimates are less. Then figure out the medical expenses that would be decreased because injuries are less severe and you have a cost savings in the millions. I am all for a primary seat belt law.
Wes Harvey, Ravenswood
We already have these laws in Oregon. It seems that daily I hear about people getting in serious car crashes and the only reason for their survival is that they were wearing their seatbelt. There is no reason not too unless you have a death wish. I always wear my seatbelt because I am afraid of OTHER drivers, it's a crazy world. Be safe.
Kelli, Portland
as far as childerns riding back of truck i think they should be supervises but as far being able to stop someone just for seat belts i don't think they should be able too.
John B. Hatfield, Omar
I strongly support this legislation. It only saves lives and children will be protected. This is something that should be looked at as a postive for children to model after and learn from. If the parents do not use seat belts and place their children in the back seat of cars and trucks, then how are the children going to learn a habit of safety. It should be manditory and inforced!
Sandy Newman, Nitro
Now to get the police officers to wear theres.
John G. Shue, Cross Lanes
I think that we should wear helmets too. How about metal jackets.
Bill Rusinko, Auburn
I see too many children who should be buckled up that aren't. Parents are supposed to watch over and protect them as much as possible.
Tanya V., Dunbar
In my opinion, people are careless enough travel without a seatbelt could be posing threats to society because of things such as driving vehicles that are not fit to be on the road or other violations. This law merely protects those who are not competent enough to protect themselves.
Troy D. Young, Pinch
Communism! Leave me alone in my car that I pay the taxes on! I say dont pass a law you cant enforse! I have a docs excuse to not wear a belt and I dont want to be pulled over and TERRORISED!
Jay Hughart, Charleston
I think seatbelt laws (or helmet laws)are a infringement on an adult's freedom. Children, however should be made to wear protective devices. (As of now children are allowed to ride in the bed of pickup's?)
W. Herdman, Evans
I drive a 1953 Chevy Belair. It doesn't have seatbelts. What defense would a poor dude like myself have? Install belts and destroy integrity of my car?
Rochie, Charleston
Although this is a safety issue, it is also a personal freedom issue. We choose to smoke, live unhealhty lifestyles, why should anyone force us to wear seatbelts?
Denice, Charleston
It is just another law to get a FEE! IF I thought for one minute it was about a safety issue I would support it, but it is not, it is about making money!
Bob, Charleston
Yes, I agree it saves lives. Maybe if there was a harder stand on adults they would be more likely to put there children in a seatbelt or a child safety seat. There are too many children not buckled up. It is for the safety of a driver, passenger, and a child. And one way to make people remember something so simple and realize the danger of not wearing a safety belt is to pass a law making it mandatory.
Shanna Daniels, Comfort
I absolutely think that the police should be able to pull over vehicles and check for seat belt use, I am a parent of three girls all of driving age and although I tell them to always wear their seat belt doesn't mean that they will,and if they choose not to listen to me, then I'd like to think that they'll be the very first to get cited for no seat belt, it is a state law and I think that the police should be allowed to inforce it, otherwise why have it.
Letha Metheney, Duck
I think that the seat belts are one of the greatest things that they have put into a car.
Tammy Thayer, Cowen
I beleive that it should be an adults choice to wear thier seatbelts.But it should be mandatory for children.And giving people fines for not wearing their seatbelts will not make those people wear them in the future.
Melissa Bailey, Charleston
Seat belts do save lives. I'm a firefighter and on most of the fatality car wrecks I've been, the occupants did not have a seat belt. The bill will increase the use of seat belts, I think.
Brian Hudson, St. Albans
The government already controls too much of individuals rights under the first ammendment to our Constitution. We do not need anymore of this. Just say no to government control.
Stu Shirk, Saint Albans
I think this is just another form of police harassment.
Donald Cook, South Charleston
I wear my seat belt and I make my children wear theirs, but I don't agree with being pulled over just for seat belt. I DO agree with not allowing children in the backs of trucks and other vehicles. If you allow that then what is the purpose of mandating seat belt laws? We have lost two friends because of riding in the back of pickup trucks. One was only 15 years old and she was thrown out of the truck when her dad pulled to the side of a country road to allow another veichle room to go through. When he came back onto the road she was thrown out and died instantly. This was at a rate of speed app. 5mph.
Missy Wood, Ravenswood
Before plowing this area further, legislature needs to address under age driving ATV. Suggest fine of parents who let under age drive these vehicles. Too many deaths of kids in this area!
Donna Acord, Charleston
I feel that everyone has the choice to buckle up, just as they have the choice to smoke and drink. However, I do think children should be buckled. We that dont buckle up know the risk of what could happen. Seatbelts dont always save lives.
Linda Canterbury, Marmet
I think, as if police need a reason to pull someone over now?? Let's try to look at things a little differtly. Let's have a bill that makes it a crime for police to speed without their light bars on. Let's tighten up on the to many powers already in the hands of the police. Let's look at the police driving 65 mph in a 70 mph posted zone and what they do when someone passes them legally. Ever seen it happen? Ever ask a police officer; What's the problem? We do not need any more reasons to be pulled over to make more funds for more police officers not doing their jobs to begin with. Now come back with the famous; But seat belts save lives and we must make people wear them. Before the law was passwed in this state, How many people were pulled over just to be advised to wear their seat belt? If they care so much for seat belts savibf lives, Why? If not for the money to be made from the ticket, Do they not pull everyone over they see not wearing a seat belt??
FR Workman, Ivydale
Too bad the State of West Virginia puts raising taxes and trying to make a dollar anyway it can above revamping/reducing size of state government. I do not use tobbaco in any form. I am against the state putting additional taxes on tobbaco so the state can just waste more money. The more money the state gets, the more the state spends. I also disagree that a new baseball diamond in Charleston is a realistic economic development endeavor. For Oshel Craigo to route the new US Route 35 by his future golf course at the cost of an additional $50 million dollars is really bad. For WV taxpayers to pay for moving the Lottery Commission to a Hurrricane Industrial Park is not reasonable either, just another pork project for Oshel Craigo, maybe that is why Oshel didn't get elected again. Maybe that is why Bill Wooten didn't get elected again--I mean he let the video lottery bill out of the Senate Judicuary Committee at the risk of losing his job, which did happen the first time voters got their say. Bob Wise will be the next person to face the voters for forcing video lottery down the throats of citizens who voiced that they did not want it. Jon Amora can attest to doing what the Governor wanted verses trying to get elected again. Before, he was Kanawha County's high vote getter but is now the county's lowest vote getter. The Senate is going to try and sneak through an overweight coal truck bill too. Hey, look at it this way, we will have many more new faces in the senate next election for they are sure to end up in defeat. I recently did a study on coal truck drivers pay verses current highway damage. For the several billions of dollars in current highway damages in southern WV (according to Fred Van Kirk)the current 500 coal truck drivers could be paid current wages to stay home for the next 60 years and not pay for the 1/3 of current damaged highways directly attributed to overweight coal trucks. In my opinion
Sammy J. Baisden, Pt. Pleasant
Well the way I look at it about the seat belt yes I agree with that,but if the police just pull somebody off the road just check to see if person wearing the seat belt and nothing else ? I think it wrong , Speaking about the back of the truck there shouldn't be no kids riding in back of the truck . I have seen kids in back of the truck on I-79 and they just throw things off the truck on to other moving vehicles as they pass the truck . Now that case I think they sould ban the children from the bed of the truck while they are in any kind of the road highway or county road or city limit road. And when something hit that truck with kids in back of the truck. what happen to those kids they get throw off the truck , see the parents dont think it will never happen . I have seen kids in back of the trucks look like they having a good times and not thinking about the safty That the case I don't like to see that happen .
Michael W. Parker, Grafton, West Virginia
I don't agree with and will not support this action for the reason that they put a ban on cell phones from being used on highways cause they said it broke the concentration of the drivers ability. so if you have cops state troopers looking at everyone to see if they have their seatbelts on when is that cop or trooper going to be looking at the road. his eyes will be on everything and everyone else but the road he is NOT looking at
Chet Otto, Lake
I think that you have to make a lot of personal choices in life and this is one of them. Police should have better things to do, then just to stop people without a seatbelt on.
William Smalley, South Charleston
I think it is imperative that we have a primary seatbelt law here in WV. The cost of a catastrophic injury to society is huge, but it is very difficult to legislate common sense.
Linda Williams, Weston, WV
No It gives the police 2 much power just 2 invade more of your privacy.
Rob, St Albans
ANSWER TODAY'S QUESTION OF THE DAY
|
|
|
|
READ COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
Would support legislation that would make it child abuse for a pregnant woman to use drugs?
Does a police presence on flights make you feel safer?
Do you think the amber alert system is an effective tool?
Would you vote for the city user fee?
Will you go hunting during gun buck season?
Will you give to your favorite charity this holiday season?
Do you think Jack Whittaker has a bad rap in West Virginia?
Do you think Gov. Joe Manchin would make a good Vice President?
Do you think U.S. troops should stay in Iraq?
Do you think sexual abuse in West Virginia schools has gotten out of hand?
Do you think any Republican candidate can defeat Senator Robert Byrd?
Should charges be filed against any students caught burning couches after the WVU Virginia Tech game this weekend?
Do you think Senator Robert Byrd will win his re-election bid in 2006?
MORE QUESTIONS IN THE QOD ARCHIVE
|
