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Senator wants to make seat belt law a primary offense

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By NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Aug 18, 2008 - 01:06:33 am CDT

Every time a state improves its seat belt law, more people buckle up.  

And fewer people die.

That’s the main reason state Sen. John Harms says he will almost certainly introduce a bill in January making Nebraska’s seat belt law a primary offense, meaning a driver could be pulled over simply for not wearing a belt.    

Story Photo

Currently, you have to be pulled over for another violation before you can be ticketed for not buckling up.                                        

Changing the seat belt law to a primary offense is a good idea “because it saves lives,” said Harms of  Scottsbluff in a telephone interview last week.  

Harms is also interested in getting the $7.4 million in federal highway funding, available next year for the last time to states that upgrade their seat belt law.  

“We’d be collecting some dollars for the highways, too, but that’s secondary,” he said.

Nebraska has one year left to access extra federal funding, offered under 2005 federal legislation.  

Nebraska would get one-time funding of $7.4 million if the state passes a primary seat belt law and it becomes effective by Sept. 30, 2009, the end of the federal fiscal year, said Romell Cooks, regional administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

But if Nebraska doesn’t change its law by then, “that money goes away forever,” she said.   

Ninety percent of the money could be used for safety-related construction projects, Cooks  said.  

Last year the Legislature struggled to find highway funding, using $15 million from the cash reserve and adding another $14.5 million to the road budget, thus increasing the gas tax by about a penny.  

Even with safety and construction money arguments, getting a seat belt law through the Legislature will not be easy, Harms said.  

 In years past, Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers’ promise of a filibuster, plus opposition by some other senators, has scuttled the bill. But Chambers will not be back next year because of term limits.

Even without Chambers, Harms said, there is no guarantee a primary law will pass.

“I don’t know what the chances are for getting it out of committee next year,” he said.  

Senators passed the first seat belt law in 1985, but Nebraska voters repealed it in 1986.

The Legislature reinstated a seat belt law, as a secondary offense, in January 1993.

Senators oppose making the seat belt law a primary offense  because it takes away people’s freedom, said state Sen. Deb Fischer, chairman of the Transportation Committee.

Adults believe it should be their choice whether to wear a seat belt or not, she said.

Fischer would not predict the chances of a seat belt bill next year.  

“We will have a different committee, with at least four new members. So we will have to wait and see who is on the committee, what the makeup of the body is and what constituents are telling senators on this issue, she said.

Constituent concerns are important because “we are here to represent them,” she said.

Harms, who convinced the Legislature to strengthen the teen driving license requirements, said the evidence is overwhelming that seat belts save lives.  

Not using a seat belt increases the risk of a fatality by 80 percent  in an SUV rollover, according to Cooks.     

And when states change from a secondary law to a primary law, seat belt usage goes up 10 to 14 percentage points, she said.  

“When you drive down the highway (in Nebraska), there are a lot of people who don’t wear seat belts,”Harms said.  

That’s why strengthening the law is important, he said.

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.


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About Time wrote on August 18, 2008 4:06 am:
" Its about time...kudos to Senator Harms!!! Shame on the Journal Star for saying "...a driver could get pulled over for SIMPLY not wearing a seat belt." Seat belts save lives, PERIOD. "

 Dee wrote on August 18, 2008 4:54 am:
" Making that a law would just give police that much more control, what next, telling me what time I should wake up? "

 whatever wrote on August 18, 2008 5:03 am:
" Let's just waste law enforcements time looking for those without a seatbelt on. "

 bill wrote on August 18, 2008 5:17 am:
" I've always wondered how many lives are saved by seat belts in town? I can drive for 2 weeks and not get over 40 mph and I really doubt that seat belts would reduce fatalities at those speeds. It just seems kind of pointless to have law enforcement giving more traffic tickets while violent crime seems to be on the rise. "

 Yada wrote on August 18, 2008 5:31 am:
" Let's be totally honest here...it is all about the money. Money from the Feds; money for the fines; money for the courts (in actuality that is probably more than the fine); C'mon...at what point do stop the government from telling us what we have to do? "

 YouKnowMe wrote on August 18, 2008 6:32 am:
" This sends the wrong message. Ppl will buckle up only b/c they don't want a ticket, not b/c it's the safe thing to do. Leaving your front door unlocked but do you get a ticket if you don't do it? No. But you lock your front door anyway. Why? IT'S THE SAFE THING TO DO. You don't get a fine for not having someone hold a ladder while you're on it, do you? No. But you have someone hold it anyway, why? IT'S THE SAFE THING TO DO. Not being safe (in this case, not buckling up) carries with it it's own penalty - that of greater injury in the event of an accident. I think we're all smart enough to know the smart thing to do - and what happens when we don't - to issue tickets for this is only a way only really says, "we the gov't don't think you're smart enough to think for yourselves, so we'll do the thinking for you." Soon, it'll be, "I stopped you, sir, because I noticed you walking down stairs w/o using the handrail...I'm going to have to give you a ticket." "

 David wrote on August 18, 2008 6:41 am:
" Wow, what a distorted statistic...80% higher risk of fatality in an suv rollover. What's the percentage of accidents involving suv's and of them what's the percentage of rollover's. Is this a Nebraska statistic or a national statistic? This results in a 10-14% increase in usage which probably translates into saving .3 lives per year. Installing a red flashing light on top of the stop signs at Waverly rd and Hwy 77 would translate into a much higher percentage of lives saved "

 Double Standard wrote on August 18, 2008 6:42 am:
" Deb Fischer, chairman of the Transportation Committee says "Adults believe it should be their choice whether to wear a seat belt or not". Yeah, just like business owners believed it should be their choice to whether to allow smoking in their businesses or not but that didn't stop the smoking ban, did it? Or was it that banning smoking in public places was a more popular decision than making the seat belt law a primary offense will be? "

 Rob wrote on August 18, 2008 6:43 am:
" Well, I see all ready that Senator Harms is thinking of passing a law that
doesn't make a whole lot of sense only to kill time. Budget, budget, lower taxes, taxes is what needs to take up the time. Lower Property taxes, is far more important. We old people were not raised to wear seat belts, but we do now. It was a matter of buckle up, believe me it took time, now it is a habit, to buckle up. My stubborn other half refused to till one day I told him I wasn't moving the car till he did so. Now it's a habit for him. Then we have good old Senator Christensen in District 44 that is up to his usual making a bigger mess of LB701 then he did when he put the bill in his first year, then all his bills that he puts in for his churches belief's that get crammed down our necks, more wasted time, putting off WHAT should be done, budget, budget, lower taxes, lower taxes. LB701 should be thrown out. What needs to be done is make the irrigators take responsibility for their mess up with our water. We have
a farmer south of us that has been irrigating since before the 6th of
August, running it night & day. We have had 5 inches out here, yet his
irrigation keeps running. So much for the NRD's, we have meters, we watch
them. Believe me people, coming home from Omaha a week ago, it was surprising to see all the pivot's running, after all the rain. HEY SOME
COMMON SENSE DOWN THERE IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR. INSTEAD of so much
self-serving, greed. "

 Late ODay wrote on August 18, 2008 7:40 am:
" I suspect that a lot of low-brow rednecks who specifically targeted Ernie Chambers for retirement will soon be rethinking their cunning plan. "

 Corey wrote on August 18, 2008 7:41 am:
" Just what we need, more babysitting...

Not wearing a seatbelt doesn't affect anyone but the person who isn't wearing it. It should be their personal choice whether or not they wear one, and if they don't, they might pay for the consequences if they get into a wreck, and if they don't get into a wreck, then who cares? We need to stop trying to control everyone's life, and maybe focus our attention on other things that actually matter. "

 why wrote on August 18, 2008 7:52 am:
" Why does everything have to be a law these day? Why can't we decide for ourselves? I do agree children should be buckled up but an adult should be able to make that decision. I do wear a seat belt, but don't have a problem with people who don't. "

 Make a choice... wrote on August 18, 2008 7:53 am:
" There is no way to justify the seat belt law and the helmet law not being equal offenses. Either raise the seat belts to a primary offense or lower helmets to secondary. Hypocrisy on the personal level is a character flaw, hypocrisy at the legislative level is abuse of power. "

 pass it wrote on August 18, 2008 8:12 am:
" Yes people must be told to wear their seat belts. A law saying you have to will do it and if they don't they might get educated with a ticket. Plus it will get the state some free money. If you crash and you don't have your seat belt on then you have high insurance payments to the hospital which makes all of our insurance premiums go up.

I was through the Waverly Rd. and Hwy 77 intersection the other day David and there is a flashing light on top of the stop sign. "

 Thank you Government wrote on August 18, 2008 8:19 am:
" Jeez, I'm glad government tells me what to do for my own safety. Thanks a whole lot for that! Next week, I can only hope that they ban fatty foods because they clog my arteries. I can only hope that the next law that passes mandates that we stay in our homes,so that we can't go into the sun since it causes skin cancer. "

 Erik wrote on August 18, 2008 8:43 am:
" It's not that hard to put on a seat belt. It takes two seconds and that's it! "

 Darwin wrote on August 18, 2008 8:48 am:
" Bill, it actually is very helpful to wear your belt, even in very low speed collisions. It is amazing how we think 30 miles an hour isnt that fast now-a-days. Even at 20 or 30 MPH, your body will be subjected to a dozen Gs or more of force.

I rode a little test rig that demonstrates the force of a 10 MPH collision. It was set up like a car seat, belt, steering wheel, etc, on an angled rail track. You sit in it, and they slide it down the rail about 15 feet, and you slam into a bumper at the bottom. It only simulates the force of a 10 MPH crash, but it is surprisingly brutal. If I haddnt had the belt on, I would have smashed my nose on the wheel, even though I knew it was comming.

Even at low speeds, human strength and reaction time are no where near good enough to prevent injury. You cant stop yourself when you suddenly weigh 10x more than normal!

But, on the other side, it does kill off the stupid. A little culling of the herd, if you will. And I am all for that. Unfortunately, insurance pays for injuries sustained when you dont wear the belt, and that raises my premiums. If insurance, auto and medical, would stop paying for self inflicted injuries the system wouldnt be so out of whack. "

 Don wrote on August 18, 2008 9:02 am:
" Using Seat belts SAVES LIVES. Not smoking SAVES LIVES. Not walking accross the street SAVES LIVES. Not flying SAVES LIVES. Thinking and being responsible SAVES LIVES. Government tellings us everything we already know, WASTES TIME.

Sen. Harms, please find something more constructive to do with your term. "

 Outside the Box wrote on August 18, 2008 9:25 am:
" Here's why this measure should pass and the "Nanny State" crowd should relax: 1) We get $7.4 million in roads funding without raising taxes. 2) How often do you see somebody pulled over for a traffic offense? Seriously, I rarely see anybody pulled over in Lincoln or on I-80. Just because the law exists, it doesn't mean it will be strictly enforced.

How about this: we repeal the seatbelt and helmet laws, but if you're too stupid not to use them and get hurt, us taxpayers don't have to pay more in insurance, disability, and social services for your injuries. If you want "freedom", be willing to pay for it. "

 Buddha wrote on August 18, 2008 9:29 am:
" This would be a bad idea. I look to Iowa (where I work) and see some examples of racial profiling just because a cop suspected a minority not wearing their seat belt. I even had a white coworker who was pulled over for this, only because she had long hair and the cop couldn't see the seat belt. This can lead to a waste of law enforcement's time. "

 Oh gee wrote on August 18, 2008 9:29 am:
" Ya Im an adult and I need my gov't to tell me what to do! All this is is another excuse to pull you over for no reason. I wonder how much this will happen at night? Oh while I ask if you had your seatbelt on can you blow into this device? I can not believe what our country is coming to. Are the beeping noises my car makes when I don't put on my seatbelt not enough? Find something better to do Senator. And I think there are a few job openings at the local day care seeming you like to tell people what to do. "

 Actually wrote on August 18, 2008 9:58 am:
" Double Standard, Senator Fischer was one of the main opponents to the smoking bill last year in the Legislature. There are still some in that body that believe in personal freedoms. "

 whats the different wrote on August 18, 2008 10:08 am:
" How is making the seatbelt law a primary offense any different from our helmet law for motorcyclists? I think it's a great idea. Less tragedies on the road is a good thing in my mind. "

 Bill wrote on August 18, 2008 10:15 am:
" Didnt we already repeal this once, Why dont they put it on the next ballot and see how the voters feel about it before they try to make it a law again? Oh thats right, They wont get their $7.4 million.
I guess we will just have to repeal this one twice. "

 M wrote on August 18, 2008 10:19 am:
" Let me get this straight. Make a law that will save people from their own stupidity and the feds will give us 7.4 million dollars? Seems pretty simple to me. Especially to all those people complaining about taxes!! If you wear your seatbelt already, there is no problem. If you don’t, and refuse to once the new law is in place, then thank you for paying your tickets and continuing to lower my taxes. "

 Life lost wrote on August 18, 2008 10:33 am:
" What is the percentage of lives lost because the victim was wearing a selt belt and couldn't get out? You often read in the paper or hear on the news the specific if the victim was or was not wearing the selt belt. I believe it is a freedom of choice. The law enforcement officers have better things to do than stop someone because they are not wearing a selt belt only. In the time that the officer is writing me a ticket across town there is a robbery, or a murder or a child getting abducted... "

 Note from State Legislature wrote on August 18, 2008 10:33 am:
" Don't forget to breathe about every three seconds. We will mandate that next year, too. "

 What wrote on August 18, 2008 10:36 am:
" I would think our Senators have some other more important issues to focus on and resolve than wearing a seatbelt. This Senator appears to be wasting taxpayers time and money. "

 gee wrote on August 18, 2008 10:57 am:
" The fine for not wearing a helmet is $75.00 plus court costs of $44.00. All things being even, how loud and how long will you howl while shelling out $119.00 for putting your car in motion without a seatbelt? I'll bet, "I was getting to it" won't be an afirmative defense. "

 GrownUp wrote on August 18, 2008 11:06 am:
" I was suprised that none of these comments mentioned the fact that when the legislature passed the original seatbelt law, the people of Nebraska signed a petition to get the issue on the ballot. The seatbelt law was then voted DOWN. Some time later the legislature passed a new seatbelt law making it a secondary offense. It was obvious that this was done to get the federal money which sounds like extortion on the part of the feds. There is something terribly wrong with our government when the will of the citizens it represents is overruled and then ignored. "

 The govement knows best wrote on August 18, 2008 11:18 am:
" Come on Folks!! Don't you think our big daddy has our best interest at heart? Please just everyone comply and become mindless sheeple, just do what they say and don't question it. We don't need you to think for yourselves or exspress your views, they don't matter and will not change anything. "

 Seat belts save lives wrote on August 18, 2008 11:20 am:
" seat belts save lives.... Except for the ones they kill! Ever heard of people getting a rupured spline from being Tboned and wearing a seat belt. IT HAPPENS! "

 Mark wrote on August 18, 2008 11:23 am:
" According to national automobile insurance stats, most accidents occur within a 13 mile radius from one's home. And these can be very serious accidents, indeed. I used to be against seat belt laws and I've heard all the arguements against wearing them and I guess there will always be an exception to the rule; however, wearing seat belts DO save lives. "

 Nan wrote on August 18, 2008 11:24 am:
" I don't believe this should be a law. Allowing people the choice to wear a seat belt (or motorcycle helmet) is an effective way of cleaning the gene pool. "

 WL wrote on August 18, 2008 11:42 am:
" People already ask me where I'm from and I tell them the Soviet Union.
If Harms doesn't have anything better to do for this state than have the
police tail you like a gastopo, its little wonder Nebraska is avoided like
the plague. We sure need more cops to stop you for going 3 mph over the
speed limit (63) in a 60 mph zone especially when a semi is riding your
bumper. If that law is passed, every time some one is killed with a seat
belt on, a senator should be put in prison for LIFE! As a foreign student
said to me, "America is a country of freedom?? are you kidding me???" "

 Roger wrote on August 18, 2008 11:47 am:
" After we resolve the seatbelt law issue, then will we finally see the push to have ALL motorists wear helmets? It saves lives for the cyclists so, it would obviously prevent head injuries in automobile accidents, too. I say everyone in the car should be belted in and wearing a helmet. It's the safe thing to do! "

 Tom wrote on August 18, 2008 11:50 am:
" It's principle here. How long will it be before they start limiting our other freedoms. It should be our choice whether we wear our seatbelts or not. It should be our choice whether to go to a bar or restaraunt that allows smoking. Seriously, this is only a way for cops to pull people over when they previously had no reason to, to collect more money from fines. "

 do it wrote on August 18, 2008 12:13 pm:
" I hope this passes, it's worked for other states. I think the no seatbelt fine in Washington state is $100 or so for a first violation. It reduces the vehicle fatality rate, and that's never a bad thing. "

 pro-seat belt wrote on August 18, 2008 12:20 pm:
" I've been in minor accidents with and without a seat belt on. With a seat belt no injuries just damage to the car. Without a belt - hit the windsheild and got the expensive experience of an ambulance ride with a backboard. It's MUCH better to use the belt! "

 Repeal ALL Seatbelt laws wrote on August 18, 2008 12:24 pm:
" All Seatbelt laws should be repealed, Let natural selection do its work... "

 sue wrote on August 18, 2008 12:33 pm:
" This is nonsense to spend time on this bill. If you want to make a real difference, make it more difficult to get your driver's license. "

 stignob wrote on August 18, 2008 12:40 pm:
" Thank you big brother for saving ourselves from us. But but it's for the people... "

 Pass The Law wrote on August 18, 2008 12:55 pm:
" Kudos, congrats etc. etc. In general people are sometimes lazy and there are times when we have to be told to do something. Wearing a seatbelts DOES save lives and Nebraska DOES need to make this a primary violation. Some people say that wearing their seatbelt is their right. WRONG! When you are severiously injured in a car wreck and your medical bills reach in to the hundreds or thousands of dollars, guess who pays those bills? WE DO... the taxpayer. So, buckle up as it's everyones business. "

 Chris wrote on August 18, 2008 12:55 pm:
" NO! We do not need another excuse to pull the average citizen over. While I always wear a seat belt while driving or riding in a car it is a bad law in the first place. It's the equivalent of having a law that gives me a ticket if I don't take my blood pressure medication. Gone are the days of personal responsibility.

If we must have the law it should be kept as a secondary offense and nothing more.

To all of those who think this is a good idea. Perhaps we should outlaw fatty foods. Eating fatty foods kills! I'm sure you'll all love it when the cops come to check your fridge and pantry. "

 Brock Landers wrote on August 18, 2008 1:09 pm:
" Just wear the darn things! They save lives! I have seen first hand countless people that have not been injured because they were wearing their seatbelts. Unfortunately, I have also seen first hand people that have been thrown from their vehicles and squashed underneath, crushed against the dash, and gravely injured because they didn't wear their seatbelts... Yes, I have seen people that died despite wearing their belts, but I have never seen someone die because they were trapped by their belt inside a vehicle. Please pass this law and force those foolish enough not to wear them to at least suffer a fine that might make them realize that life is too precious to waste! "

 Last summer wrote on August 18, 2008 1:32 pm:
" my sister was killed in a car crash BECAUSE she was wearing her seatbelt. So don't tell me I should wear my seatbelt(even though I do). Why do some many people feel the need to tell others what to do? I know the things save lives but they also kill. It should be up to the driver and we should never waste time and/or money to tell them so. Next comes food! I hope you all are ready to eat preped meals that meet health requirements everyday. Some people(lazy,self controlling, hate their rights) are ok with giving up their rights but I am not. "

 Tim wrote on August 18, 2008 1:50 pm:
" I am not going to argue if they save lives, they do. I wear mine and anyone in my vehicle wears theirs. It is the whole idea of the Legislators over ruling what the people of Nebraska voted on, period thats it! They did this with the flouride in the water last year and class 1 schools before that.

When are the people of Nebraska going to wake up and start fighting, quit electing, these mamby pamby people to power. They are doing this for a 1 TIME payment of 7.4 million (4 months of road work), give me a break. They are doing this for control over us so they feel powerful and good about themselves.

For $500,000 I can find enough cuts to equal that 7.4 million that would last longer then 1 year. I work around the NDOR enough to know what the waste is. Tell Nebraska legislator's to get off of our back and out of our lives. "

 W.G.Ahlers wrote on August 18, 2008 2:10 pm:
" Bill, I understand that at less than 40, FOR YOU a seatbelt may not save your life...but at 80 down the interstate when you fall asleep at the wheel and drift off the road... As far as 'freedom' goes, c'mon you guys, its just a seatbelt! Move to North Korea if you want a real taste of your government taking away your 'freedoms.' "

 Dakota Joe wrote on August 18, 2008 2:12 pm:
" At least Harms has the guts to bring it up ! Up here in South Dakota nobody has the nerve to bring up a helmet law ! We just might loose some revenue at the Sturgis Rally ! Our elected officials have no spines ! "

 Nina wrote on August 18, 2008 2:20 pm:
" Iowa has had such a law for years, and it has resulted in a hefty addition to its coffers, I am told. Who knows how many lives it has saved? In Nebraska, I feel it would surely save teen lives, because among that age group it is somewhat of a fad to drive or ride without them. But they should remember it's not too cool to be dead or paralyzed. I remember a kid who drove to school while my son was in high school. The kid was in a minor accident, didn't have a seat belt on, and after that his parents gave him two choices: 1. Drive a car which said across the back of the trunk, "Please notify parents at (phone #) if the driver is not wearing a seat belt," or, 2. Ride the bus. Wise parents, I say...the kid always wore his seatbelt, and after a few months for the habit to be established, the sign on the trunk was removed. "

 Whiners get over it. wrote on August 18, 2008 3:10 pm:
" Would you ride a rollercoaster without demanding a restraining harness? Of course not. But same concept, don't you think? I'm not going to lecture you all of safety. Really, if you don't want to wear a seatbelt, then don't. Just know you run the risk of a ticket. And what's wrong with tapping into some federal highway funds? If you knew we had the opportunity to get free money from the feds and passed it up, you'd be crying foul. What a bunch of whiners Nebraskan are. "

 I have no problem with wrote on August 18, 2008 3:28 pm:
" wearing my seatbelt. However the thing I do have a problem is our civil rights being taken away from us because certain people feel the need to mother everyone else. Next thing you know i won't be able to buy fries from someplace because they do indeed kill. It is time for us to quit being pushovers and not let someone tell us how to live. And it is time for people to start giving us more credit. I would like to know how many die even while wearing their seatbel, gasp it happens! Let me make my own choice which most of the time is the right decision. "

 I wear mine wrote on August 18, 2008 3:40 pm:
" because it is the best thing to do, BUT STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!!! "

 Paul wrote on August 18, 2008 4:18 pm:
" This is settled law. The Nebraska people have already voted on the issue. What part of "We don't want no stinking primary seat belt law" do you not understand, Mr. Harms? "

 You cant be serious... wrote on August 18, 2008 4:39 pm:
" To "Whiners get over it" I don't know what kind of car you drive but mine doesn't do corkspins or 360's. Of course I am going to wear my seatbelt on a rollercoaster because it would be the same as putting a loaded gun to my head and pulling the trigger. What a terrible comparison! I can't believe this many people are ok with giving up their civil liberties! But after all I do live in Nebraska and nobody can do anyting without someone else telling them they need to. "

 nemo wrote on August 18, 2008 5:19 pm:
" I wear my seat belt. But I don't need big gov and Harms telling me I have to "

 To Roger wrote on August 18, 2008 5:38 pm:
" It is illegal to wear a helmet in a car. "

 panhandle person wrote on August 18, 2008 5:44 pm:
" I am one that always wears my seatbelt because I thought it was the law already. I would like to ses Senator Harms and the rest of the "bunch" do something about the Medicaid "soaks". Out here we have all kinds of people using the Medicaid program that I personally believe shouldn't be. Illegals, people with full time jobs that have insurance benefits, etc. I see it all the time in the health care field. "

 Matt wrote on August 18, 2008 8:10 pm:
" Its a privalege to drive a car, but its a choice to wear a seatbelt. Now that choice is being made for us. What's next, they going to take our right to freedom of speach? Let us make that choice, its our life. "

 BigBrother wrote on August 18, 2008 10:45 pm:
" The worst "Big Brother" in history is in the administration and you scream "Big Brother" about seatbelts...try looking at the big picture once. "

 Pay Attention wrote on August 18, 2008 10:51 pm:
" YOUR Republican Big Brother Congress, and President Bush, passed the law in 2005, that bribes our State, with $7 1/2 million, if they now pass this state law. Is it possible they were losing too many future leaders? "

 Lincoln Mom wrote on August 19, 2008 8:35 am:
" Those of you who are against this are generally one of two things: 1) not a fan of wearing a seatbelt, or 2) have some sort of skewed idea of "Freedom". Some of you may fall into both. If you aren't a fan of wearing a seatbelt - don't. People break laws all the time. Statistics have shown the life saving benefit of wearing a seat belt. Don't you want the statistics to be in your favor? I know I do. It takes very little time to get into the habit of wearing a seat belt and you set a very good example to others. For those of you who consider it a "freedom" to not wear the belt - well, we have plenty of freedoms that don't affect lives - such as working, going to the school of your choice, practicing whatever (if any) religion, and just getting up every day. We have millions of freedoms. Let's keep the freedom of driving a car a safe freedom. "

 Oh please.... wrote on August 19, 2008 9:31 am:
" Lincoln mom. Perfect example of someone who doesn't do enough mothering in their own life so they feel the need to mother everyone else. I make right decisions and I wear my seatbelt but I don't need a law to tell me so. What you all don't realize is this just another reason to pull you over and the reason being will be "I thought you didn't have your seatbelt on". And you are the one with a skewed idea of freedom, it is quite obvious you have no idea what the word means and are very willing to give it up. I am different however. Because I know once you give one freedom up they will continue to yank all of them away. Do you follow the news? And what a generalization you made! You should be proud of yourself. Sometime get off your high horse and join everyone else. "

 This doesnt wrote on August 19, 2008 9:34 am:
" surprise me one bit on how many people are willing to give up their civil liberties. After all we do live in Nebraska! "

 Lincoln Taxpayer wrote on August 19, 2008 9:35 am:
" If you have a problem with this bill don't post here let your senators know how you feel and get it stopped. "

 S.E. citizen wrote on August 19, 2008 9:40 am:
" They can make all the laws they want but law enforcement need to enforce them! "

 TO You cant be serious ... wrote on August 19, 2008 11:29 am:
" Imagine your car in a rollover at 60 miles an hour and tell me that's not similar to a rollercoaster. Sacrificing a few "civil liberties" to save lives is clearly a benefit. Why are Nebraskans so afraid of doing the right thing? "

 Lincoln Mom wrote on August 19, 2008 11:34 am:
" To "Oh Please". Do I sense a little bitterness in your response. That's okay, because I can rise above the mothering comment (I am on a high horse anyway right?). What everyone is forgetting here is that wearing a seat belt is already a law so the new law isn't a freedom or civil liberties argument. I ask you "Oh Please", do you also agree that we should all be allowed to smoke meth o to drink alcohol while driving? Probably not. That comparison may seem like a far-reaching comparison but if I understand you, freedom shouldn't have limits. Okay, here is a more subtle example. Would you leave your 3 year old outside unattended? One could argue that real freedom would allow those choices - right? They are also all safety issues and have laws to keep people safe. Like I said in my earlier comment, if someone doesn't want to wear a seat belt, then they can choose not to put it on. People still choose to drink and drive, do meth, or ignore their children. We would all love to live under the concept that you can do whatever we want, whenever we want, and however we want, but its just not a reasonable expection. You want real freedom, then I suggest you buy yourself a country and live there alone. Then maybe, just maybe, you might have the freedom you expect in this country. Good luck and I wish you well. "

 Oh goodness... wrote on August 19, 2008 1:06 pm:
" Lincoln mom come talk to me when your sister died BECAUSE of a seatbelt. And don't tell me it was a freak accident, do some research. "

 This is not necessary wrote on August 19, 2008 1:20 pm:
" I wear my seatbelt. technically I also break the speed limit occasionally. Truth is there are already plenty of reasons to pull someone over, we don't need one more. If a cop wants to pull you over he/she can generally find a reason, then if they like they can issue a citation for seatblet nonusage. QUESTION:How many drunks can drive by un-noticed while an officer issues a seatblet citation? ANSWER: several "

 Hmmm wrote on August 19, 2008 2:01 pm:
" pull someone over for not wearing their seatbelt or bust someone making meth? obviously the person not wearing a seatbelt is more of a criminal so lets waste police officers time on that, good call! (<- sarcasm). Do police officers want to wast their time on this? Why would we want to wast time on something so petty when their are REAL crimes to be fought? "

 Lincoln Mom wrote on August 19, 2008 2:30 pm:
" To Oh Goodness. First of all, I'm sorry to hear of the passing of your sister. I too lost a sister. My sister decided to ride with a drunk driver and did not buckle in. She hit a tree with her head at about 60 MPH. There is no way to know if the seat belt would have saved her, but I guarantee she would be here if she would have chose not to ride with the driver of the car. If Oh Goodness is also Oh Please, then you leave me a bit perplexed. Your first argument was that it was a civil liberties/freedom issue. While I don't entirely disagree, I respect that you feel that way. But now your argument is that a seatbelt did not save your sister. So why did you say you wear a seatbelt if you feel that strongly against them? "

 bobo wrote on August 19, 2008 3:44 pm:
" I fail to see the point of this. Really we have a seatbelt law, I do not think that making it primary will change much. Just one more excuse to pull people over. "

 Scott wrote on August 19, 2008 3:46 pm:
" I don't need YOU to save MY life. That's MY choice. "

 B. Franklin wrote on August 19, 2008 4:14 pm:
" Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither "

 DJ wrote on August 19, 2008 4:51 pm:
" Oh, no, not the government telling us we have to wear seatbelts. Next thing you know they'll tell us what kind of light bulbs we have to buy. Oh, wait, nevermind....... "

 Hamon Righ wrote on August 19, 2008 6:48 pm:
" Why does everything have to be a law these days? Look around. Does it seem like more and more people are doing what's good for them and the rest of society or not. Rising Obesity. Rising crime. Lowering of moral standards in the media. One of the fastest growing spectator sports is Ultimate Fight where men AND women beat each other to a pulp with martial arts that are designed to kill an enemy.

Now, I'm not some rightous ninny. There just comes a point when people need to be reminded and nudged in the right direction.

So what if there's a law that says you have to buckle up? Is taking the extra 2 seconds to click the belt going to do anything detrimental to you or your day at all...... AT ALL? The reverse side is that it is proven to raise your chances of surviving an accident. The logical solution is to buckle up. Why moan about it? Then again, with tv shows like "The Hills" pulling in giant ratings, there's an argument to be made that logic is slipping through the cracks in America. "

 Hamon Righ wrote on August 19, 2008 7:08 pm:
" I just need to add something. It blows my mind how many people are against this. I'm befuddled by the comments stating that seat belts have killed people; example being the comment about being t-boned.

My sister was getting a ride home from her junior high when her boyfriend lost control of car. They were only doing 35 miles per hour.They wer not wearing seat belts. The car went went down a ditch and hit a culvert. The impact tossed her straight through the windshield. When her body hit the ground, rocks tore ravine like gashes into the sides of her face. Her head hit the ground so hard, it samashed her brain stem killing her instantly. The rest of her body was a mangled mess of broken bones.

I HAD a cousinwho was driving home in Schyler. His car went into a ditch. He was not wearing his seat belt. He was killed when he was tossed from the car. He was about 100 yards from his drive way.

I was driving down O street many years ago. A woman pulled out of te Taco Johns at, I believe, O and 44th (somewhere around there). She didn't turn into either lane, just cam straight out in front of me. I T-boned her at about 40 miles per hour. She apparently blacked out and lost control of her car. This woman was wearing her seat belt as were I and my girlfriend. The woman hit her steering wheel pretty hard, but was okay. My girlfriend's knee went through the glove compartment, but she was okay. My head hit the windshield and smashed it, but I walked away. I shrink at the thought of what would have happened had not my seatbelt caught me.


You can find examples of people not wearing their seat belts and dying everywhere. I have yet to hear or see a story about someone actually, verifiably dying because they wore a seat belt. "

 Lincoln Mom wrote on August 20, 2008 7:46 am:
" Hamon Righ - well said. "

 One could easily argue wrote on August 20, 2008 8:19 am:
" that what Franklin really said was "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." No doubt that Franklin was a wise man - but we're talking the 1700s. Sometimes, a statement's meaning is subject to interpretation. "

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