Tulsa Police Cracking Down On Seatbelt Violations

[Conan71]

I heard on the radio this morning that TPD is planning to step up seatbelt enforcement. 

http://www.krmg.com/news/news/seatbelt_crackdown_coming/ns2P/

Is this part of a national initiative?  The story notes seatbelt use in the Tulsa area is 91% so what's the point?  Failure to use a seatbelt doesn't cause a crash, but inattentive driving does.  How about a crackdown on people texting or surfing the web while driving?  Sure seems like a better use of resources which would raise revenue (which is all seatbelt enforcement is) while also doing something which REALLY would make a difference in public safety.

[custosnox]

I would personally like to see a crack down on red light runners, but that would mean cops would have to stop as well.

[custosnox]

Oh, and I love how the comments are turned off for the story

[Townsend]

Oh, and I love how the comments are turned off for the story

Just my opinion but that would be best for all stories.

[TheTed]

I always wear my seat belt, but it's not harming me when others don't wear theirs. Plus with the fine only being $20, what's the point? If I was staunchly anti-seatbelt, the prospect of getting a $20 fine every few years wouldn't change my behavior.

Many other kinds of crackdowns would be better:
Inattentive driving (when I go jogging I think at least a third of drivers are holding cell phones to their ears).

Crosswalk violations

Turn signals/turns on red where people barely slow down

Generally ridiculous intersection maneuvers (mostly downtown, where people think they can go whatever direction they please from any lane they please).

Left lane drivers on the rural turnpikes/four-lanes (not really a TPD issue, I realize)

[nathanm]

I always wear my seat belt, but it's not harming me when others don't wear theirs. Plus with the fine only being $20, what's the point? If I was staunchly anti-seatbelt, the prospect of getting a $20 fine every few years wouldn't change my behavior.

While I agree that TPD has more important things to do, other people not wearing their seatbelt does affect you. When they get into a crash, they end up with more serious injuries, which ends up increasing the cost of everyone's liability insurance.

[Conan71]

While I agree that TPD has more important things to do, other people not wearing their seatbelt does affect you. When they get into a crash, they end up with more serious injuries, which ends up increasing the cost of everyone's liability insurance.

That logic is not lost on anyone, I don't believe.  However, most of those accidents would not occur without driver inattention.

[custosnox]

While I agree that TPD has more important things to do, other people not wearing their seatbelt does affect you. When they get into a crash, they end up with more serious injuries, which ends up increasing the cost of everyone's liability insurance.

by using that reasoning then you can say that your medical insurance liability goes up because someone gets hurt while bungee jumping, so let's make it illegal to bungee jump

[patric]

I heard on the radio this morning that TPD is planning to step up seatbelt enforcement. 
Is this part of a national initiative?  The story notes seatbelt use in the Tulsa area is 91% so what's the point? 

A special interest group gets some grant money to dangle in front of police departments,
to make certain types of arrests in keeping with their agenda.
Police are required to meet a quota to collect the grant.
The special interest group now has higher arrest numbers to justify asking for more grant money,
that they dangle in front of police departments.
Round and round.  

[Townsend]

A special interest group gets some grant money to dangle in front of police departments,
to make certain types of arrests in keeping with their agenda.
Police are required to meet a quota to collect the grant.
The special interest group now has higher arrest numbers to justify asking for more grant money,
that they dangle in front of police departments.
Round and round.  

?

[nathanm]

by using that reasoning then you can say that your medical insurance liability goes up because someone gets hurt while bungee jumping, so let's make it illegal to bungee jump

I was explaining, not defending. I'm pretty much all for seat belt laws that apply to children, since it's not really up to them if their dumbass parents don't belt them in. I'm much more ambivalent toward adult seat belt laws.

Now I'll get into a mild defense: Bungee jumping is not to health insurance as seat belt laws are to auto liability. Requiring people to wear a seatbelt is a minimal intrusion on their freedom. Prohibiting them from recreational activities is a much greater intrusion.

[Townsend]

I was always under the impression that this allows the officer to stop someone with cause in order to make a bigger bust.

ie drugs, drunk driving, possession of stolen goods, corpse in the trunk, hooker on the floor board...you know, a thursday night

[Conan71]

I was always under the impression that this allows the officer to stop someone with cause in order to make a bigger bust.

ie drugs, drunk driving, possession of stolen goods, corpse in the trunk, hooker on the floor board...you know, a thursday night

Thread winner

[heironymouspasparagus]

by using that reasoning then you can say that your medical insurance liability goes up because someone gets hurt while bungee jumping, so let's make it illegal to bungee jump

Lousy example.  Estimates are about 18 deaths since the 70's.  Wouldn't even show up on actuarial table.  

While driving still kills 30,000+ per year.  And the percentage is heavily stacked toward the side of not wearing seat belt as the main causative factor (especially percentage wise).  Which WOULD show up on same table.

[Teatownclown]

A special interest group gets some grant money to dangle in front of police departments,
to make certain types of arrests in keeping with their agenda.
Police are required to meet a quota to collect the grant.
The special interest group now has higher arrest numbers to justify asking for more grant money,
that they dangle in front of police departments.
Round and round.  

Damn. Will they be looking for unused condoms?

Damn those special interest groups!