Judi — Seat belt laws are ‘intrusive’ in New Jersey
The ridiculous money grab called "Click It or Ticket" is in full swing in NJ so I thought I'd tell you why I'll risk getting caught without a seat belt. Well, I do wear a seat belt a lot of the time. But I'm talking about the times I don't. Like: if I'm traveling a short distance and can't be bothered, or if I just don't feel like it.
Sometimes, however, I feel less secure than others. For instance, if the weather is bad and roads are treacherous, or if I'm tired or traveling a long distance, then I choose to buckle up because it just feels safer to me. But the operative word is "choose."
It should be my choice. There's no question that I will probably be safer in an accident if I wear one. In fact, the old adage "seat belts save lives" is true a good percentage of the time. Which is why I often choose to put one on. Because Sometimes I worry I might get into an accident. Other times, not so much.
And although the statistics are there, I'm still VEHEMENTLY against seat belt laws (or any law that tells me how I can best protect MYSELF). I resent the government trying to take care of me. That's not the governments job. And even if it were, don't be fooled for a minute: The Click it or ticket campaign is all about amassing revenue and not at all about your safety. So Yes, you read correctly. I'm against seat belt laws. Not seat belts, but the laws that say you have to wear them.
Suppose you chose to wear a helmet every time you got in the car. I'd respect you for that. I also respect you for choosing not to. And most of you don't wear helmets while driving. At least by my observation. But since most serious injuries and deaths in auto accidents are caused by head injuries, why are we not required by law to wear helmets while driving "just in case?"
Would you support a law mandating that? Why are seat belts different?
If you blindly accept seat belt laws because you believe the government can dictate what's best for your well-being, ask yourself this: Are you prepared to also blindly accept the "driving while helmeted law"? Is that too intrusive for you? Well, the seat belt law is too intrusive for me. So while I buckle up a lot, and encourage my children to (like a lot of parents, i obviously care more about their safety than I do my own) I'm against a law telling me what's safest for me.
Dennis and Judi are on the air weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tweet them @DennisandJudi or @NJ1015.
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