Thanks. I would like to see cops give tickets to the numbnuts who try to circumvent a line at a freeway interchange by trolling 20 mph in the next lane with their blinkers on, looking for an opening. To me that is one of the most dangerous things going on the freeway...especially 610 E to 45 S and 59 S to 610 N or S at the Galleria.
According to my buddy, who is a Sheriff dept. Seargent, if the keys are in the ignition, you're considered "driving" and can be fined appropriately. If you're sitting in your car, with it park, turned off, keys in the ignition, you can be fined for no seat-belt. If you're drunk, sitting in a parked car with the keys in the ignition, you can get a DUI. The keys must be removed.
I have a friend who got a PI for sleeping in his car in a friend's driveway. You'd think you'd get some leeway for not actually driving your car.
I always wear my seatbelt, but I think the law stepping in is definately a scam. I can think of more important things for the police to do than this. pathetic
It's also frustrating on the interstates when construction closes down traffic to one lane going each way. Most people merge to the open lane immediately. Others wait until the closed lane actually closes. If everyone merged earlier, traffic would not come to a halt.
The question is "what is early"? I have seen instances where the lane doesn't close for 3+ miles (and a sign saying so) where two 18 wheelers drive side by side so no one can use the right lane. This causes an unnecessary and ridiculous backup for the entire 3+ miles. I have seen signs in Texas which essentially say, "use both lanes until the lane closure". In that case, the traffic moves much, much better compared to the 3+ mile merge.
Here's the thing about seat belt laws, one of my friends here at work that got the ticket (see my last post) has a motorcycle also and he doesnt wear a helmet (I think that's dumb, but whatever) his point is if he gets into a crash and dies it's his own fault and choose to not wear a helmet he thinks it should be his choice to wear a seat belt too... odd way of looking at it, even more odd he's not a dumb kid he's a very smart 50ish year old guy..
The law I would like to see passed (with respect to adults and seat belt/helmet wearing) is that if you choose to not wear a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet then any injuries sustained in an accident (regardless of fault) are not covered under insurance.
Has anybody ever been pulled over without a seat belt on and tried to reach back and buckle up before the cop walked up to the door?
I have read the opposite, where folks have removed their seat belt before the cop got there in order to get to their wallet or to their registration in the glove compartment and have subsequently been ticketed for no seat belt because the cop didn't see that they removed the seat belt.
This very thing happened to me only I unbuckled my seat belt to get my wallet only after the officer asked for my license and registration. He was sitting right there and saw me do it yet he still ticketed me for no seat belt. What a waste of $25!
I had a friend who got pulled over for speeding and didn't have her seat belt on. She quickly put her seat belt on when she pulled over. When the cop walked up to the car told her how fast she was going and asked for the usual information. When all that was said he finally said "Now be honest with me, were you wearing your seat belt before I pulled you over?" and she answered honestly no. So the cop gave her a $25.00 seat belt ticket instead of the $100+ speeding ticket which probably would have went on her record/insurance too.
There were highway signs up over memorial day weekend (288 south) that said Click or Ticket fees were up to $200! Can they do that? Raise the price of a fine during certains times of the year?
Hell, there's probably a law for it. In Arkansas, when construction is ongoing on a street if you commit a traffic violation the fine automatically doubles.
