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From: wcs@ho95e.UUCP (Bill.Stewart.4K435.x0705)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.auto
Subject: Re: But at what cost...
Message-ID: <190@ho95e.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 24-Sep-85 14:04:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: ho95e.190
Posted: Tue Sep 24 14:04:45 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 1-Oct-85 08:05:51 EDT
References: <388@decwrl.UUCP> <354@mecc.UUCP> <1770@hao.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 37
Xref: linus net.consumers:2553 net.auto:7300

(stuff about passive belts being a good thing, at least for stupid people who
otherwise don't wear belts, and how they certainly beat airbags)

> Something *like* this should be included in #2 above.  Anyone caught with
> a disconnected passive belt should suffer a HEFTY penalty, and should
> count on their driving records as a moving violation.  Passive belts
> should be connected in a way that disconneting could not be put back.

> My Ford has a bolt head for the seat belt that has a multi-point star
> shaped hole, requiring a 'special' tool, but it can be removed by a
> wrench, etc.  Make this impossible, and the insurance people and cops
> can tell it was deliberately removed.
> {ucbvax!hplabs | allegra!nbires | decvax!noao | harpo!seismo | ihnp4!noao}
>        !hao!kitten > CSNET: kitten@NCAR  ARPA: kitten%ncar@CSNET-RELAY

NO NO NO NO NO!  Have you ever tried to fix a broken seatbelt on a Ford?
It's basically impossible. I eventually gave up and wore just the 
shoulder belt, since the lap belt was permanently jammed  (no flames please; I
know it's not a great arrangement.) (I also couldn't get my dealer to
understand the idea that I wanted the seatbelt repaired.)

New Jersey has a seatbelt law, of sorts - you have to wear it, but the police
are only allowed to check for it if they pull you over because of your driving.
Part of the motivation is to prevent charges of "harrassment" from people who
might claim the police don't like them and are using seatbelt laws as an excuse
for ticketing them.  I personally feel that the police should be able to ticket
anybody for not wearing seatbelts, and should be able to check them at
tollbooths.  The penalty should be simple, but direct - a small fine, but allow
the insurance companies to charge double on the personal-injury-protection
rates if you've had a seatbelt violation in the past n years (n=~=3).
(Personal Injury Protection is part of NJ's so-called no-fault insurance.)

We also have a law requiring children to be in car seats or seatbelts
(depending on age), and it appears to be unenforced.  THAT's something I think
should carry heavy fines.
-- 
## Bill Stewart, AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ 1-201-949-0705 ihnp4!ho95c!wcs