One for the lawyers

[Fred Garvin 2.0]

I see a "seatbelt check" on Milford Parkway tonite from 6-9 near Rivers Edge Drive( what better way to honor a holiday than violate my 4th ammendment rights).

How does this work? If I have on a seatbelt do I just roll thru or do I have to roll down the window and open that Pandora's box.

[XU-07]

I think it is just like a DUI checkpoint.

[BENWAR]

I love how I'm forced to wear a seat belt while the motorcycle driver doesn't have to wear a helmet. Makes no sense to me.

[Blue Blooded-05]

So what happens if a motorcyclist goes through the seatbelt checkpoint?

Hmmm... Must be that our fine law enforcement is only concerned about the safety of those supported by airbags. That, or they're short on this month's fine quota.

Word to the wise: A few years ago I was pulled over for speeding (which was justified) and the cop wrote me a separate ticket for a seatbelt violation... not because I wasn't wearing one... because I was wearing it "improperly" under my left arm. As he was lecturing me on his "concern" for my safety, a motorcyclist zooms bye and he's not even wearing a freaking helmet. I had the choice of paying the ticket (around $50) or missing an entire day of work to challenge it in court.

Serve and protect, indeed.

[chico]

I love how I'm forced to wear a seat belt while the motorcycle driver doesn't have to wear a helmet. Makes no sense to me.

The thing is, when a motorcycle driver gets in an accident at 70 mph a helmet isn't really going to help. A seatbelt, on the other hand, will likely go a long way in saving my life.

Not that I think it's wise for a motorcycle rider to not wear a helmet. The guys not wearing helmets are usually the brain surgeons weaving through traffic.

[Blue Blooded-05]

I love how I'm forced to wear a seat belt while the motorcycle driver doesn't have to wear a helmet. Makes no sense to me.

Beat me to it, BENWAR... by one minute.

How does that old saying go... the one about great minds thinking alike?

[Cheesehead]

I work in a profession that's classified as law enforcement and I personally don't like anything about these checkpoints. It's BS and I do feel like it's a violation of peoples' rights.

Just don't to that area in Milford tonight. I am sure the many businesses over there will appereciate a boycott and they can thank their PD for it.

[jhelmes37]

Beat me to it, BENWAR... by one minute.

How does that old saying go... the one about great minds thinking alike?

What's the difference between wearing a helmet and not wearing a helmet when riding a bike? Give up?

An open or closed casket.

I have never rode a motorcycle and never will. The sheer thought of driving 70 down the highway with no protection is enough to scare the shit out of me.

That being said, helmets on bikes are pointless. There's no need.

[bobbiemcgee]

Oddly, the woman who fought the Helmet law in Florida and got it removed, died two weeks after it passed. Crashed with NO HELMET.

[jhelmes37]

Oddly, the woman who fought the Helmet law in Florida and got it removed, died two weeks after it passed. Crashed with NO HELMET.

Probably a closed casket. My only point is that I doubt a helmet would have saved her life. Not much will when doing high speeds on a bike.

[bobbiemcgee]

True. There is actually a family suing Florida now because they repealed the helmet law. I don't ride a bike nor give a crap if somebody wants to take the chance with their noggin, but I've always thought you can buy a new helmet but you can't buy a new head. I've seen a few cracked helmets in my former car racing days and saw the guys wearing them still walking around.

[Xavier]

True. There is actually a family suing Florida now because they repealed the helmet law. I don't ride a bike nor give a crap if somebody wants to take the chance with their noggin, but I've always thought you can buy a new helmet but you can't buy a new head. I've seen a few cracked helmets in my former car racing days and saw the guys wearing them still walking around.

Sounds like Gordie Howe when talking about not wearing a helmet but wearing a cup. "You can always pay a man to do your thinking...." Classic

[Smooth]

Sounds like Gordie Howe when talking about not wearing a helmet but wearing a cup. "You can always pay a man to do your thinking...." Classic

Mrs. Howe must have been a real looker if he couldn't even find someone to do her if he paid him.

[Kahns Krazy]

I think it is just like a DUI checkpoint.

The supreme court ruling on DUI checkpoints held them to be legal in part because a drunk behind the wheel could represent an immediate harm to the public vs. a driver who is not impaired.

I don't understand how an unbelted driver represents any immediate risk to the public vs. a belted driver.

I'm no lawyer, but I really wonder if seatbelt checkpoints would pass a legal challenge at the highest level.

[Emp]

Checkpoints have been tolerated by the law forever. Just ask any of your darker or hispanic friends about "Driving while black" checkpoints.

The 4th Amendment is dead.

News to me until recently, but I have no expectation of privacy for my vehicle while it is parked in any public street, garage, etc. The police are free to put a tracer on it at any point and follow me whereever I go. No warrant required, no probable cause. Its such an easy next step to simply break into it and search it, unless its in my garage or driveway.

Homeland security and your internet provider can read your email, check what sites you visit, and keep that info as long as someone arbitrarily decides. Ditto your cel phone calls.

Privacy is kaput. Personal security is kaput. Big brother, here, now, everywhere.

[nuts4xu]

80% of all motorcyles are fatal....FYI.

Just saying...