Police Officers & Speedguns

[Tyche]

I had a bright red civic that had large chrome wheels, full mirror tint, and sat about 2" above the ground. I drew a bit of attention. Never been in an accident. Well, I have, but it was because a road flooded and I accidentally ran through it ripping off the rear bumper. It was dark, raining, and at the bottom of a hill, I didn't see it coming. I just put a new bumper on it and didn't claim it.

[Plow]

I was driving my black Mustang GT convertible through the closest thing to a "ghetto" in Kansas (Junction City), came up to a corner with no stop sign.

Cop came up from my right at the same time. I stopped. He sat there for like 30 seconds, so finally I went.


He pulled me over and gave me a warning for failure to yield.



There was also a large black man in my passenger seat.



Gotta love it.

[Quixon]

There was also a large black man in my passenger seat.

Well there's your problem.......

[Acturus]

There was also a large black man in my passenger seat.

Well there's your problem.......

/thread

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Damn socialist seatbelts!

Not socialist, nanny-state. I mean, why not outlaw junk food.

Except its not our choice whether to leave you to bleed out on the road or take you to the hospital. So pay your fucking ticket.

If you don't want to use your seatbelt, don't use public roads.

Since when does someone else have an obligation for my well being? Oh wait, nvm.

Edit: And I was on private property when I got the ticket.

[Korietsu]

Edit: And I was on private property when I got the ticket.

Had you said that first, we probably would have defended you. All that depends now is if the private property was a gated neighborhood or not.

[Khamsin]

Since when does someone else have an obligation for my well being? Oh wait, nvm.

Since you were born. That's just the way this country is. Might have something to do with taxes, I'm not sure. But nobody is their own sole responsibility, as much as some people would like to be.

Like aurik said, if you're lying in the road dead, the rest of us foot the bill for cleaning you up. Or if you're only half-dead, they take you to the hospital and if you die there, we still foot the bill.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Edit: And I was on private property when I got the ticket.

Had you said that first, we probably would have defended you. All that depends now is if the private property was a gated neighborhood or not.

It's not gated. There is a sign that says "Private Property No Trespassing" though, if that matters.

Since you were born. That's just the way this country is. Might have something to do with taxes, I'm not sure. But nobody is their own sole responsibility, as much as some people would like to be.

Like aurik said, if you're lying in the road dead, the rest of us foot the bill for cleaning you up. Or if you're only half-dead, they take you to the hospital and if you die there, we still foot the bill.

Hmm. I think I would derail the topic entirely to much with a response to that argument.

[archibaldcrane]

Yep, the point is it's my choice.

You are such a tool. Spend a week in a hospital and find out how many uninsured and underinsured assholes thought it would be cute to "choose" not to wear a seatbelt and are bankrupting the emergency care system.

You aren't a unique rebel, and driving is a privilege, not a right. Wear your seatbelt, spaz.

[Epincus]

http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2005-15.html

[Tyr]

http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2005-15.html

My vote went to the guy who put his penis in a bee hive! Goooooo freedom!

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Yep, the point is it's my choice.

You are such a tool. Spend a week in a hospital and find out how many uninsured and underinsured assholes thought it would be cute to "choose" not to wear a seatbelt and are bankrupting the emergency care system.

You aren't a unique rebel, and driving is a privilege, not a right. Wear your seatbelt, spaz.

I would hope an argument for seat belt laws wasn't, "We need to seat belt laws because when someone gets injured who doesn't wear their seatbelt, someone else could be footing the bill."

I don't see how driving being a privilege and not a right has anything to do with seat belts. But anyways, I'm not saying I don't wear a seat belt on the highway or normal town roads, but when I don't even leave my neighborhood to grab a bite to eat (and the speed limit is 13mph) and I still have a cold drink from the restaurant...give me a fucking break.

[Khamsin]

I would hope an argument for seat belt laws wasn't, "We need to seat belt laws because when someone gets injured who doesn't wear their seatbelt, someone else could be footing the bill."

What other argument do you suppose there might be? Not wearing seatbelts gets people injured, and injured people cost money. Why else does the state need to care?

If nothing else, more people getting hurt makes them look bad, or has demoralizing effects, etc. All in all, it's better for the state if you wear a seatbelt. Does there need to be better reasoning?

Hell, if you get yourself killed, that's one less person paying taxes. There's all sorts of reasons that not getting killed or injured is in the best interest of the state. Be creative, I'm sure you can come up with some of your own since your own personal safety doesn't seem matter.

[Korietsu]

Yep, the point is it's my choice.

You are such a tool. Spend a week in a hospital and find out how many uninsured and underinsured assholes thought it would be cute to "choose" not to wear a seatbelt and are bankrupting the emergency care system.

You aren't a unique rebel, and driving is a privilege, not a right. Wear your seatbelt, spaz.

I would hope an argument for seat belt laws wasn't, "We need to seat belt laws because when someone gets injured who doesn't wear their seatbelt, someone else could be footing the bill."

I don't see how driving being a privilege and not a right has anything to do with seat belts. But anyways, I'm not saying I don't wear a seat belt on the highway or normal town roads, but when I don't even leave my neighborhood to grab a bite to eat (and the speed limit is 13mph) and I still have a cold drink from the restaurant...give me a fucking break.

You're in a public place, and you have the potential of speeding. So, had you been speeding, without that belt to get somewhere, you might be a splat on the road.

[aurik]

I don't see how driving being a privilege and not a right has anything to do with seat belts.

As usual, you're not very smart.

If something is a right, then there is no way for the government to attach preconditions to exercising that right. Hence your argument of "you can't tell me what to do!" might hold water. For example, the government can't tell you how or when to exercise your religion, because free exercise of religion is a right, not a privilege.

If something is a privilege then generally the government is granting you a special permit (in this case, a permit to operate a motor vehicle on public property) in return for you agreeing to certain conditions (in this case, obeying traffic laws). So when you got in your car and drove on public property, you are agreeing to wear your seatbelt.

If you were ticketed on private property, it is probably the case that the owner of the private property has an agreement with local government that in return for them policing his roads, he has granted them jurisdiction to enforce normal traffic rules on those roads.

If you really want to do things your own way, stop using property that is not explicitly yours. Have fun, Thoreau.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

I would hope an argument for seat belt laws wasn't, "We need to seat belt laws because when someone gets injured who doesn't wear their seatbelt, someone else could be footing the bill."

What other argument do you suppose there might be? Not wearing seatbelts gets people injured, and injured people cost money. Why else does the state need to care?

If nothing else, more people getting hurt makes them look bad, or has demoralizing effects, etc. All in all, it's better for the state if you wear a seatbelt. Does there need to be better reasoning?

Hell, if you get yourself killed, that's one less person paying taxes. There's all sorts of reasons that not getting killed or injured is in the best interest of the state. Be creative, I'm sure you can come up with some of your own since your own personal safety doesn't seem matter.

When this country finally makes the leap to universal health-care, then by that logic, people who are using the universal insurance should not be allowed to do anything that makes someone else foot the bill. They shouldn't be allowed to play sports because if they get hurt someone else might be fitting the bill. Unhealthy food should be outlawed because if people eat to much then when they get fat and start suffering the consequences someone else will be footing the bill. It sounds entirely implausible but I bet 50 years ago no one thought government would be trying to pass legislation that outlawed smoking in your own home, or forcing restaurants to limit their proportions to overweight people.

I don't see how driving being a privilege and not a right has anything to do with seat belts.

As usual, you're not very smart.

If something is a right, then there is no way for the government to attach preconditions to exercising that right. Hence your argument of "you can't tell me what to do!" might hold water. For example, the government can't tell you how or when to exercise your religion, because free exercise of religion is a right, not a privilege.

If something is a privilege then generally the government is granting you a special permit (in this case, a permit to operate a motor vehicle on public property) in return for you agreeing to certain conditions (in this case, obeying traffic laws). So when you got in your car and drove on public property, you are agreeing to wear your seatbelt.

If you were ticketed on private property, it is probably the case that the owner of the private property has an agreement with local government that in return for them policing his roads, he has granted them jurisdiction to enforce normal traffic rules on those roads.

If you really want to do things your own way, stop using property that is not explicitly yours. Have fun, Thoreau.

As usual your a condescending jerk. Hey I just strengthened my argument by insulting the person I'm arguing with! Er evidently one adjective suffices, so jerk.

I merely have a problem with the government thinking it knows whats best for people. Clearly wearing seat belts is, but I disagree with the government telling me whats best for me when the consequences endanger no one else.

[izembo]

they endanger everyone elses $$

stop being an ass and buckle up.

[Khamsin]

When this country finally makes the leap to universal health-care, then by that logic, people who are using the universal insurance should not be allowed to do anything that makes someone else foot the bill. They shouldn't be allowed to play sports because if they get hurt someone else might be fitting the bill. Unhealthy food should be outlawed because if people eat to much then when they get fat and start suffering the consequences someone else will be footing the bill. It sounds entirely implausible but I bet 50 years ago no one thought government would be trying to pass legislation that outlawed smoking in your own home, or forcing restaurants to limit their proportions to overweight people.

No, nobody else foots the bill when you sprain your ankle or get fat. You do. But if you die on the road, they're not going to make you pay for your own cleanup. If you die in the hospital, they're not going to bill you.

Not wearing a seatbelt while driving gets you killed so you can't pay your bills. Playing sports just gives you sprains, bruises, or at worst a broken bone leaving you plenty able to take financial responsibility.

[Tyche]

If you don't have children to buckle up for, then do it for your parents so they don't have to bury your selfish ass before they die.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

When this country finally makes the leap to universal health-care, then by that logic, people who are using the universal insurance should not be allowed to do anything that makes someone else foot the bill. They shouldn't be allowed to play sports because if they get hurt someone else might be fitting the bill. Unhealthy food should be outlawed because if people eat to much then when they get fat and start suffering the consequences someone else will be footing the bill. It sounds entirely implausible but I bet 50 years ago no one thought government would be trying to pass legislation that outlawed smoking in your own home, or forcing restaurants to limit their proportions to overweight people.

No, nobody else foots the bill when you sprain your ankle or get fat. You do. But if you die on the road, they're not going to make you pay for your own cleanup. If you die in the hospital, they're not going to bill you.

Not wearing a seatbelt while driving gets you killed so you can't pay your bills. Playing sports just gives you sprains, bruises, or at worst a broken bone leaving you plenty able to take financial responsibility.

If it was coming out of your own pocket, agreed.