Seat Belt Laws

Kizzume · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject: Seat Belt Laws

I don't think people should be able to get pulled over and given a ticket for not wearing a seat belt. I think the whole seat belt thing should be up to the insurance companies.

technocrat · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 216

I approve of government ticketing of people who don't wear their seatbelts for a variety of reasons.

1. It's a punishment for the stupid. Only an idiot would be caught not wearing the seatbelt, given the abundance of information present on the law as well as the benefits of wearing seatbelts. If you aren't wearing one, it's a good chance you're a moron. Therefore, I get a giddy joy out of thinking of them being punished.

2. It provides revenue for the government, which can then go to useful purposes and people in need. So, we have a "stupid tax" that provides money for other goals that promote public utility.

3. The tax is easy to avoid if you simply follow the law, and it's not hard. Its not time-consuming. There's virtually no realistic reason someone cannot wear his seat belt in the car. If people really cared about the problem, they would just obey an incredibly simple law and avoid the problem.I thus have absolutely no sympathy for them when they get a ticket. This point corresponds to point 1.

4. Seatbelt laws and punishments have statistically increased seat belt usage in the United States. I therefore support them as a measure of operant conditioning. Punishment does work. I support the notion of discouraging people from doing that actively via punishments and threats. Of course, it should be combined with 'carrot and stick" benefits if they obey.

Kizzume · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject:

I agree that not wearing a seatbelt is really stupid, but why should law enforcement be bothered with that kind of thing? Why not just leave it to the insurance companies to not have to cover people if they're not wearing one? Wouldn't that work just as well without having police snooping around?

technocrat · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 216

Do you really want people being unable to get insurance because they don't wear seatbelts? Imagine you hit someone who had no insurance. You'd be screwed. Plus, I'd rather have the government have the money than the insurance company, as at least when the government has it, it has the potential to go to a useful programme instead of lining the pockets of a corporation which has a tendency to weasel out of paying people.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

I am also in favor of the law. The biggest reason has nothing to do with right or wrong or revenue.

It is the fact that if you get in a car accident, and don't have health insurance, we still treat you. Even a small accident without a seat belt would probably require immediate medical attention.The costs are going to be way higher for the tax payer if the person getting in an accident wasn't wearing a seat belt.

Plain and simple: it is going to cost tax payers and insurance companies more money if people do not wear seatbelts. And then insurance rates will be raised as a result and so will taxes.

Kizzume · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

debateman · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 349 Location: New Mexico

Individuals should have the right to be stupid when it comes to their personal safety. The government shouldn't have the right to FORCE people to be safe. People should be able to make those decisions for themselves. This is part of freedom.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

debateman · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 349 Location: New Mexico

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

It may become their money, but nonetheless we vote on taxes based on where they are going. We can also repeal taxes based on where they are going.

debateman · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 349 Location: New Mexico