An infraction will cost the driver $75 in fines and court costs. That amount does not seem nearly high enough for the crime. Granted the person not wearing their seatbelt is gambling with their own safety but their bad example could harm their impressionable children.
One of the House Representatives said, “Not only will we save lives, but we will save costs on insurance.” First of all the insurance part is not important, second of all is a $75 fine going to drastically or even slightly decrease the amount of drivers not wearing seatbelts? Also will the fine be the main motivator for someone who is currently not wearing a seatbelt to suddenly take up the new practice?
North Carolina joins nearly 20 other states with back seat belt use laws. A not surprising statistic notes “70 percent of back-seat passengers who died in North Carolina accidents were not wearing a seat belt.”
I doubt this new law will make a dent in that statistic. The only way to bring awareness to drivers and passengers is to have a few days when police focus on stopping cars of people not wearing seatbelts. Heavily promoting the new law through public service announcements and also sending an announcement to everyone renewing their vehicle registration would not hurt.
I have a 58 convertable can I go through your state with my kids..
No Belts........
Posted by: Anonymous | July 4, 2007 6:20 PM | Permalink to Comment