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Virginia's lax seat belt law looks particularly lame at this time of year

In an unscheduled editorial, we'll take note of the national campaign to encourage motorists to wear their seat belts through the upcoming Memorial Day weekend and take Virginia to task for making the failure to do so only a secondary offense. Police can ticket only those scofflaws whom they've stopped for some other violation.

Comments

# 1

[May 20, 2008 2:18 PM]

Jack

I think it's funny that you're required to wear a safety belt, and that your car has to be crash tested and built to certain safety standards to be street legal, yet you can order a custom-built motorcycle, ride it with no seatbelt (even though one makes no sense) and in some states, no helmet.

Where is the safety standard??

# 2

[May 20, 2008 3:47 PM]

Henry

Not to mention the lack of proper restraints on school buses.

# 3

[May 20, 2008 6:48 PM]

Ed S.

I guess my major question is why do we want to ticket those that don't wear seat belts?

# 4

[May 20, 2008 8:43 PM]

Josh

I would think seat belt violations as a primary offense would be very difficult to prove.

# 5

[May 20, 2008 10:12 PM]

Blue John

I copied this info. from the WJLA.com website, an ABC affiliate.

"Sixty-eight percent of drivers and passengers between the ages of 16 and 20 who were killed in car crashes at night in 2006 were unbuckled, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. During daytime, 57 percent of the young motorists and passengers who were killed were not wearing seat belts."

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Recent comments

  • I copied this info. from the WJLA.com website, an ABC affiliate. "Sixty-eight percent of drivers ...more - Blue John
  • I would think seat belt violations as a primary offense would be very difficult to ...more - Josh
  • I guess my major question is why do we want to ticket those that don't ...more - Ed S.
  • Not to mention the lack of proper restraints on school buses.more - Henry
  • I think it's funny that you're required to wear a safety belt, and that your ...more - Jack

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