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Mikey wrote:In practice, however... NJ's seat belt law means yo can't technically get pulled over with lack of a a seat belt as the reason

Huh? The way you say this implies that it would be considered unusual. Why?

It's an odd (and far too common) compromise of legislation and enforcement which aims to appease people on both sides of an issue - and in the spirit of true compromise, is ocnisdered succesful if neither side is happy. In this case, the law is written such that it is illegal to be in a moving car without your seatbelt on if in the front seats, or if under twelve years of age in the rear. However, it is not allowed for police to make a traffic stop for the reason of belt-less-ness.

Of course, when ticket quotas aren't being met, an officer may make any sort of excuse to pull over a belt-less driver, then "happen" to notice the lack of seat belt and issue the resultant citation.

Mikey wrote:In this case, the law is written such that it is illegal to be in a moving car without your seatbelt on if in the front seats, or if under twelve years of age in the rear.

So far, so good.

However, it is not allowed for police to make a traffic stop for the reason of belt-less-ness.

What blithering idiot was responsible for that? Over here anyone who's caught without a belt will get pulled over and fined.

Captain Seafort wrote:What blithering idiot was responsible for that? Over here anyone who's caught without a belt will get pulled over and fined.

As will many people here, if the cops are sufficiently motivated by impending ticket quotas. The difference is that the issuing officer must have a reasonable excuse for the traffic stop, other than the infraction for which the citation was issued.

As to what idiot came up with it - that would be the bipartisan system combined with a healthy dose of appeasement and bet-hedging with a dash of staggered legislative elections.

Seafort - depends on what state. Here in Texas there's a slogan: "Click it or ticket", and they can pull you over for it. Also, all passengers (and the driver, of course) must be wearing seatbelts regardless of age or location in the vehicle.

Tsukiyumi wrote:Seafort - depends on what state.

I assumed so, based on the fact that Mikey was specifically talking about NJ.

Here in Texas there's a slogan: "Click it or ticket", and they can pull you over for it. Also, all passengers (and the driver, of course) must be wearing seatbelts regardless of age or location in the vehicle.

Are you trying to tell me that the state that produced Dubya and creationist textbooks also has sane laws?

Go figure.

And again, you can blame Connecticut for Dubya.

Tsukiyumi wrote:Seafort - depends on what state. Here in Texas there's a slogan: "Click it or ticket", and they can pull you over for it. Also, all passengers (and the driver, of course) must be wearing seatbelts regardless of age or location in the vehicle.

Same in Iowa....

Same in Maryland, Virginia and DC.

PA too.

Oddly enough, I don't mind being pulled over for something else or stopped for a drunk driving test and then being told about my seatbelt and i don't have too much of an issue with the idea of providing papers if asked when stopped for another reason, but i wouldn't want to be stopped randomly just to see papers.

Yes, it's weird and probably conflicting somehow

Not really, its kinda like "Hey you just broke a law so while we're here lets see some ID" Not a problem as I see it.

Click it or ticket in Az too, I don't get it about the whole papers thing. It is Federal Law that all foreign nationals carry their greencard, passport, etc. I carry my papers all the time, it's called a drivers license and social security card.

The problem with the "new" law is suspected individuals can be held indefinitely until such evidence (at the discretion of the officers) of their citizenship can be found, and there is no age limitation.

Which means they can arrest a 13 year old (who wouldn't have any federal or state issued ID on them) and hold them until something like a birth certificate or adoption papers are found. And they would not be required to tell the parents.

If you detain a minor, then you have to contact their parents or its kidnapping. Someone fibbed you stitch.

You forget, "illegal immigrants" don't have rights.

Theres also that whole thing of, if the government does it then its not illegal.