crg

What if this person was ejected from the vehicle, and went airborne? Tell her to wear the seatbelt. Think about the innocent bystanders. If she doesn't want to tell her to rent Armageddon and Deep Impact so she can see the hazards involved in her decision...

Would you all say the UK is a bigger Nanny State than the US?

Manc

I wouldn't. I'd call it a different nanny state.

camera's instead of school bullies in uniform and a gun.

crg

What about Canuckistan? How do they rank? At least Americans don't have to go to the special "Beer Store".

Manc

What about Canada?

at least you can be younger than 21 to go in a LCBO.

nethead

You do where I live

chartreuse

I think that at least some of the Native American cops are actually federal agents (at least according to Criminal Minds). Also, railway cops are genuine LEOs, though I'm not sure where their charters come from (federal, state, other....?)

Jerseygirl

and The Beer Stores don't sell spirits....have to make a trip to the LCBO for those. What a performance.

chartreuse

Yeah and while the OP was wrong on the seatbelt thing, he may have had a point on the revenue angle.

In many states liquor can only be purchased from the state (ISTR CostCo was suing WA over this). Similarly many states have restrictions on gambling, apart from the state owned lottery. Lots of example of laws that give states monopolies over various revenue streams.

Not that the UK is any better, what with speed cameras and railway monopolies etc... just different, as Manc said.

crg

Some states even have liquor stores with drive-thru windows. That's freedom.

I heard about the speed cams in the UK. They nail people for a couple kph over the limit with a large fine.

ironporer

I think that Paddington made a great point recently. With the advent of the automobile police have changed from a law enforcement- crime prevention and investigation role, to one of revenue enhancement by means of petty traffic fines. They have thus changed from protecting the common man, to preying on him.

Don't get me wrong, if someone is driving 60 in a 30 mph residential area, or driving erratically while on their cell phone I think they should be stopped and ticketed; I just dont think that their time should be wasted on drivers who did not come to a full stop or who are going 65 in a 55 mph zone. Too many other good (dangerous) candidates out there.

tonrob

The police round my way not only seem to be stopping people left right and centre, but they also seldom indicate when turning, drive erratically and think nothing of using their own cell phones while driving. Just what I've observed...

crg

It's not uncommon for police jurisdictions to be specifically exempt from the cell phone, and the seatbelt laws.

chartreuse

Not just police and not just in the US. IIRC, in England taxi drivers (and minicab drivers in London) are exempted from the seatbelt laws.

tamms_1965

My stepson is here visiting from England and got to go on a "ride along" last week with the local police. In 7 hours he said there was "no excitement" except for one speeding ticket where the person was going 20 miles over the limit.

franc111s

All passengers should wear a seatbelt. In a smack, even the people in the back of the car can kill the people in front by not wearing a seatbelt.

Every time I get a ticket (speeding or whatever), I never moan, it is what it is. "Fair cop guv" is my motto. A highway patrol cop in Georgia this year, cut 10 MPH off my speeding ticket which resulted in just a $30 fine instead of $300. He thanked me for being so polite and cut me slack - that I didn't even ask for !

So, on to the main point of the thread. All the cops around here are out with their laser guns because they need the tax dollars. With so many unemployed, foreclosures and people out of work, the local government is running out of money! Expect more of this until the economy recovers - i.e. a long time!