Mandatory Seat Belt use as a Primary Violation and Police Powers violating the IV Amendment to the US Constitution

Minnesota legislators are attempting to make Automobile Seat Belt Use, which is currently mandatory, a primary offense. This will significantly increase police powers through arbitrary stops using this ruse to stop and search vehicles; rightly or wrongly with out cause.

Anything found during a stop may be used to enforce other violations and can be seriously abused by law enforcement. Most law enforcement personnel are hard working honest citizens but who hold immense power over their fellow citizens.

Secondly, those found breaking the law, e.g. Drugs are found, could fight any conviction on the IV amendment grounds and walk away.

I do not want to fear those who are pledged to serve and protect. I am writng my legislators, are you?

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Submitted by Drognerud on Sun, 03/08/2009 - 15:43
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Comments

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planetaryjim:

I appreciate your concerns. I am not writing to your legislators, since I don't live in your state.

Seat belt use, like other behaviors, should not be legislated. Of course, it is legislated in most states, due to federal laws governing federal highway fund disbursement.

Arbitrary stops are certainly a bad thing. I guess it might be just a little early for people to routinely slaughter check point troops?

You write, "Most law enforcement personnel are hard working honest citizens...". I don't agree. All law enforcement personnel work for government, so their money is taken, by threat of force, from their neighbors. That isn't honest. Many law enforcement officers are aware of how dismal the war on drugs has been, and don't believe enforcement of these laws can work. Many law enforcement officers are aware of abuse of office, brutality, and corruption within their departments, or within other agencies.

You can say that they work hard, but I want them to stop doing the "job" they have and do something else. You can say that they are "only following orders" but that didn't work at Nuremberg when the Nazis were being tried.

I suggest that you not try to enlist very many law enforcement officers in your quest for freedom. While not all of them are authoritarian nationalist socialists, all of the ones I've encountered have no interest in individual liberty, private property, or the constitution.

03/09/2009 - 13:39