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Old 05-25-10 | 11:46 AM
  #54  
prathmann
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,239
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From: Bay Area, Calif.
Originally Posted by PlatyPius
Modified to express my opinions on seatbelts.
And is exactly why I snipped the wire going to the seatbelt warning buzzer in my car. Not because I ever plan to drive any significant distance without the seatbelt, but because I didn't want the stupid thing beeping at me every time I wanted to get my checkbook out of the glove compartment while waiting at the drive-through at the bank, or at a variety of times when doing assorted car maintenance, etc.

But I disagree with your modification in two respects. First, I don't think anyone "decides" to get a ticket or not. Their actions may change the probability, but someone else is doing the deciding. And the main difference is that regardless of seatbelt requirements, the use of a car is generally viewed as the most convenient way to get around in our current society and there's even general agreement that overall there's too much driving and not enough use of alternative modes of transport. But bicycling is an activity that should be encouraged for its health, social, and environmental benefits. We should therefore avoid additional legal impediments that discourage biking, particularly when it's used an an alternative to driving.
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