What do you think of the passage of the new Kathryn Swanson Seat Belt Safety Act that was recently passed making seat belts a primary offense instead of a secondary offense this June ?
Do you agree? Disagree?
Does it make sense?
Do you support it? Or believe it is an infringement on your rights?
Will it make you wear a seatbelt, if you don't already?
Sound off here or e-mail Shawn Hogendorf at shogendorf@swpub.com with your comments.

I am so angry about this...
Back to page topI am so angry about this law. It is simply big brother once again dictating our lives. I can certainly understand it for children, but not adults. Why is it I am supposed to wear a seatbelt, but my 3 year old grandson son does not have to wear a helmet when riding his bike?
What is wrong with the powers that be when they feel the need to dictate how I live my life. It has no physical affect on anyone else, other than my friends and family should I not survive a crash. If alcohol and tobacco are legal (also kills) why should I be ordered to wear a seatbelt?
Then there are the cases where a person would have died had they been wearing their seatbelt. Please do not tell me this is a falicy. I am now retired and worked in the "system" for just over 40 years. I know this to be fact and much more common than big brother lets anyone believe.
What I also find curious is they revoked the law that makes it mandatory an adult wear a motorcycle helmet! Why? They cannot possibly think anyone would be stupid enough to believe riding a motorcycle without a helmet is safer than driving a car without a seatbelt. It seems to be quite hypocritical does it not?
Maybe people will have to stand up and hold big brother accountable for making these idiotic laws. We can complain all we want and they will continue to make these stupid laws unless they are held accountable by people actually doing something!
Wearing a seatbelt is a...
Back to page topWearing a seatbelt is a choice but remember that if you get thrown from your car in a accident and end up in the hospital for an extended period of time while your internal injuries heal as you lay in a coma, don't think that others who have the same health insurance plan as you will be happy when their premiums increase from your choice.
I dont have an issue with...
Back to page topI dont have an issue with being forced to wear a seat belt at all, As long as MotorCycle and bicycle riders wear a helmet and joggers are wrapped in Bubble wrap.
Of course im going on your insurance excuse.
I'm interested in your...
Back to page topI'm interested in your joggers in bubble wrap argument. How is their activity and behavior during such make it risky? If it has to do with falling down while running, I'd suggest that particular jogger find a new form of exercise. If it implies taking risks while jogging, I don't see a lot of risky behavior on the part of joggers. I do see plenty of drivers who aren't aware that joggers are near them and have seen reckless and inattentive drivers be the part of many near-misses.
My comment was in response...
Back to page topMy comment was in response to the cost of insurance going up because a person was injured far greater by being thrown from a car.
Anything you do including...
Back to page topAnything you do including walking down a street can lead to major damage or bodily injury. All this law does is give the cops yet another reason to harass and bother you for stupid things. They claim they can see a fishline with a badge hanging from your rear view mirror yet they are on their cells texting and typing on their computers all the time. Watch a Scott County Sheriff and Prior Lake police officer, all the time, they went through a red light at holiday station store, no lights on but was fumbling with a cell phone, never ever did put on lights, just ran it. So all these laws do is give harassers more reason to harass, and the state more federal dollars to throw at all the welfare recipients in this state. Pretty stupid. Yeah it really doesn't make a lot of sense that a person riding a motorcycle with short and a t-shirt and tennis shoes is ok, but a person in a fully encased cage should have to wear a seat belt. Do not forget....they can only detect alcohol in the system now too, nothing else unless they take a blood test, but they are way to busy to do that, so all you prescription users ie drug users keep going you will never be caught. Happy roads to you this summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!