drivng without seatbelt

I live in Connecticut.
I was driving on a highway in NYS and stopped by a state trooper.
The only reason for the stop was that I was not wearing my seatbelt. (No speeding, damage to car, DUI, etc).

I was given a "uniform traffic ticket"
In Violation of NYS law: Sec 1229 (? hard to read), Sub C3A; Description: No seat belt. This offense is a traffic infraction.

I was told to mail it in with a plea of guilty. Then I would receive a form telling me the fee for this infraction.

I can also send the ticket in with a not guilty plea and get a court date.


I was, in fact, driving without my belt on; I often do.
I also feel very strongly that the state does not have the right to legislate my personal safety in this way.

Given the law is on the books (however injustly) and I was in violation of this law, how can I assert what I consider to be my civil right to do whatever I want to as long as it doesn't pose a threat to others?

Does it matter that the law is inconsistent (ie, tickets are not given to people who smoke) or that plenty of other stupid laws are not inforced (jaywalking in NYC)?

Thank you for any help

[racer72]

Driving a motor vehicle in the USA is NOT a right, it is a privelige. As such, if we wish to use this privelige, we must obey the laws that come with it. The wearing of a seat belt has nothing to do with your rights. If you feel otherwise, your option is to not drive and take a bus. Your other reasoning in this matter has no basis. Unless you can come up with something better, you present nothing as to why your citation should be defended or dismissed.

[JETX]

It really doesn't matter what your personal feelings are as to the validity of this law. It is a LAW and you have clearly violated it.

You now have three choices:
1) Pay your ticket and learn to obey the laws (even the ones you don't like), or
2) Plead not guilty and 'take it to court', or
3) Try to challenge the legal validity of the law that you don't like.

The processes of options 1 and 2 are self-explanatory. The option of #3 will take a wheelbarrow full of YOUR money so that you can have your fun of showing how YOU feel the law is discriminatory.

Your choice.

[HomeGuru]

justise, thanks for your post. We need more guys that think like you do. Please invoke your right to defend our country, sign up and go conquer the Taliban.

So when was our right to drive taken away? Back in the old days you had every right to ride your horse, drive your carriage, and yes drive your car on public roads. When was this changed? Why does option #3 cost so much money?

Justise? I agree with you fully. Write your congressman/woman the President and anybody else in your legislative process. Unfortunately Connecticut is one of those "primary enforcement" states where a cop really can write you simply for not wearing your seatbelt. According to hwysafety.org the maximum fine is $15 and there will be no points taken off of your license. You can engage in civil disobedience and not wear your seatbelt but you have to face the consequences. Perhaps when you've gotten and paid your 150th ticket they'll ask you why and you'll have a chance to explain. Take it to court and you'll at least get a chance to explain. You'll pay the ticket plus court costs, but you'll be heard. I don't know what will happen if you keep getting these tickets and keep giving the same defense, but you used to have that right. I don't know anymore. It's possible the judge might simply say, "I know what you're going to say and I've decided you're guilty." Clear violation of the Constitution, but so, in my opinion, is the a great deal of the traffic court process.

[racer72]

Quackduck, Halket is right, you are an idiot. Show me anywhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights that states Americans have the RIGHT to drive. You know what? You won't. Driving automobiles is a privelige controlled by each state. And as such, each state can revoke the privelige. The federal government has no power over the privelige to drive. And no one will ever get 150 tickets for not wearing a seat belt. About the 5th time you would lose your license (that piece of plastic the state loans you for the privelige to drive) and the 10th time they would throw your sorry butt in jail for all the driving without a license tickets. Then Big Bubba can give you a driving lesson in the shower.

[HomeGuru]

Yes, either way you screwed!

[JETX]

All depends on whether you want to be driving in the front seat, or driven in the rear.

I see. So walking is also a priviledge, they just haven't decided to issue licenses for it yet? You can lose your license for a no point ticket? Interesting thought.