What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio
I have been driving in Ohio for many years, and this is the second time I have been ticketed for a seat belt violation. This particular time, I was going a few miles per hour over the speed limit, but the officer didn't ticket me for speed, just the seat belt. I had it on by the time he stopped me, but he said he could tell I didn't have it on when I passed him, and I knew that arguing the point was useless. My driving record is pretty much spotless otherwise. I have a couple questions, but let me start by asking anyone who plans to ride me for being stupid and not wearing my seat belt to stay out of this thread, or at least keep your opinions about seat belt use to yourself. I have no interest in hearing all the reasons why I should have to wear it. I believe strongly that legislating a person's personal safety is a very slippery slope, and if left unchecked, our government will soon be legislating our diets, our hobbies, our sex lives, and pretty much everything else. So, to anyone who thinks that our government has the right to force me to wear a seat belt, please just keep your opinion to yourself, and when YOUR rights are violated, you can ask ME to help you ...
I would have gladly taken the ticket for speed and dealt with that... I WAS speeding, and speeding is dangerous to OTHER people.
Now, my first question .... if I don't contest this ticket, does anyone know if my insurance company will raise my rates or eliminate my "safe driver" discount? The officer told me, while making small talk with me and trying to make the $110 citiation feel good going in, that there were no points but it would appear on my record. He also said my insurance rates SHOULDN'T go up, but since he didn't have a problem violating my rights by issuing me a citation in the first place, I have very little faith in his judgement.
Secondly, does anyone know whether I would have any chance of winning the case if I took it to court? I know there's always the chance that the officer may not appear, and I know that I could get an atty and probably beat it that way, but I'm just asking if anyone out there has any personal experience with contesting these citations on their own. My plan of attack will depend largely on what I find out about the insurance implications. If it's going to have insurance implication, I'll bite the bullet, call my atty, and let him handle it. If not, I'd really just like to get a chance to voice my opinion about the subject in front of a judge and the citizens in the court room. I don't have a problem paying the court costs if there's any chance I could convince a judge or even one person in that court room that the state has no right to fine citizens for failing to protect themselves with a seat belt.
So, let's hear it folks .... and remember .... we have the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. It makes me VERY happy to drive un-belted, fly my airplane, white-water raft, sky-dive, scuba-dive, smoke cigars, drink beer, eat fatty foods, and do a lot of other very "dangerous" things, all of which I pay dearly to my insurance company for. So, please don't try to tell me why the state was justified to ticket me for not strapping myself in to my car.
Oh yeah, and one more question ....
If I stop doing all of this "dangeous" stuff, when can I cancel all of my insurance, or at least see a lower price? I'll bet I'd be waiting a long time for that .....
I have been driving in Ohio for many years, and this is the second time I have been ticketed for a seat belt violation. This particular time, I was going a few miles per hour over the speed limit, but the officer didn't ticket me for speed, just the seat belt. I had it on by the time he stopped me, but he said he could tell I didn't have it on when I passed him, and I knew that arguing the point was useless. My driving record is pretty much spotless otherwise. I have a couple questions, but let me start by asking anyone who plans to ride me for being stupid and not wearing my seat belt to stay out of this thread, or at least keep your opinions about seat belt use to yourself. I have no interest in hearing all the reasons why I should have to wear it. I believe strongly that legislating a person's personal safety is a very slippery slope, and if left unchecked, our government will soon be legislating our diets, our hobbies, our sex lives, and pretty much everything else. So, to anyone who thinks that our government has the right to force me to wear a seat belt, please just keep your opinion to yourself, and when YOUR rights are violated, you can ask ME to help you ...
I would have gladly taken the ticket for speed and dealt with that... I WAS speeding, and speeding is dangerous to OTHER people.
Now, my first question .... if I don't contest this ticket, does anyone know if my insurance company will raise my rates or eliminate my "safe driver" discount? The officer told me, while making small talk with me and trying to make the $110 citiation feel good going in, that there were no points but it would appear on my record. He also said my insurance rates SHOULDN'T go up, but since he didn't have a problem violating my rights by issuing me a citation in the first place, I have very little faith in his judgement.
Secondly, does anyone know whether I would have any chance of winning the case if I took it to court? I know there's always the chance that the officer may not appear, and I know that I could get an atty and probably beat it that way, but I'm just asking if anyone out there has any personal experience with contesting these citations on their own. My plan of attack will depend largely on what I find out about the insurance implications. If it's going to have insurance implication, I'll bite the bullet, call my atty, and let him handle it. If not, I'd really just like to get a chance to voice my opinion about the subject in front of a judge and the citizens in the court room. I don't have a problem paying the court costs if there's any chance I could convince a judge or even one person in that court room that the state has no right to fine citizens for failing to protect themselves with a seat belt.
So, let's hear it folks .... and remember .... we have the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. It makes me VERY happy to drive un-belted, fly my airplane, white-water raft, sky-dive, scuba-dive, smoke cigars, drink beer, eat fatty foods, and do a lot of other very "dangerous" things, all of which I pay dearly to my insurance company for. So, please don't try to tell me why the state was justified to ticket me for not strapping myself in to my car.
Oh yeah, and one more question ....
If I stop doing all of this "dangeous" stuff, when can I cancel all of my insurance, or at least see a lower price? I'll bet I'd be waiting a long time for that .....