Seat Belts -n- Seat Belt Tickets

[Boog]

Hey Don. I am not a fan of seat belts either and do not wear one around town but do so when I run the highways. This bill has been faught for a long time but they finally got it passed to my displeasure. They are forcing auto drivers to buckle up while they let motorcycle riders go without helmets. This is absolutely the most rediculous line of thought I have ever heard. Who is more vulnerable in an accident? The bike rider of course. This mandatory belt law also gives cops more reasons to pull someone over and while I have you stopped I need to look in your car.
Oh and don't think the law makers are interested so much in your safety. I believe the news said by signing this into law it entitles Arkansas to, I believe, 9.8 million $ in fed money they wouldn't get otherwise. It's more a move to get $ than it is concern for our health. I heard today that annual vehicle inspections are coming back to Ark too. More ways to raise $ and with our state's surplus of tax dollars too. It's all about the money!
I don't have anything against bikers mind you but at the minimum a full face helmet and leathers ought to be mandatory equipment for all riders.
I didn't mean to go off on a rant here but our lawmakers (do gooders) really get under my skin...

[Garage Freak]

Here in Georgia you don't even have to buckle up if you're in a truck. They just had another vote in the state legislature and one of the old politicians stated that "We don't want someone from up north (Washington) telling what they should be doing" even if it costing us millions in highway funds. Some people are still fighting the war down here.

[jbristo67]

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

Arkansas has just passed a bill and is sending it to the Governor that will make failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense, giving the police a reason to pull you over. Prior to this, it was a secondary offense and they had to have another reason to pull you over.

Some pundits have tried to say that it will give rise to profiling. Sounds like those of us who drive these oldies will have to be sure we have on a lap belt, cause you know we're gonna be targeted by the officers who aren't old enough to know that shoulder belts are a relatively new safety item in the automotive field.

Seat belts were required until 1971. So 67 68 70 take your belts out of the truck and you dont have to wear them. If I didnt have kids I wouldnt spend 180 dollars on seat belts I promise you.

[vectorit]

I'm not gonna get into a pissin contest here about what year had what and what law or state required what. But... Bein that I grew up in my 68 burb, and knowing that it did not have seat belts in it, since my sister and I as kids never had em to buckle (nor did my parents up front). Plus my pop's was not the kind of guy to deinstall something like that if it was there even if it was.

There are no absolutes when it comes to factory/dealer options/requirements/modifications back in the 60's 50's etc.

That bein said, I am installing belts in the burb. It's just plain smart to have and wear.

But it is a losing arguement with the popo.
They could care less about your old car/truck. Been there done that and found myself with a ticket.

To quote the California highway patrol PSA...

"click it, or ticket"

[diggertodd]

Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration law book or possibly website, there is also a law that states that you cannot modify seat belts from their "original equipment manufacture and design"

- we had a super trooper in central Illinois that would write tickets for lap belts because they were not "good enough" for him. And of course would follow up with "tell it to a judge" A friend made copies and handed me one at a local car show.

Though the NTSA law is to keep people from modifying late model seat belts, it should very well protect those using "original" belts

Though I have never been pulled over, I keep a copy of the NTSA law in my glove box when my lap belts aren't "good enough".

[Longhorn Man]

that cop would lose in court every single time.

[1967swb]

Hello all. My 1967 came with lap belts (as all did) but I found a cheap upgrade with 1995 full size truck belts. The cab even had a hole with thread that fit the new bolt! Just took the hardware with the belts. Now I have 3 seat belts and shoulder harnesses. Those steering wheels can leave marks and have ya'll ever hit your knees on the the dash ... It smarts ! Just my 2 cents

[Rokcrln]

20 yrs ago I bought a 64 Chevy II off the original owner and found this back behind the glove (must have over shot) box on top of the heater.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Note the date in the lower right corner 9-17-63!

[IMG][/IMG]

[ChevLoRay]

[QUOTE=Rokcrln;3172794]20 yrs ago I bought a 64 Chevy II off the original owner and found this back behind the glove (must have over shot) box on top of the heater.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Note the date in the lower right corner 9-17-63!QUOTE]

I have a '62 Chevy II shop manual that has a picture of a 2-dr sedan near the front of the book and down on the side of the front fender is an emblem that indicated it had a 283. The book is copyrighted in '61. The V-8 wasn't offered until '64, but Chevy was thinking it was gonna happen.

[MonteSS454]

I myself don't wear my lap belt. Anyone else that gets in my truck does but when I get pulled over I inconspicuously buckle it real quick. It sucks trying to get out of the truck when you're being held in and fall out the side like I have before. Plus, most things on the roads around me are little tin cans that would peel back if my truck even touched them.

[vectorit]

Hmmm that's why a Canadian goose can bring down a giant jet airplane as well... Physics don't meen anything so it's all good eh.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by MonteSS454

most things on the roads around me are little tin cans that would peel back if my truck even touched them.

go ahead and think that. A mazda protoge' did a pretty good number on my old longhorn

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by MonteSS454

I myself don't wear my lap belt. Anyone else that gets in my truck does but when I get pulled over I inconspicuously buckle it real quick. It sucks trying to get out of the truck when you're being held in and fall out the side like I have before. Plus, most things on the roads around me are little tin cans that would peel back if my truck even touched them.

.
Trust me it sucks a lot more if you get thrown around inside the truck if an when it rolls I did and packed the bruises from being bounced around for several years when My 70 long bed rolled in 1989. I had gotten in a hurry and didn't fasten my belt. I was very lucky not to be thrown out and have the truck land on me.

Seat belts saved my life twice in Viet Nam in two helicopter crashes. The first time I looked down after being in the air for 20 minutes and discovered that I hadn't fastened the belt/harness. less than a half hour later we crashed in tall trees and were hanging upside down about five feet off the ground.

When I rolled the truck I was just a mile from my house and a gal pulled out in my lane and waited for traffic to go by in the other direction. I missed her and hit loose gravel and spun and then rolled over a bank into a pasture.

In this state we have a manditory seat belt law but in this county we loose at least one person a week on the average due to being thrown out of a vehicle when it rolls. For some reason they are usually young, female, Hispanic and attractive, or they photo in the obits show that they had been.

When I was working as a mechanic in different shops in Texas an Washington in the 70's I couldn't count the number of cars I got in and found no seat belts and the owner bragged how he had cut them out because he didn't like them. For some reason those guys were almost always the age I am now.

That said, the biggest ongoing battle I have with my wife is that she doesn't like to wear seat belts. She has had at least two no seat belt tickets that I know of and I keep telling her that I don't want to have to call her mother to tell her that she got hurt or killed because she didn't have one on.

[project 67 sub]

damn that protoge' messed it up pretty good

[ruffrida2005]

Hey Longhorn Man I cant wait to get back to Hood next weekend, I'm sure the MP's and rent-a-cops will have a fild day with 64. Haven't been pulled over on Hood yet and been stationed there 6 years.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by ruffrida2005

Hey Longhorn Man I cant wait to get back to Hood next weekend, I'm sure the MP's and rent-a-cops will have a fild day with 64. Haven't been pulled over on Hood yet and been stationed there 6 years.

WOW!
I got pulled over there on a weekly basis... but i was young and stupid back then. I left in may of 01 days after the big hail storm (if you were there, you should remember it... it was BAD)
In reality, that was my one and only time the shoulder belt was ever mentioned by the MP's. The NCO's in my unit were constantly jumping in front of my truck or in front of the car I had for a bit (70 mavrick) and trying to be all gung ho and lecture me about seatbelts and how I was required by regulation and blah blah blah. Every time i'd let them b!tch and rant and when they were done, I'd point in my lap with the same cocky attitude (intentionally) and say.. "lap belt" as I'd put it in gear and leave.

[ruffrida2005]

I know what you mean. Us NCO's have to be Aholes. I haven't had my truck on post. It's not being driven right now. But hopefully in April it will be good to go. I dont remember the hail storm I lived in east texas in 01, moved to Hood in 03 just in time to deploy. And if you think it was bad back in 01 you should see it now, After ever deployment we have so many soldiers die because of auto accidents. Sad to say that we went a year in harms way being shot at, and a couple days after we get back they want to go get drunk and do something stupid!

[kamikazekyle05]

Originally Posted by ruffrida2005

I know what you mean. Us NCO's have to be Aholes. I haven't had my truck on post. It's not being driven right now. But hopefully in April it will be good to go. I dont remember the hail storm I lived in east texas in 01, moved to Hood in 03 just in time to deploy. And if you think it was bad back in 01 you should see it now, After ever deployment we have so many soldiers die because of auto accidents. Sad to say that we went a year in harms way being shot at, and a couple days after we get back they want to go get drunk and do something stupid!

VERY True, people die every weekend here!

[Sinister]

After seeing the aftermath of berencam's accident, I put in 3 point belts.

[Longhorn Man]

i shouldn't have worded it like that. But I also know it came from above them too. It just ticked me off when it was the same guys constantly tellin me to put on my seat belt. It got old fast.
I did get to see a bunch of the guys gettin stupid after getting home. I was there from july 94 till jan 99, then from jan 2000 till may of 01. It was always the 1st Cav guys, but it was still always happening right there.

[ruffrida2005]

I understand, What rank did you get out as? I'm just a SGT so you know I just do what they tell me to!

[Longhorn Man]

I was a mechanic so I never got to go to school or anything, so my promotion points never happened. Then all of a sudden they just said one day "You're goin to the board in a week"
Nice.
I got up to E-4. They made me a corperal when I was in Korea, so i got to do your job, with zero perks/respect. Then upon getting back to Ft Hood, they made me a Specialist again. By that time i knew I was getting out so I said screw it, I'll stay right here and not put up with the BS an e-5 has to put up with.
Bummer i was put in an E-5 slot then huh?
So I got out as a Specialist with 7 1/2 years.

[ruffrida2005]

what is everyone getting seatbelts out of to put in their truck. I have a 64 and was told it didn't come with them from the factory. I haven't looked it up. But I want my wife and sons to ride it in so I have to have them. What MOS were you Longhorn. I'm a 63B. I know what you mean about boards too. I went to the NCO of month board and passed, but they wouldn't let me go to promotion board because I didn't have WLC "PLDC".

[bhoeger70]

After spending almost 21 years in the fire service, I wear my seat belt in a vehicle and my helmet when I ride the bike. I have seen too many people hurt simply because they didnt use a small piece of safety equipment. I also dont believe that the safety equipment like seat belts and helmets should be mandated.

[jbristo67]

Originally Posted by ruffrida2005

what is everyone getting seatbelts out of to put in their truck. I have a 64 and was told it didn't come with them from the factory. I haven't looked it up. But I want my wife and sons to ride it in so I have to have them. What MOS were you Longhorn. I'm a 63B. I know what you mean about boards too. I went to the NCO of month board and passed, but they wouldn't let me go to promotion board because I didn't have WLC "PLDC".

18X here I was stationed at bragg for 4 years