[bogie]

Our tax $$ at work... Yesterday, driving against traffic, I saw a cop sitting by the side of the road, a bit downstream from his normal speed trap, which is right around a bend and over a hill (for St. Louis folks, this is where 40/I-64 changes from Richmond Heights to Ladue - he was about halfway down the straight).

Then, when I got up to his normal spot, I saw a rather scruffy looking hitchhiker. Now, I don't know for certain, but I'll guess that the hitcher was actually running a radar gun...

[50 Shooter]

Here in Kali the cops will turn off the lights at intersections and make them flashing red. They will park their cruisers out of sight and stand on the corner, when you pull up they will 1) make sure you stop for the red 2) make sure you have your seatbelt on. If you don't have your seatbelt on they run over to your car and tell you to pull over, BUSTED.

[dev_null]

Don't worry, 50, it's for your own good. :barf:

-0-

[rock jock]

I'll be happy to see seatbelt laws go away when our same tax dollars stop paying for patching up uninsured motorists who act like crash-test dummies.

[CZ-75]

I'll be happy to see seatbelt laws go away when our same tax dollars stop paying for patching up uninsured motorists who act like crash-test dummies.

And I'll be happy for them to go away since then I won't have to be punished for what some uninsured motorist does with unconstitutional LE attention. :barf:

[dev_null]

You'll have to do better than that, rj. I pay my insurance, it's my body, it should be my choice, period. Either you're for a nanny state or you're not. The same weak argument could run: "I'll believe people should be able to own guns when my tax dollars no longer have to pay hospital bills for gunshot victims who can't pay for themselves." :barf:

-0-

Education, not legislation

[50 Shooter]

Check your Ins. policy, alot of them wont cover you if they can prove that you weren't wearing your seatbelt.:rolleyes:

Same goes for the helmet law.:barf:

[goalie]

50 Shooter, that is why, when I worked on an ambulance, I always cut the seatbelt. Most insurance companies take that as ample evidence that it was engaged at the time of the accident.

[Med 10]

Goalie why would you cut the patients seatbelt if you did not have to? Most of the time If the vehicle occupant has not already done so I will just unclick the belt.

If you are just cutting the seatbelt to getback at the insurance companies then that is very unethical.

It is a fact that seatbelt use saves lives and reduces injury and hospital expense of care. It's simple if you dont feel like wearing youre seatbelt then expect higher premiums and higher risk of injury or death.

This is just the way it is in a free enterprise country such as ours. Insurance companies are private buisnesses and can set whatever rules and regs they want.

Also I dont know how long ago you worked as an EMS provider, But taking the time to wilfully commit fraud on scene will get you in alot of trouble these days. As a FireMedic we usually have a minimum of 6-8 people on our MVC/extrication scenes and are under the scrutiny of too many pairs of eyes to screw around on scene.

The days of the ambulance wars are long gone thank god!

[TarpleyG]

Med10,

goalie didn't say anything about commiting fraud OR getting back at the insurance companies, just cutting the belt provides proof that the occupant was wearing it. I suggest you re-read the post. It doesn't sound maliciuos to me.

GT

[Med 10]

I DID re-read the post and I still come to the same conclusion. Please tell me why you would cut the seat belt? Is this act done during an extrication? or do you just walk over to the persons car and snip away? I'm still curious.

Seconds count out there and I still think its stupid and a waste of time.

[Med 10]

Also is this something you did on every accident call you ran?

[Med 10]

Another thing. How can cutting the belt provide proof that the person was wearing the belt when nobody EVER cuts seatbelts anyway. Like I said, you simply unclick the persons seatbelt.

In 5 years of service I've never had to cut a belt.

I,m not trying to beat a dead horse but Medics are EXTREMELY critical of each other and we take every little thing we do VERY seriously.