It is not only government of which Libertarians are wary, but also of private power. At its worse, it is a combination of both.
Now it is my opinion that Toyota and Indiana's state government are teaming up to harass citizens with increase seat belt enforcement (as if all of the burglars have been found and dealt with - which is not the case).
Here's the press release from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, an arm of government funded by government:
"May 13, 2009
Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Partners with Toyota to Launch Statewide Click It or Ticket Enforcement
Annual Memorial Day Mobilization begins May 15
Indianapolis, IN. - In an effort to decrease the number of fatalities and injuries involving unrestrained motorists on Indiana roadways, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) and Toyota today announced the launch of the statewide Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization. This mobilization will include the Indiana State Police and more than 250 local law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Indiana's 2009 Click It or Ticket effort will take place from May 15 - May 31, covering the highly traveled Memorial Day holiday. With an emphasis on urging more motorists to buckle up day and night, officers will be on the lookout for unrestrained motorists around the clock.
"Research shows that fewer people buckle up at night, which increases the risk of a being killed or injured in a crash," said ICJI Executive Director, T. Neil Moore. "Through high-visibility enforcement efforts, like Click It or Ticket, officers can ensure that all Hoosier drivers and passengers buckle up around the clock - every trip, every time."
According to ICJI, a total of 814 people were killed in traffic crashes on Indiana roadways in 2008. Of those killed in motor vehicles, 52 percent were unrestrained.
While officers will be on the lookout for all unrestrained motorists during the enforcement, there will be a specific focus on pickup trucks. According to ICJI, pickup truck drivers and passengers have the lowest seat belt usage rate among all vehicle types in the state. Of the pickup truck occupants killed in 2007, only 28 percent were known to be restrained.
"At Toyota, safety is a priority in everything we do-from the vehicles we put on the road to the people who drive them. We believe an auto company can be a vehicle for change, and by supporting traffic safety initiatives such as Click It or Ticket we are supporting life-saving driving behaviors that have proven to benefit drivers and occupants of all passenger vehicles," said Toyota Merchandising Manager, Donna Peplansky.
"Click It or Ticket" is a national campaign supported by federal funding allocated to Indiana from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Indiana's enforcement mobilization is reinforced by a paid statewide advertising buy and additional public outreach efforts to comprehensively promote the life-saving benefits of regular seat belt use to all motorists. For more information, visit www.in.gov/cji
-30-
"Every Seat, Every Trip, Every Time!"
101 West Washington Street ? Suite 1170 East Tower ? Indianapolis, IN. 46204 ? 317.232.1295
T. Neil Moore, Executive Director
www.in.gov/cji"
1 comment:
I agree that people should be left to make their own decisions as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others. Unfortunately, there is another side to the whole seatbelt issue which isn't touched on: positive externalities.
The point should not be to protect the seatbelt wearer from injury, it should be to protect society from a cost which can easily be avoided.
Take the following two scenarios:
1) You hit another car and it is your fault. If the driver of the other car is wearing a seatbelt, studies show injuries will be drastically reduced. If they are not, the results would be more serious increasing the cost directly to your insurer, indirectly to you through higher premiums, and possibly to financial ruin for you since the total cost of the incident may exceed the limits of your insurance. Additionally, a death may be followed by a suit from survivors for wrongful death or other charges.
2) An individual negligently runs their car into a bridge abutment. As a result, they end up in the hospital. The hospital is required to treat them even if they have no medical insurance. That cost to the hospital which they don't recover, eventually adds to the burden on other patients who do pay (or the burden on their health insurers who pass it on in the form of higher premiums).
Like it or not, decisions on subjects like these actually do impact others, although that impact may be hard to see.
Should we step up enforcement of seatbelt laws and spend more money on extra officers solely for that reason? Absolutely not. A seatbelt ticket should simply be an incidental ticket to another offense.
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