CANADA
CALIFORNIA
U.S.A.I was driving down Ventura Boulevard today when I saw a bicycle coming up in my side view mirror. It was going pretty fast and I was a little jealous because he was making better time than I was. When I stopped at a red light, he pulled up next to my window and I thought “This guy is NOT trying to make a move on me! Could he be a fan who recognized me and wants an autograph? Maybe he’s lost and needs directions.” Then I saw the badge. He motioned for me to roll down my window. “I’m officer Boyles with the LAPD. Can I see your drivers license please?” WHAT?? I didn’t do anything! Did I cut him off? Did I not make a full stop? Was I stopped over the pedestrian line? Maybe my plates were expired. “Is there any reason you’re not wearing your seatbelt?” he said. “Damn you!” I said. “I was just going to Whole Foods. I don’t see you strapped onto your bike!” Okay, I didn’t say it out loud, but I thought it. – What I said out loud was: “My only reason is stupidity, officer. I know I deserve a ticket.” Officer Boyles was kind enough to let me off with a warning but I have learned my lesson. Whether you wear a seatbelt for safety or to avoid a ticket, you’ve gotta do it. What he didn’t see was I had just gotten off the cellphone (also illegal in CA). If he had seen that, I’d be blogging from the big house.
I should also mention that morals are not only meant to protect us, but everyone else as well.
WOW! What a can of worms you have opened my dear! James I am sorry that you feel the way you do but it is your choice. I bet you have people that love you and would miss you terribly if you were gone. BUT there is NOTHING that says you will die…you could live and be mangled…but you are right it is your choice. I sure would feel awful if I was driving the other car and you went halfway thru the windshield.
Jenny, you are adorable for sure BUT I know the love of your life would miss you greatly if you were killed. I used to be just like James and you, I refused to wear a seatbelt. Someone asked me if I would do it just 12 times without fail before making up my mind. I did that and so did my husband and it became a habit. We wear them for each other. I look at my grandbabies faces and I wonder hope could ever love thme like I do. Enough said.
The cell phone part is hard too but I use hands free now. If I can afford it I KNOW you can.
NOW GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER…you deserved the ticket…I would have gotten one!!
Kathy
Good for you Kathy!! Very nicely put. Sue
Where did I say that I never wore my seatbelt, Mrsnews? I just said that we should not be forced to wear it by law, and my reasoning for why has already been stated.
I dont like talking on my cellphone while driving. Just yesterday I was on my way to work and traffic here was horrible by afternoon. The interstate I take to work was backed up 4 exits and the back roads were bumper to bumper, redlight to redlight. I thought, Great! I’m gonna be late, so I decide to pull over at the nearest gas station and call my sister to find out which way would be best to go to get to work, because my normal route was just slammed with traffic, so I ended up going the longest way to work and was late 30 minutes, plus I had to call work to let them know I was running late. I wasnt about to try calling my sister and work with that much traffic…
Found out when I got to work there was a accident on the interstate blocking traffic, so I’m guessing people were getting off the nearest exit going the back roads. It was horrible…
People who talk on their cellphones need to consider bluetooth or some type of hands free to use their phones. If youre going to wear the seatbelt Jenny. You might as well look into getting a bluetooth or some type hands free device to use your cellphone while driving. Something to consider Jenny…
Take care,
Rhonda
OMG Jenny!!! Driving with no belt on and using a mobile phone? Girl, you are SO lucky you didn’t have an accident!!!
Completely agree with wearing a seatbelt. Here in Australia it is illegal. I lost my cousin after she was thrown through a windscreen. Completely unavoidable if she had her belt on. I agree with you Sue, BUCKLE UP PEOPLE!!!
Thank You Tara!!!!
Oh wow, you seemed a bit frustrated. Cant say that I blame you. Something happened to me oneday and I thought the samething. I was running errands and as I was stopped on the bridge to get on the interstate I saw blue lights. I thought, “what did I do”. I had to wait for the light to change and as I got on the ramp I pulled over. He got out and ask for my drivers license and registration. While I was getting what he ask for I simple ask him why I was stopped and he told me my license’s plate decal was not on my tag and you know Jenny I couldnt tell him the last time I saw it on my car. He actually told me I need to check it as often as I can because it’s common for decals to be stolen and used. He also told me to slice it up after putting it on my tag to keep people from even trying to take it off. He was actually nice about it but not me. I wasnt happy about the whole situation at all…
Rhonda
that’s nothing Rhonda. I was five minutes from my home and I excellerated from 25 mph to 30 mph and there was a cop sitting there and the speed limit was still 25 went I hit the gas and he followed me into my easement and the damm fool gave me a ticket for 135.00!!!! five miles over the speed limit! So I went home and had a beer!!
Wow $135.00 for going 5 miles over the speed limit. Were you around a school zone? Those zones can be speed traps. I know, Ive been stopped going through a school zone late at night coming home from my sister’s house. Hope you enjoyed the beer 🙂
Rhonda
Best journal entry ever! Had me laughing.
I don’t see why people should be forced to wear seatbelts, unless if you’re a minor. My decision not to wear a seatbelt would only affect me. It would not harm anyone else. However, it’s the law, and laws supposedly protect the people…supposedly. 🙂
hey I work for a funeral home and we bury alot of people who decided not to wear their seat belt and the death could have been avoided. So maybe that will make you think again about it Jenny and James!!! Nobody wants to see you die from something so unavoidable and so stupid! Buckle up!!!!
Hey James , you said only a minor should wear a seatbelt and it would only affect you. You’re in the front seat, you get in a car accident and your children are in the back seat, they survive and you die. How does that affect only you??
Just food for thought and written out of LOVE. BUCKLE UP!!!
Here’s my rebuttal against your argument Sue.
If adults should have to wear seat belts, then I guess we should have laws regulating from parents from smoking, because if the parents die, then the child will suffer…right? According to your argument, we should have laws regulating how many calories we’re alloted to consume per day, because obesity is the number one cause of death next to smoking, and “nobody wants to see you die from something … so stupid!”
Now, of course those laws would be absurd if they were true…wouldn’t you agree Sue? Because how can the government regulate what we do to ourselves? The government has no right telling us what we should do to ourselves. I understand why a minor would be forced to wear a seatbelt because they do not have the mental capacity to fully understand what’s right and what’s wrong.
If the government tells us to buckle up because it will prevent death, then why shouldn’t they regulate everything else that causes death? The thing is, they can’t do that. We can think for ourselves. It’s America. We have our freedom.
I agree with you 100 percent James but the things that you are talking about people can actually get help for. Being in a car accident without a seatbelt you can’t walk away from. Once your dead Your DEAD!!! Obesity, smoking, sure it can make you see your maker earlier than you would want to, but come on James just wear your seatbelt! Me and my fiance of 16 years just lost two friends this past year who loved life but didn’t wear their seatbelts so my point is just do it!!
I totally love your politcal beliefs though my brother!! Sue
So how are you Jenny? We havn’t heard from you, it just seems as if we are going back and forth with eachother or are you just enjoying our rebuttles???
I was going to let you guys duke it out.
come on now Jenny I don’t duke it out with people. I just write cause I care. I work for a funeral home, I SEE DEAD PEOPLE!!! Suzy floozy!
I’m with you, Jenny. I was letting them duke it out also. I got online lastnight and before signing offline, I made a pit stop here and didnt know what to say, but enjoyed reading the debate 🙂
Oh and Jenny its good youve realized to buckle up, even if its to the store and back. I mean you just had a bender fender accident not too long ago, so please stick to you word. I myself will always buckle up when I’m the driver, but if I’m in the backseat as a passerager, I dont always buckle up, but I will now. I make others who ride with me put on the seatbelt…
I heard on tv the other night about the non smoking law with kids in the car. I think it should be the law. Kids are our future and need to be protected in every direction of life. Their health being the first thing to protect…
I do what to say something here, people really should wear their seatbelts. It’s not to punish us. It’s to protect us, but I understand where youre coming from James and you have a right to your opinion. We do live in a place were we have lots of freedom, but somethings just have to be what they are. Following the laws we have is something thats got to be followed through with everyone. We cant change the laws, we have to obey them, if not then we are punished with jail time and/or fines and tickets…
Take care,
Rhonda
One of my fears is that I’ll be in the wrong place at the wrong time, like during one of our ubiquitous high-speed chases. So I got the message and am buckling up. Some other things are risky and legal, but maybe not for long. There are laws being passed in some states (with more to come) making it illegal to smoke in a car with children on board. People should know enough not to, but I guess they don’t. Of course drunk driving IS illegal but it still kills people and entire families. Can’t we just make stupidity illegal? Get in a car and smoke with kids, or get in a car drunk, and a giant hand should come up and slap you upside the head! James, you livened things up. I appreciate your passion. These are for you: xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
you should be wishing me xxxxoooo too for the hell I’ve been put through. I’ve had bronchial asthma since i’m 2 because my babysitters smoked around me. How selfish!! Now I live with this disease. We only got on this email because we care, not to give you crap, we love you, we’re not trying to hurt you or be nasty. You have alot of friends through this email if that matters at all???
Thanks Jenny. And Sue, I still stand by my belief that we should not be forced to wear a seatbelt, because as I mentioned, if the government regulated what we do to ourselves in our cars, then they would have to regulate everything that we do wrong to ourselves, like smoking cigarettes and eating too many calories. As long as it does not harm anyone else, or interfere with someone else, then a law should not be formed. Laws are meant to protect everyone else, morals are meant to protect ourselves. We make the ultimate moral decision when we choose what’s right and what’s wrong for ourselves.
I am a strong advocate for wearing seat belts (just so you all know). And if someone is going to ride in my car, I make the rules. If the passenger does not like wearing the seatbelt, he/she can choose to ride with someone else….except Jenny. 🙂 She can be belt free because how could I tell her to get out of my car if she does not wear her seatbelt? 🙂 Just kidding.