Buckle Up For Big Brother
You’ve probably seen the commercials, reminding you that the government is starting its annual campaign against individual liberty know as “click It or ticket.” Every year local law enforcement agencies — under a much broader (allegedly $500 million per year) campaign — take a week to aggressively crack down on motorists who choose not to wear their seat belt. Yes, adults who make the conscious decision that affects only them.
I find it extremely hypocritical that a police officer, riding a motorcycle (which is nearly 40 times as deadly as a car according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics) officer can pull you over and fine you for not decreasing your likelihood of death or serious injury as much as bureaucrats deem sufficient.
Evidence supporting claims that seat belt usage prevents serious injuries or fatalities is completely irrelevant to this issue. The government has no moral authority, no Constitutional authority, and no practical means to intervene in the lives of individuals who are not violating the rights of others.
Federal and local governments spend millions of dollars running TV and radio ads, and putting up ugly signs like the one in the image above, being updated to remind us to that the law applies regardless of what time it is. During these week long events, a significant portion of the police force is diverted, in order to set up “check points” where they visually inspect every car that passes to ensure the driver and passengers are wearing seat belts. Failure to do so results in a $65 citation. This is especially troubling in cities such as Detroit where the police can’t keep up with real crime.
If they already have the power to do this, it’s only a matter of time before they control every aspect of our personal lives in order to “protect” us from ourselves.