Good morning.
I have updated the web site. Lots of new stuff. The police log is updated, and I have created a police page. It has the logs, press releases and other cop-type stuff.
Chief Sean Wallace sent a press release saying that the police are going to step up patrols and start writing tickets for people not wearing seat belts.
Wearing a seat belt is just common sense, but I know some people want to have the freedom to not do so. It raises the question of whether government should intervene when people won't do what they need to do.
There is a new fishing column. Im still looking for column writers. I can help with writing and or editing.
I have some city stories coming later today, so come back.
JJ, unless you are just now trying to pull the police page together, some of the links won't open up.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I did change some stuff in the inner workings of the site. Please let me know when links are not working.
ReplyDelete:)
links are fixed on police page
ReplyDeleteThanks JJ. Site looking better each day.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering......are the cops gonna pull people over and check to see if they have their seatbelts on? Or are they gonna have a road block, like they do when they're checking for drunk drivers? The local gestapo is conducting their seatbelt blitz.
ReplyDelete@3:13 Do you realize how dumb that sounded. Comparing our police to gestapo is rediculous. When was the last time you saw our police department lining people up against a wall and shooting them? For any reason? When was the last time they kicked in the door of a church and arrested everyone there?
ReplyDeleteI don't think they should be checking for seatbelts, I think they should be out finding DUI's and other harder criminals. However, this is a law they are required to enforce by the officials WE/YOU voted/didn't vote for that are in office.
We do not vote for police Chief he is not an elected official,
ReplyDeleteAnd I also feel it is Gestapo like actions to slow drivers down to pier in their cars to ispect seatbelts.
What Next???? if you budge an inch they will take six
They do this for a reason, actually many. MONEY!MONEY & MONEY! And of course the reason they portray is keeping the citizens safe, but the most important reasons to them is MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! That is what the grant consists of. MONEY!
ReplyDelete@5:02
ReplyDeleteIt was an analogy. Not to be taken literally.
Would it not make more sense to create a motorcycle/helmet law before a car/seatbelt law?
ReplyDeleteIf the reason for these laws was safety, then a helmet law would have passed a long time ago.
I hope we make it illegal to run with scissors. This can be very dangerous to the runner.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for safety's sake, we should have a no back-talking to bullies law. If we made it illegal to be confrontational with bullies the world would be a much safer place.
Someone puhleeze explain to me the reasoning of what is wrong with the police dept wanting grant money and someone puhleeze explain the reasoning with what is wrong with checking for seatbelts? I'm left scratching my head on this. If you're wearing a seatbelt, then no one should have to worry.
ReplyDeleteIf we made it illegal to be confrontational with bullies the world would be a much safer place.
ReplyDeleteGood idea. BUllies would also get bored and stop being a bully.
I was driving on east Chestnut last night and saw an Ark City police car (& patrolman) sitting in a private drive with a speed trap set up. Is that legal to use a private drive? Even if the private drive belongs to a relative of a city commisioner?
ReplyDeleteI imagine it would be legal, as long as they were given permission.
ReplyDeleteWho cares - its not legal to speed so quit it!!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Don't go over the limit and you won't have to worry about it.
ReplyDelete@7:40am
ReplyDeletewhat is wrong with checking for seatbelts?
The death rate of motorcycle riders is greater than car drivers. If it is about safety, do away with the bikes. -- But if you want to ride a bike, go for it, it is your choice. I wouldn't fine you for it.
A person is also much more likely to die in a small compact car than a full size car; whether it be a two car wreck or a one car wreck. The fact is, the bigger the car, the safer you are. If it is about safety, do away with compact cars. -- But, if you want to drive a compact, go for it, it is your choice. I wouldn't fine your for it.
I understand it is safer to wear a seatbelt. But if people have a choice to ride (more dangerous) motorcycles, or drive (more dangerous) compact cars then why shouldn't people have a choice to not wear seatbelts?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123993371229527975.html
I wonder what the statistics are of injury accidents where the accident victim did not wear their $eat belt and does not have health in$urance?
ReplyDelete=)
byte,
ReplyDeleteCan I assume that your point is the government is your daddy? And daddy knows best.
Yes, daddy I will wear my seatbelt. Of course, daddy, national healthcare is the best choice, because people don't wear their seat belts and they might need medical care and might not have a private health care plan; and because you say it is the best choice. Daddy can I have a bigger allowance for wearing my seat belt? Daddy, how come I have to drive a smaller, potentially more dangerous car? Of course, daddy, I would trade some safety for a cleaner environment. Daddy, how come your Cadillac only gets 8 mpg? Of course, daddy, your safety is of the utmost importantance.
@ 11:03
ReplyDeleteThat was quite a tangent you went off on. I hope you feel better.
But back on topic, do you think accidents/deaths resulting from non-belted drivers contribute to rising health care and/or insurance costs? Do you think the state absorbs any of the cost to cover medical expenses from the uninsured accident victims?
June 26, 2009 4:21 PM
ReplyDeleteI agree that motorbikes are more dangerous then not wearing a seatbelt in the car, but thats comparing apples to oranges and still doesn't answer my question.
They been doing these seat belt checks for a long time, so why is it such a big problem this year all of a sudden? Maybe we should just do away with all laws, then you won't have to worry about government control. Nothing left to whine about...til someone does something wrong to you.
I don't like the way an officer can stop you just for not wearing a seatbelt. I thought it was stupid when Oklahoma passed that law, and I believe Kansas has now as well, but I may be wrong. I always wear my seatbelt, but I think not having it on should not be probable cause for a traffic stop.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of being stopped, I am sick and tired of being stopped on the way out of Wal Mart and asked to show my receipt. I find it offensive that they think I would steal something, and I think they should have to have some kind of suspision to stop and ask. I would shop elsewhere, but they pretty much have a monopoly.
One time the lady at walmart noticed that i had been overcharged, so it worked out once .
ReplyDeleteshop here
http://arkcityrevived.com/AD_PAGES/shoes.html
The cops can’t stop you for no seat belt; they can only stop you for a trafic infraction and then they can only write a no belt citation after you are ticked for something else first
ReplyDeletedo you all not understand personal freedom? Is the point of this law to save lives? Perhaps my life, perhaps your life, perhaps our lives in a mutual crash.
ReplyDeleteDoes the following sound crazy?
How far removed are we from required food diets based on our required health care checkups.
Lets cut down on heart disease (leading cause of death in the USA). Cutting down obesity would lower heart disease deaths.
Are we going to require low fat dairy products?
Are we going to require a strict sugar limit and sodium as well?
Why is soda pop even legal? There is nothing healthy about the stuff.
I think we all know the health dangers of these items and thus their contribution to rising health and insurance costs. Of which I am sure the government absorbs costs.
Regardless of the stats, the requirement to wear a seat belt is a loss of personal freedom.
It is easy to infringe on others rights, when it doesn't affect you.
Btw, just to take this blog on another tangent, where are the women's right activists arguing "its my body, its my choice!"?
Bravo
ReplyDeleteI realize alot of people are feeling more and more everyday they feel their rights are being taken away, but come on for crying out loud, a seat belt? You are really worried about being required to wear a seat belt? Dragging womens right activists into the aurguement doesn't make sense either. Any activist who would say that over a dumb seat belt law, should really reaccess theri goals in life.
ReplyDeletePeople are blowing everything way out of proportion anymore. They are so worried about their rights, they turn a blind eye and close off their hearing to everything being said and done. Follow the whole story, not just the parts you want to hear.
Next thing you know they'll require new structures be inspected to be sure they are up to some arbitrary "code" to be sure they don't fall apart or electrocute someone.
ReplyDeleteFemale ccarpenters or home buyers should announce - "It's my body...I can live in a dangerous house if I want."
@ June 29, 9am
ReplyDeleteSo, what is the whole story? What have I turned a blind eye to?
The story is pretty cut and dried. The local departments get state and/or federal grant money to write you a ticket.
The government is making you it's b**ch and you are arguing for them. They are taking taxpayer dollars and making those dollars available as long as they are used to write those same taxpayers (seat belt) fines . And you like it.
Next is cigarettes (oh wait that is already happening). After that, helmet laws. Then will come soda pop, cheetos, snickers, and alcohol. All in the name of health and safety. Sounds crazy huh? Remember who is arguing for their side. (That would be you.)
Seat belts have been a law for a long time. There has always been grants for various things, this was just not picked off the tree ideas. Seems to me that some people do not simply want any laws. Now isn't that a peachy idea. We'll just get rid of police and government, and see how long you survive. Your theories are a little off the wall.
ReplyDeleteAnd those stupid gates at RR xings, I should be able to drive where I want, when I want. GOVT OUTTA MY CAR!!!
ReplyDeleteThey won't get any money from me, I wear my seat belt. As a paramedic I've scraped enough people off asphalt to know any idiot who won't wear a seat belt shouldn't be allowed to drive.
Exactly why we have to have so many laws, because there are too many idiots out there with not enough brains.
ReplyDeleteamen!
ReplyDelete