(MoosesBusa @ May 25 2007,21:11)
(BusaWhipped @ May 25 2007,20:56) Its all about the Benjamins. If the states don't comply with the seat belt laws/enforcement, they lose Federal highway funds. That's why some of the states have seatbelt laws for the cages, but no helmet laws. As soon as the Feds decide to withhold $$$ for states without helmet laws, all 50 states will have them.
Actually it's all about the fatalities. The federal Government found in study after study how many people would still be alive had they simply worn their seat belt. Put bluntly, Physics is a biotch! They forced the states into enforcing the federal law by threatening to withhold federal dollars if the laws weren't enforced. Actually a smart move on their part.
Think you're stronger than a seat belt? Here's a quick test. Get in your car put on your seatbelt correctly and drive 10 miles per hour. Once up to speed slam on the brakes and come to a fast and abrupt stop. Notate any injuries sustained on a piece of paper. Now return home and go to the side of your house. back away from the wall far enough to insure you get up to 10 mph while running. Run straight into the wall with both of your arms straight out in front of you palms up and down with fingers pointed towards the sky. Run into the wall at full speed. Once stopped notate any injuries. Well, have the friends laughing at you write them down because you won't be able to hold the pen with the pain in your wrists or see the paper with the tear filled eyes from your bloody nose.
While they don't protect everybody all the time, the odds are in your favor to wear it.
Don't get mad at the cop. He was doing what he's paid to do... Uphold the law.