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Birddog
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/7/2009 at 12:40:54 PM
Then the city and county should be getting an award from the insurance industry for saving them tons of money.
It should also put to rest the false rumors that we need more officers to take care of the serious crimes being committed here.
wrm1701
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/7/2009 at 12:56:33 PM
It’s all about revenue and not about saving lives…
This PROVES it.
Sunshine
Rochester, mn
Posted on 11/7/2009 at 2:42:37 PM
It’s not about revenue, it’s about saving lives and looks to me like its working. Good job! 30 less deaths is amazing.
Birddog
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/7/2009 at 2:52:07 PM
“It’s not about revenue, it’s about saving lives..”
Dream on.
(Ask your insurance agent how much insurance rates went down when the seatbelt law passed)
As long as you can prove that 30 less deaths occurred because of this, then you should also be able to prove that no felonies were committed while the police spent time ticketing petty misdemeanor offenders.
Taxed2Dea
th
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/7/2009 at 4:46:49 PM
Birddog wrote: “It should also put to rest the false rumors that we need more officers to take care of the serious crimes being committed here.”
Wrong, wrong, wrong.....
The officers and deputies that worked the “campaign” are paid for and funded by grant money! They are not normal street officers, they are paid for by overtime grant funds....in fact, I have sources who indicate that on many nights grant funded officers were pulled from “seat belt campaign” duty to assist with the normal calls on the street.
Birddog
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/7/2009 at 4:49:55 PM
“..they are paid for by overtime grant funds..”
OVERTIME???? For a petty misdemeanor? Thank goodness the taxpayers have tons of money they don’t need.
roscoe1
Eyota, Mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 6:15:03 AM
When I was in high school about 40 years ago, I remember the preachings against communism. I remember her saying that you could be arrested on the street in Russia for any little thing that the government disagreed with.
Well, here we are!
Getalife
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 7:37:53 AM
Another case that big brother is forcing down our throats with out giving all the statistics. Lets see how many people that are in accidents will admitt they were not wearing seatbelts knowing they will get a ticket ? answer 0. How many did admitt it ? Just the dead ones. How many people in accidents wearing seatbelts are dead ? We never hear the number because if we did the percentage would be greater than those who don’t.It would flaw there system based on nothing. Sorry I am a stats major and when people i.e insurance companies, police, others use them incorrectly it is irritating. Just remember figures don’t lie but liers can figure.
lewis5590
1
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 8:17:50 AM
People always complain about something, just buckle up-its not that hard, i never used to like doing it much but now i feel naked if i dont-it does save lives and that’s all that matters.
wheel1
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 9:10:01 AM
During this time period, on country road 18, a semi with an unsecured load of corn lost a couple of ears at 60 mph, breaking the window out of my truck, covering my 1 year old in glass. We were all cut and bleeding. It took 1 hour and 45 minutes for the sheriff to respond, who admitted to me that night they were short staffed because of the seatbelt inforcement efforts. Needless to say, they were never able to find the trucking company that put lives at risk.
westofroc
h
Rochester, Mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 9:42:00 AM
wheel 1: Did you sit on the side of the road waiting for the deputy or were you waiting at the hospital? Did you tell the dispatcher that you and your son were bleeding to death and needed an immediate response, or we’re you waiting to just make a report? A little context would be nice.
wheel1
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 9:53:07 AM
I waited on the side of the road for about an hour, but sent my wife a kid home, they got the car and went to the doctor, dispacth knew this,a nd told me that the sheriff was on the way. After 1 hour i called dispactch back, said I could not wait any longer and to send the sheriff to my house(which was .5 miles away) 45 minutes later he was able to make it out.
wheel1
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 9:56:26 AM
Point is that if they could have responed in a timely fashion, they may he been able to located the idiot traveling with unsured load, but he was long gone before they were able to, and the comment was made that he felt under staffed becuase of the operation.
westofroc
h
Rochester, Mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 1:22:40 PM
I know that they don’t take officers or deputies off the streets and put them out on seatbelt enforcement operations. That’s why these officers come in on their off time to work them. They also can’t take vacation time to come in and work these operations or else they’re double dipping. Also, any officer or deputy on one of those operations would have to cease and desist seatbelt enforcement for a priority call. “No Sarge, I can’t go to that bank robbery, I’m writting a seat belt ticket.” Depending on the call load at the time, a non life threatening accident, no matter how scary, might take a lower priority than any number of other calls. Just an observation.
wheel1
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 2:35:57 PM
In a world completely lacking in common sense, where priorities are completely backwords, I am suppose to have faith that someone is going to make the correct choice, even though my on eyes and ears prove differant...sure thing..
westofroc
h
Rochester, Mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 5:55:23 PM
wheel1: If I irritated you I’m sorry, it wasn’t my intent. All I’m saying is that if the sheriff’s dept was short (and they frequently are for many reasons) it was NOT because they were doing seatbelt enforcement. Those shifts (seatbelt, DUI, Nightcap, Safe and Sober)are filled by off duty officers, not from the working shift. This sounds more like a lame excuse by the deputy trying to explain why it took so long to get to you. He could have had a good reason for being late (High priority calls - in progress crimes happening immediately with high probability of death or injury) but saying they were doing seatbelt enforcement is just not very likely.
westofroc
h
Rochester, Mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 6:01:50 PM
For those of you complaining about how much money was spent: How much is a seatbelt ticket? $100? The officer could write 2 or mor an hour (at $50 per hour) and more than pay for his/her time. I thought the reason for the patrols was public safety. I know that seeing 2 - 3 state troopers and a couple deputies on Hwy 14 earlier this year slowed my butt down (and others) big time. Roscoe1: your argument’s a bit of a stretch. How can you possibly remember to put on your seatbelt when your so busy adjusting your aluminum foil helmet and watching out for black helicopters?
