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Buckle down E-mail
Written by Danielle MacMurchy / Tracy Press /   
Friday, 21 March 2008

 

Make sure you're strapped in before leaving the driveway. The California Highway Patrol is cracking down on drivers who don't bother to buckle up.

Got One
Sgt. Robert Nevins of Tracy’s California Highway Patrol office points out the next car to be pulled over on Grant Line Road for a passenger not wearing a seat belt. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
A few dozen drivers spotted flashing red-and-blue lights in their rearview mirrors while they traveled along Grant Line Road today, followed by a ticket and an explanation of Vehicle Occupancy Safety Day.

California Highway Patrol officers statewide put forth extra effort Friday to give drivers a wakeup call to wear seat belts and slow down.

Six officers stood watch in front of the CHP office on Grant Line Road for about three hours. Two officers stationed themselves on the sidewalk to clock speeders and spot drivers without seat belts. Then they radioed a team of five drivers, who took turns pulling out of the CHP driveway to pull over the errant drivers.

"The white truck — no seat belt," CHP officer Shellie McCrary yelled at one point, prompting another officer to flash his lights and signal an unbuckled driver.

After 2½ hours, the team of seven had written 28 seat belt tickets, six speeding tickets, a citation for possession of marijuana and 10 other tickets for miscellaneous violations and had given seven verbal warnings.

Marcia Baier was fortunate to get away with a one of those warnings from CHP officer Bob Rickman. He pulled her over when he saw her click her seat belt into place after she was already on the road.

Image
Tracy CHP officer Robert Rickman talks with a driver who had been pulled over for not wearing a seat belt. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Baier, 66, said she was in a hurry to get to Good Friday Mass.

"I always wear my seat belt," she said. "I think it’s good that they’re doing this. Even if you’re going a few feet, you should wear your seat belt every time. And I was in the wrong."

Rickman says a seat belt saved his life in a crash nine years ago. He was headed to an emergency call when his patrol car skidded on gravel and smashed into a pole at 50 mph.

"I would’ve been dead if I didn’t have my seat belt on," he said.

Ninety-three percent of California drivers wear their seat belts, more than in most any other state, the CHP says. An annual case study in Tracy showed that about 97 percent of local drivers wear seat belts, Rickman said.

"Things happen fast out there," said McCrary, who said she’s gradually seen more drivers buckle up throughout her 14 years on the force. "You’ve got to have your belt on in case something happens."

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written by amy , March 22, 2008
My friend had the misfortune to make the decision not to wear her seat belt since her store was so close to her home, thinking nothing will happen in the short distance...nope, she is now going 7th surgery to reconstruct her face.

Wear seat belt at all times when you are in a vehicle even for a short distance.

She didn't see the speeding truck that hit her car in the shopping center! Right at the shopping center!! Driver of the truck was drunk.

Take care of yourself for you, wear seat belts. My friend wished she had.
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written by IMHO08 , March 22, 2008
I saw these folk yesterday. I thought they were filling the boot or advertising a pancake breakfast.
I agree you need to wear your seat belt; but, there is something twisted and sick about this whole affair

IMHO
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written by Dutch , March 22, 2008
Twisted and sick? Cat-juggling is twisted and sick............enforcing safety laws is what police and CHP do for the commuity.
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written by amy , March 22, 2008
IMHO, you mean the increasing numbers of tickets written out?
...not exactly sure what you mean? amy

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written by TH , March 22, 2008
this is the stupidest law ever. this does nothing more than make money. what do they care if i dont wear my seatbelt and get killed or hurt? its my choice, not theirs. im not putting anyone else at risk. oh yeah, the poor insurance companies! bull. i for one refuse to wear my seatbelt for the pure principle of it. and i make sure to tell the cop he pulls me over what a waste of skin he is and what real crime he should be stopping. i pay the stupid fine and make the stupid cop feel like a real hero for his efforts.

meanwhile, people are being robbed jogging through parks and killed at bowling alleys and personal property being stolen and damaged, yet cops are nowhere to be found to stop that. but lets crack down on those pesky non-seatbelt wearers! they are the real evil ones!!!
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written by Liinda , March 22, 2008
TH- if you noticed, this was about the Highway Patrol, not the Tracy Police. Tracy Police is more in charge in this town, I believe, of being called to people in 'distress' or however you want to put it in this town. The sad thing is, HP does more in this town that I've seen then our own Police Department. When I got into a little fender bender on Grant Line and Corral Hollow, 2 Police cars drove by at separate times, just ignored us on the side of the road with our flashers on, yet a HP pulled up, stopped, and helped us and he even asked us why Tracy Police weren't there yet, and he even mentioned seeing some passing by and not bothering to stop. HP has helped out in this town a lot, I just think our Police Department needs some shaping up.
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written by LAM , March 22, 2008
Thank You CHP! Seat belts are very important to wear (Officer Bob and I personally know that!) and it is a shame we have laws to make people wear them. People should know to wear them automatically. They were created to save lives. I am glad the CHP is enforcing that law. Keep it up!
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written by How bout that , March 22, 2008
Give Dog ticket. He didn't put his seat belt on his mother-in-law. I wonder why.
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written by IMHO08 , March 22, 2008
Hmmmmmm

Cat juggling is kinda fun
Our lil Flyin' Walenda makes a good tidy bowl cleaner as well.
Diff strokes for diff folks, I guess

Anyway, although I think TH is wrong in approach, TH is right in spirit. These SEVEN CHP ocifers could be doing a helluva lot better good out on the highways and bi-ways where they are paid to be keeping the roads safe and the traffic flowing. Seat belt violations are kinda like "victimless" crimes that personnel and manpower should not be re-directed to in order to inforce--and as pointed out in a jurisdiction more geared to TP, although I would feel the exact same if those Good Guys and Gals were involved.
Could those SEVEN Officers of the Highway Peace have been doing sumthin' better to ensure the safety of us all? Catch me the 28 guys going 90 MPH on the 205 for Blessed Sakes. Plus, we are in tough economic times, so staging a senseless Publicity Stunt on the shoulders of 28 folk is kinda Twisted and Sick IMHO. And on Good Friday no less. Would Christ have approved such behavior? Almost symbolic, would you not say, as Pontius Pilot Nevin directs the sentnences and Soldier Rickman leads them to the crosses.

The Wonder Kitty, on the other hand, may be in your corner on this one smilies/grin.gif

My heart goes out to the tough-luck guy that got caught with the foliage. Bad break, dude

LAM, get your pom poms outta TH's face smilies/tongue.gif

amy, the AMAZN AZZN is waving "hi"

IMHO
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written by amy , March 22, 2008
Took me a moment to stop laughing, AMAZN AZZN hi back.

Yeah, deception is pretty devious and not in sync with holy week? Should have stood there with radar gun and they wouldn't think you are looking at their unbuckled seat belt??

Less deceptive?
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written by Chkyer6 , March 22, 2008
Hey TH... So what are you waiting for. Go out there and kill yourself!
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written by isthistrue? , March 23, 2008
Keep yourself and family alive this Easter, buckle up.

God Bless and Happy Easter.
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written by h , March 23, 2008
Right, buckle up.
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written by How bout that , March 23, 2008
Don't buckle up. Tell the pigs where to go, they don't buckle up in Europe and they have less deaths. I wonder why.
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written by IMHO08 , March 23, 2008
I shall join the wiser crowd and buckle up, it is the smart thing to do.
However, I ain't gonna tell my neighbor what to do.
But, if ya get caught, it is the law and consequences shall ensue.

Me thinks if there is one good lesson learned from all this mess:

DON'T KEEP YOUR FOLIAGE IN THE CAR!!!
I am just hoping my friend did not lose his pretty glass as well smilies/grin.gif

IMHO
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written by h , March 23, 2008
If you want to keep your pretty face, not like amy said of her friend... 7th surgery. ouch! Buckle up.
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written by Dutch , March 23, 2008
Some of you people are fools....................every time some unbuckled idiot face-plants himself on his steering wheel or dashboard, and then ends up in intensive care, my insurance rates go up. That's the reality. Screw personal choice......your stupid personal choice affects my checkbook.
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written by h , March 23, 2008
Exactly right! Stupid choices, big expenses, who pays, everybody who works!
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written by How about every day? , March 23, 2008
How about doing this once a day for an hour a day?

Each day pick a different street and a different time and I this would likely have a real impact on all of the speeders in Tracy.

If drivers knew the police were out there waiting for them, I think most would think twice before speeding.

Thank you CHP.

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written by h , March 23, 2008
People complain about speeders all the time, sure, why not!!
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written by IMHO08 , March 23, 2008
I like the speeder ideal

This ideal is neither twisted nor sick. And no cats will be hurt during the process smilies/grin.gif

This totally affects public safety
And with gas prices soaring (I am very sure on which the oil companies blame poor seat belt usage ), the local 'thorities don't need to be tootling around sniffin' out bad guys. Half will probably speed right by them.

I toss my hat onto the ice on this one.

Regarding the good folk of the CHP and how they can better utilize manpower resources to reduce our insurance premiums. Me thinks our premiums are more effected by speeders and folk not wearing seat belts on the HIGHWAYS, NOT on Grantline Rd in the middle of Good Friday. Wondering how many good folk sped unseat-belted to service Friday afternoon?

IMHO
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written by slinky kid , March 23, 2008
They should put a buckle on the gas pumps
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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , March 23, 2008
Hey, I have a special harness for my dog. I sure wouldn't want my dog to go flying into the back of my head, while I hope my bag deploys and my seat belt keeps me from flying through the windshield and skidding along the pavement.
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written by IMHO08 , March 23, 2008
maybenot, my friend, I have not heard of such a device. I have come to make sport of sudden stops and knocking the Super Dog Beaver from his perch. I shall have to look into such a 'traption.

BUT, maybe not just yet smilies/grin.gif

IMHO
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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , March 23, 2008
Check out Petco my friend. Poor Super Dog Beaver's legs will give out one of these days. They are inexpensive. smilies/smiley.gif
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written by luigi maggi , March 24, 2008
all you clowns supporting this revenue gathering "safety enforcement" are so gleefully contributing to a total police state! wake up and understand that the more nanny laws there are the less freedom you have.

i don't want the chp to protect me from myself, i want them to protect me from the maniac aggresive drivers that i have to deal with everyday on the freeways! the ones that run stop signs on rural roads, that pass on blind curves, tailgaters and those that cut me off to grab one friggin car length! oh and by the way i wear my seatbelt and have done so since before it was the law.
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written by Dutch , March 24, 2008
Hey Luigi,

Last time I checked the CHP provides those other services as well. As a matter of fact, they actually enjoy taking the manic aggressive drivers off the road. I'm pretty sure that they don't look forward to working the seatbelt operations. As far as your "Police State" paranoia, all I can advise is that you cut down on the caffeine, and try getting a little more rest.....you are beginning to frighten me.
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written by luigi maggi , March 24, 2008
you're not frightened by me dutch, it's the truth in my message that makes you nervous!!! however, i agree that the patrolmen don't enjoy these feel good "enforcements" and that this comes from higher authority. but just maybe they could have got the guy that nearly drove into me on I5 monday afternoon if half of the 13 officers involved in this "enforcement" were on patrol!!
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written by luigi maggi , March 24, 2008
and another thing.........the article says california has a 97% compliance on this law. does 3% warrant funding for this victimless "crime"? we're fricking broke and we spend precious resources on this? you're on of those officers aren't you dutch?

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written by luigi maggi , March 24, 2008
correction........"you're one of those officersaren't you dutch?
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written by tim1 , March 24, 2008
They should sit in front of the schools everyday they will get a bus full of kids not wearing seat belts WHY!?
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written by IMHO08 , March 25, 2008
Yes, WHY???

Inquiring mindz demandz to know.
I thunk it quite queer when I was a school chap.
Has not our society progressed?
Where are all the Lottery revenues going?
Blame the teacher's union. No, seriously, go ahead and blame them--it's fun.
Where's the accountability on all this.
HEADZ MUST ROLL!!!!

And as long as HEADZ must ROLL and Constables On Patrol need thangs to do, how 'bout station law folk around the schools, cause those school mama's and papa's operate vehicles like farm equipment on Power Aide

IMHO
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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , March 27, 2008
Oh, if you make a wrong turn when school lets out forget it, you are stuck.
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