Seatbelts

[aviator090]

I know here in NC we have exemptions for Law Enforcement from wearing their seatbelt while on duty in a patrol car..

Do other states have this and if so whats your thoughts on not wearing your seatbelt?

I do NOT wear it if I am in the city as I do not ever get to extreme speeds.... I fear being caught up by the seatbelt if I was to come under fire. I have a hard time writing seatbelt citations when I don't have mine on but I know my own reasoning... Now if I am on the open highway at higher speeds, naturally I put it on.

[Hannah87]

I know that my department does require us to wear seat belts. Although, my sergeant informed me that within the village, it is not necessary. Out on the highway, I always wear it. I'm a seat belt freak. I wear mine wherever I go.

[racing04]

Here we have too, but I never wear mine, Have my thoughts on that

[Jks9199]

In VA, cops, taxi drivers, delivery drivers (like UPS) and a few others are exempt.

In patrol, I generally wore my seatbelt. I'd undo it if I was approaching a call, or cruising somewhere and expected to jump out suddenly. With a very little practice, it's easy enough to undo it. My reasoning is simple. I've never been shot at on the clock -- but I wear body armor. I trust the idiots likely to shoot at me a lot more than I trust the much larger number of morons on the road.

[aviator090]

In VA, cops, taxi drivers, delivery drivers (like UPS) and a few others are exempt.

In patrol, I generally wore my seatbelt. I'd undo it if I was approaching a call, or cruising somewhere and expected to jump out suddenly. With a very little practice, it's easy enough to undo it. My reasoning is simple. I've never been shot at on the clock -- but I wear body armor. I trust the idiots likely to shoot at me a lot more than I trust the much larger number of morons on the road.

Thats one way to look at it

[gozling]

I wore mine all the time but would release it just a bit out from arriving on a call....
I am glad i wore mine.... it saved my life 3 times and i worked in a city.
If i was ever in an accident and it was discovered i did not have my belt on, the dept washes their hands of you.

[Terminator]

A seatbelt has saved my life and that of a few of my family members. I am a big believer in seatbelts. I wear mine all the time without exception when I'm in my personal vehicle, off duty.

However, when I'm on duty I don't wear mine for safety reasons, unless I know I am about to drive very fast (eg: hot call, vehicle pursuit). And by safety reasons, I mean being able to duck or get out of the patrol car quickly.

[aviator090]

A seatbelt has saved my life and that of a few of my family members. I am a big believer in seatbelts. I wear mine all the time without exception when I'm in my personal vehicle, off duty.

However, when I'm on duty I don't wear mine for safety reasons, unless I know I am about to drive very fast (eg: hot call, vehicle pursuit). And by safety reasons, I mean being able to duck or get out of the patrol car quickly.

Agreed, Off Duty I wear them religiously..... its kinda a judgement call i guess... I have had my weapon get caught in the seat belt before trying to jump and run and got busted up real good... In the heat its easy , infact very easy , I find to forget you have the thing on.... When you wear your vest its even harder to feel it and have that reminder....

[Vendetta]

In VA, cops, taxi drivers, delivery drivers (like UPS) and a few others are exempt.

In patrol, I generally wore my seatbelt. I'd undo it if I was approaching a call, or cruising somewhere and expected to jump out suddenly. With a very little practice, it's easy enough to undo it. My reasoning is simple. I've never been shot at on the clock -- but I wear body armor. I trust the idiots likely to shoot at me a lot more than I trust the much larger number of morons on the road.

I wear mine all the time on duty or off

[Bird18751]

Illinois law is mandatory, even for police. I was lucky, I never liked wearing mine as it sat on top of my firearm. I drove like that for 30 years and retired. My youngest son, Chicago Police Officer, working a high crime area of the City, didn't wear his because of fear of being under fire and not being able to get out of the car to take cover or get to your weapon. On 8/8/04, at 0545hrs on a Sunday morning, just about to get off duty, on the way to a routine call, doing the speed limit, was broadsided by a drunk driver who ran a red light at 60 mph. He was ejected from the squad and crushed under it. Would he had lived if he wore it? Probably. Everyone be safe out there.

[Terminator]

Illinois law is mandatory, even for police. I was lucky, I never liked wearing mine as it sat on top of my firearm. I drove like that for 30 years and retired. My youngest son, Chicago Police Officer, working a high crime area of the City, didn't wear his because of fear of being under fire and not being able to get out of the car to take cover or get to your weapon. On 8/8/04, at 0545hrs on a Sunday morning, just about to get off duty, on the way to a routine call, doing the speed limit, was broadsided by a drunk driver who ran a red light at 60 mph. He was ejected from the squad and crushed under it. Would he had lived if he wore it? Probably. Everyone be safe out there.

I'm very sorry to hear that, sir.

[oldtrooper]

Sorry to hear of your loss Bird18751. I wear my seat belt on and off duty. Like you described I've seen too many die in rather low speed crashes because they did not have a seat belt on at the time.

Last week a firemans wife pulled out in front of a small van in a 35mhp zone and was ejected because she wore no seat belt. Several broken bones and one ear torn off. She survived but has one more surgery to go before it's over.

We are all adults and can make our own decisions but I am very pro seat belts, it's too easy to pop it loose as you roll to a stop on a call.

[MacLean]

I used to be in the "not on duty" crowd but have changed aftre reviewing the odds.

I now release it when moving slow "shark style" or prior to arrival.

[Just KC]

Illinois law is mandatory, even for police. I was lucky, I never liked wearing mine as it sat on top of my firearm. I drove like that for 30 years and retired. My youngest son, Chicago Police Officer, working a high crime area of the City, didn't wear his because of fear of being under fire and not being able to get out of the car to take cover or get to your weapon. On 8/8/04, at 0545hrs on a Sunday morning, just about to get off duty, on the way to a routine call, doing the speed limit, was broadsided by a drunk driver who ran a red light at 60 mph. He was ejected from the squad and crushed under it. Would he had lived if he wore it? Probably. Everyone be safe out there.

So very sorry for your loss.

[Shoestring]

Click it of Ticket!

I wear mine always, in town/out of town. I will unclick within 1/2 block of a call. If you train while wearing it, you will not have problems un-doing it in a pinch. We are supposed to wear them per our policy/employee handbook, state law exempts us.

[suellen446]

Illinois law is mandatory, even for police. I was lucky, I never liked wearing mine as it sat on top of my firearm. I drove like that for 30 years and retired. My youngest son, Chicago Police Officer, working a high crime area of the City, didn't wear his because of fear of being under fire and not being able to get out of the car to take cover or get to your weapon. On 8/8/04, at 0545hrs on a Sunday morning, just about to get off duty, on the way to a routine call, doing the speed limit, was broadsided by a drunk driver who ran a red light at 60 mph. He was ejected from the squad and crushed under it. Would he had lived if he wore it? Probably. Everyone be safe out there.

very sad, so sorry for you and your family. presents a rather glaring example

[Motorwaycop]

We are exempt here, however my own and every other force I know have orders saying we must wear them. Some exceptions, I don't wear it if I am having to deal with an unruly prisoner transport(We don't have internal cages) or slip it off when literally crawling and about to run(well, walk quickly) after a potential offender.
Personally I always wear it and have no problem issuing tickets to those who don't.

[HudsonHawk]

State law exempts police from needing to wear seatbelts, and other traffic laws, but I wear mine as much as possible. After seeing enough car accidents, and being involved in a few, I've just come to the conclusion that I'd rather do everything in my power to increase the likelihood I go home at night. I rarely take the seatbelt off until I'm about to get out of the car.

This week a local police officer was seriously injured in a car accident. The woman who hit him head on was charged with DWAI-Drugs and Felony assault. I honestly believe he would have been killed if not for his seatbelt and airbag.



http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...67/1020/NEWS04

Sheriff: Woman in crash with deputy was on drugs
By Terence Corcoran and Rob Ryser
The Journal News • March 6, 2008

PHILIPSTOWN - A Dutchess County woman was accused of being under the influence of drugs when she drove her car across a double-yellow line on Route 9 yesterday morning and slammed head-on into a marked cruiser driven by a Putnam County sheriff's deputy, police said.

Deputy XXXXX Boscia, 25, suffered fractures to his left ankle, left leg and left arm in the 6:35 a.m. collision about a mile south of Route 301, Sheriff Donald B. Smith said in a release.
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He was taken by ambulance to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where his family members, several department colleagues and Smith gathered yesterday.

The other driver, Michele DiVivo, 43, of Scarborough Lane, Wappingers Falls, was taken to Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt and later transported to Westchester Medical Center for treatment of a broken leg.

Police charged DiVivo with second-degree vehicular assault, a felony, driving while ability impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor, and unlawfully crossing the double-yellow line, an infraction. She is due March 26 in Philipstown Town Court.

DiVivo, who has several narcotics convictions, was asked by investigators to submit to a chemical test but refused, police said. Investigators then secured a warrant from Putnam County Judge James Rooney and obtained a blood sample from DiVivo.

Police said they believe DiVivo was under the influence of methadone, a synthetic drug used to treat heroin addiction.

Boscia, a member of the Sheriff's Department for 13 months, was heading south in his cruiser when DiVivo's larger vehicle, a 1998 Ford Explorer SUV, crossed the center lines and ran head-on into his cruiser, police said.

Smith said witnesses reported seeing DiVivo's vehicle cross the yellow line. Both vehicles were demolished; however, both drivers avoided more serious injuries because they were wearing seat belts and the air bags in their respective vehicles deployed, police said.

Sheriff's deputies and investigators responded with state troopers and ambulances from the Philipstown Ambulance Corps and North Highlands Fire Department.

The road was closed for about three hours during the investigation.

View a video on this subject at LoHud.com

[slick628]

I usually don't wear mine for I work in the city, usually drive at slow speeds, and always hoppin out of the car. However, if I am running hot to a call, or jump on the highway, I put it on. Our dept. doesn't enforce a seatbelt policy, however, if you get in an accident and you are injured, it's on you...depending on the circumstances. For example, I was writing a citation one evening, and because I was parked, of course I wasn't wearing it, and a drunk fell asleep behind the wheel and slammed into the back of my patrol car, launching it inot the veh I stopped. My bumper was in the back seat. I am happy to report that I was fine, and the seat belt question was never asked.

[bird1]

I wear mine all the time. It only takes a split second to get it off. Bird18751 son was a classmate of mine in the academy.