Wear that seatbelt!
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
Sometimes we get caught up in traffic ticket defense and fighting moving violations to the extent we forget that many of the traffic rules and much of the traffic enforcement is indeed about safety. Case in point is a recent news item concerning a man who may indeed owe his life to receiving a seatbelt ticket. Driver Says Traffic Ticket Saved His Life by Barbara Pinto, 5/27/08, abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=4937505.
Tim Ignasiak was driving to work like he does every day. He saw the sirens behind him and he knew what was about to happen. He was issued an Illinois traffic ticket for failing to wear his seatbelt. He buckled up and drove off.
Moments later, another vehicle disobeyed a red light and smashed into his jeep. His vehicle was in bad shape but Ignasiak walked away without a scratch because of his seatbelt.
It’s the rare case where the recipient of a traffic ticket actually thanks the issuing officer afterwards. In fact, the man’s wife called the police officer to personally thank him.
It’s a nice story and a good reminder both to buckle up and at least consider, next time you are pulled over, that the police officer is to some extent trying to make the roads a little safer.
By Scott Feifer
Feifer & Greenberg, LLP
NYTicketHELP.com / TicketHELP.com