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* Backseat passengers now have to buckle up in Illinois…
Illinois drivers and passengers need to buckle up.
That was the message Monday from Gov. Pat Quinn, who signed a new Illinois law requiring everyone riding in a vehicle to wear their seat belts.
Senate President John Cullerton was 1 of the measure’s sponsors, and he says the law will save lives. The bill also was sponsored by the late GOP Rep. Mark Beaubien.
Currently, people riding in the front seat of a vehicle have to wear their seat belts, but people in the back seat are only required to be belted in if they are under 18.
* More…
The move strengthens the state’s current seat belt laws, which require passengers in the front seat and anyone under the age of 19 to wear safety belts. Police will be able to stop vehicles if they notice a passenger isn’t strapped in. Fines start at $25.
Exemptions include those riding in taxis or emergency vehicles such as police cars and abulances. The measure was sponsored by Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat who authored the state’s first law requiring passengers to buckle up during the 1980s. […]
Cullerton and Quinn both recognized the work of the late Rep. Mark Beaubien, a Republican from Barrington Hills, who pushed the bill in the House. Beaubien’s family was at the bill signing at Quinn’s Chicago office.
The governor also signed a law making it illegal for passengers to ride in trailers, wagons and other vehicles while they are being towed on highways. Farm-related activities and parades are exempt.
* Listen to Gov. Quinn and others talk about the bill…
* The governor said the bill “follows the biblical principle that if you save one life, you save the whole world.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 11:40 am
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More Nanny state. Just wish our Nanny’s could balance the check book, and quit giving cops something else to write tickets for.
Comment by John A Logan Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 11:42 am
Coincidentally enough, the bill also follows the principle of generating revenue. I don’t think that was a biblical principle, though.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 11:52 am
Gotta pay the bills. Selective bible interpretation is not limitted to one party.
Comment by Wumpus Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 11:52 am
Should be a secondary violation.
The police can pull you over for just about anything now…when so inclined. Pretty soon we won’t be able to pick our noses in the car. Great!
Comment by PaGo Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:01 pm
==Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved the entire world==
That is a pretty powerful statement that many people of varying faiths (or no religion) hold to be a guiding principle. It’s originally from the Talmud.
But, please, using it in this political scenario feels a little skeevy, governor.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:03 pm
–More Nanny state. Just wish our Nanny’s could balance the check book, and quit giving cops something else to write tickets for.–
How’s that nanny state? It’s compelling behavior in a licensed, potentially dangerous activity that prevents injuries and saves lives and helps reduced medical and insurance costs.
There are real threats to liberty, but not all of them are under the bed.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:04 pm
I hate backseat seat belts. They always seem to auto-lock and then they choke you.
Comment by The KQ Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:13 pm
Gov. Quinn best be careful. Rob Sherman is probably foaming at the mouth about the perceived improper intersection of church and state. Or has he moved out of state as he recently promised?
Comment by Jake From Elwood Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:18 pm
I’m with Responsa, it is kind of tacky to sorta-quote the Talmud for something like this…
Comment by Agricola Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:18 pm
So now we know.
Golly, one COULD bring in Quinn’s, um, (dare I say it?)pro-choice leanings, but naw…let’s just leave religion OUT of state business altogether, shall we?
Comment by Anony Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:27 pm
Does Pat know that the Talmud does not = the Bible?
Comment by Anony Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:29 pm
I was gonna say…it’s actually not Biblical…it’s Rabbinic.
Come on and visit the Moyel, Governor. You’re welcome to join the tribe.
Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:29 pm
Isn’t “compelling behavior” the definition of nanny statism?
Comment by GoldCoastConservative Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:31 pm
The only mandatory seat belt requirement I could ever support is for the driver. There are legitimate arguments to be made that the driver can better maintain control of the vehicle while wearing a seat belt in the event of an accident or loss of control.
But for everyone in the vehicle? Please, this is nothing more than a give away to insurance companies whose actuaries determined it could probably save them some money.
I am curious though. Who pays the ticket if a passenger is not wearing a seat belt? The driver, passenger, both?
Comment by Jimmy87 Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:32 pm
Just think how many worlds compulsory crash helmets would save.
Why are we not doing this?!
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:33 pm
–Isn’t “compelling behavior” the definition of nanny statism?–
If you look real hard, there are quite a few laws that compel behavior that I doubt you would call nanny-statism.
But it’s a swell Fox News catch-phrase, for those so inclined.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:35 pm
Playing NFL football is one of the most dangerous things in the world - check out the life expectancy of former players. Dare you to ban it, Guv. I sure hope he doesn’t one day cite the Bible to oppose gay marriage while supporting civil unions (like a certain former senator has…)
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:36 pm
Biblical principle? I’d like to know how Quinn thinks he’s on the same level as Jesus Christ in terms of saving the world. Maybe that is our problem with all elected officials. Too much propensity to play God.
Comment by MJ Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:36 pm
==Who pays the ticket if a passenger is not wearing a seat belt? The driver, passenger, both? ==
I saw a bit on some news program recently where a trooper wrote out a ticket and handed it to the front seat passenger who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:39 pm
If you read the history of the auto industry, the real nanny-statism came in the 60s with Nader’s Raiders. Their contention was that people were too childish and stupid to put on seat belts, or drive safely, or stop driving drunk, even under compulsion.
That necessitated dramatic and expensive “safety” design changes that eliminated a lot of cool cars and jacked up the price of autos. Only later, through grass-roots movements like MADD, did common sense laws that compelled behavior lead to greater driving safety.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:45 pm
Proverbs 17:28 “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
US Department of Transportation: “You can learn a lot from a dummy.”
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:46 pm
Skeptics , may say this is not primarily a safety issue but rather a veiled mechanism to generate probable cause to make mickey mouse traffic stops to generate revenue , fuel the grant programs, and boost the overtime and pensions of all those troopers making over a 100 Grand a year.
Skeptics , may also say the Gov should have quoted Franklin on Security v Liberty rather than the Bible.
Comment by x ace Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:48 pm
Pro-Lifers are going to have a field day with that one.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:49 pm
How about making seat belts mandatory in school buses?
Comment by Kerfuffle Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:53 pm
I agree with the commentator that said it is a little “skeevy” for the governor to be using the bible to justify his signature. Also, if that really was the case “save a life, save the world” wouldn’t it be prudent to have motorcyclists wear helmets? I’m going home tonight to read my bible and see if they mention lobbyists, because I’m pretty sure they played a part too. Wonder if that is Old Testament or New….
Comment by Mr. Peepers Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 12:56 pm
The seat belt law is HB219.
Comment by JN Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 1:09 pm
MrJM: I am now cleaning off my computer screen after spewing my lunch because I burst out laughing…touche!
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 1:14 pm
Is there a biblical principle for all those people who drive with the little lap dog sticking its head out the driver’s window?
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 1:31 pm
==The governor said the bill “follows the biblical principle that if you save one life, you save the whole world.”==
After his civil union announcement, I had my doubts about the Governor’s Catholicism, but now I’m reassured. Good Catholics of our generation never opened the Bible unless it was to press flowers.
Comment by Pat Robertson Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 2:52 pm
—It’s compelling behavior in a licensed, potentially dangerous activity that prevents injuries and saves lives and helps reduced medical and insurance costs.—
Not sure I buy this argument. Is there any REAL evidence that this law was needed? Guess we should all wear helmets and install roll cages in our cars too.
Comment by Slick Willy Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 3:30 pm
Governor Quinn: Please tell me where to find THAT in the Bible. Chapter and verse please.
Don’t waste too much time looking. Its NOT there!
Comment by Say WHAT? Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 4:03 pm
If someone is an atheist, can they skip buckling up? How about if they are Buddhist? They might be able to come back again as a higher being. Not sure where the Shinto’s or the Confucious would come down on this.
Comment by Ghost of John Brown Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 6:37 pm
Quinn quotes the Bible like Blagojevich quotes Lincoln and both men would be reputiated by their source’s authors.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 7:23 pm
I know this is a futile plea, but could we please leave the Bible out of it?
Comment by Excessively Rabid Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 7:38 pm
I also disagree with this law and it is another overreach of an ineffective legislature. Another reason why I wont vote for Quinn.
Comment by Rick Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 7:41 pm
I find Quinn’s biblical statement of saving lives somewhat hypocritical. No helmet law for motorcyclists who are at a greater risk of severe injury or death in a crash. There is nothing between a motorcyclist and the road other than the clothes they have on.
Comment by Can't Say My Nickname Monday, Jun 27, 11 @ 9:11 pm
It’s satisfying & refreshing to know that our elected officials have solved ALL of the problems in the state & have the time to write legislation, debate it, vote on it, and have our ever-so-honorable Governor sign it into law. I feel really, really safe! (Is the sarcasm translating well this morning?)
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 28, 11 @ 6:30 am
I wish they would require seatbelts for taxicab passengers too.
Comment by Taxmandan Tuesday, Jun 28, 11 @ 10:31 am