Over at the Minnesota independent, Andy Birkey reports in GOP pushes tenther amendment to ban ‘Obamacare,’ DFLers call it the Southern Strategy that Glenn Gurenhagen introduced language that would stop a law from going into effect:
Republicans in the Minnesota House have included an amendment to the health and human services omnibus bill that would ban the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the state of Minnesota . . .
Not to be outdone by a freshman legislator, Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee) has introduced a bill to ban sealtbelt enforcement waves:
Beard’s bill would specifically prohibit saturation campaigns to nab motorists failing to buckle up. It also would prohibit sting operations that rely on using deception to catch drivers violating the seat belt law.
Supporters of seat belt enforcement argue that these law enforcement efforts are about saving lives.
“It is a painful ticket, and I understand that, but often people who get it continue to comply and we know it’s lifesaving,” said Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester.
In 2009, Norton helped lead the effort to get the primary seat belt law passed, which allows law enforcement officers to pull over motorists solely for failing to buckle up.
What's the problem? People have complained to Beard about getting tickets:
For Beard, the concern goes beyond seat belt enforcement. He said he has been getting complaints from citizens across the state who are being pulled over by the Minnesota State Patrol for things like tinted windows, gas cans on trailers and unbuckled seat belts.
“This chairman is starting to wonder if harassment is becoming a policy of the state patrol, and I think that is counterproductive,” he said.
I see. So law enforcement enforcing the law is the new harassment.
Beard doesn't see the seat belt law itself being repealed because of federal funding:
Bills have been introduced to repeal the primary seat belt law. Beard said he does not see those going anywhere since the federal government is giving the state additional money for having the law in place. As for his bill, he said the main goal is to have a discussion about how the state patrol is operating.
“I put the bill in so we can have a discussion,” he said “I don’t know that I necessarily need it to pass, but certainly we need the patrol to come in and explain to us elected representatives why we are getting this outcry from citizens.”
Citizens coming to their elected officials about tickets? Perhaps Beard could name his bill the "Ticket Fixing Act of 2011."
Comments