The problem is not necessarily the need to live life on the edge, no. The problem is, everywhere we look we are constrained by rules that have been enforced upon us our whole life. Often laws not only predict how we should act, but how we should think. It is easy to fall in line, and agree with consensus, but I encourage you to think for yourselves. Right now, by these laws being put in place, it is predetermined and assumed that protecting yourself with a seatbelt is extremely important, and going with out one is, what illegal, therefore immoral? Our government should not be the only guideline for the decisions you make. According to Fee.org, this law infringes on our freedoms, clashing with the 4th, 5th, 9th, and 14th amendment. While I do realize that not wearing a seatbelt can be considered a risk to a life, it specifically affects your own, and it should be your choice whether you want to live constrained or freely. After the age of 18, countless sources refer to you as an “adult”, correct? Then, as an adult, are you not entitled to your own opinion, and actions? It is our time, as the youth of the nation, to take responsibility for our actions. Currently in Texas, according to the Driving University website, a passenger who is 17 and older is actually charged anywhere between $100-200 if they are not wearing a seatbelt and pulled over in Texas. Most states only ticket the offender $25-$50. Also, according to TIME newspaper, the weeks surrounding Memorial Day, police give out about double the tickets for not wearing a seatbelt, quite blatantly they are making a profit off something that should be our own choice. Around this time of the year, officers are literally sent out to give tickets on this minuscule offense. On one account, according to TIME, even state troopers were posted at a popular street handing out tickets like candy. Most importantly, all of these efforts are going to waste, because wearing a seatbelt does not prevent an accident from occurring. When I read these stories, personally I see something very wrong with the way things are being done, do you? Do you believe in free will?
