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Sumber : Lobakmerah
Personal Injury Lawyer Nh
Howard Hedegard, with the Injury Prevention Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, shows a video from the inside of a vehicle involved in a crash to illustrate what happens to an unrestrained driver. (Dave Solomon / Union Leader)
CONCORD — Every state but New Hampshire has had a mandatory seatbelt law on the books since 1996, and as far as Republican state Rep. Dan Hynes of Merrimack is concerned, it should stay that way.
“I don’t wear my seatbelt,” Hynes told the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday as it considered House Bill 1259, the first effort since 2009 to introduce a seatbelt law in the Granite State.
“I think it’s a personal choice,” said Hynes. “I have the right in New Hampshire not to do it. We’re the only state in the country that doesn’t require it. That’s even more of a reason for us to continue not requiring it. We shouldn’t be following what the other states do.”
The state’s motto came up several times in the hearing. “Live Free or Die’ is most applicable to this bill,” Hynes said. “It’s right on our license plate … If this bill is passed, it’ll just give police another reason to stop people.”
Hynes was one of 12 speakers lined up to testify against the measure, including House Majority Leader Dick Hinch, R-Merrimack, most citing personal liberty.
Appearing in support of the bill were representatives of Safe Kids New Hampshire, the state Nurses Association and Hospital Association, the Department of Health and Human Services, Concord Hospital, the National Safety Council, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Proponents of the bill argued that it saves lives, and challenged the view that the decision to remain unbuckled only affects the person making that decision.
“I realize this bill does not have bipartisan support, but even as a Republican I fully believe this needs to transcend party lines,” said Adam Rembisz, trauma program manager at Elliot Hospital, who presented data on fatality rates and Medicaid billing from crashes in the Manchester area.
“The opposition to this bill has talked about the right to not have government impose laws on them,” Rembisz said. “I could get behind that if only one person is affected. However, many of us are affected.”
Hospital charges for individuals involved in motor vehicle crashes with seatbelts engaged added up to $605,000 in 2014, compared to $1.79 million for people who were unrestrained, according to Rembisz. That’s reflected in automobile and health insurance rates in the state.
