ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 1, 1991                   TAG: 9104010192
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SOME POLICE DON'T USE THEIR SEAT BELTS

MOST CITIZENS comply with the state seat-belt law. To my dismay, I have noticed several officers in Salem and the Roanoke County sheriff's and police departments not wearing their shoulder seat belts while on patrol.

I realize that these few represent only a small portion of these departments. This is not intended to imply that all police officers are not upholding this law. I have noticed several officers from these localities who do wear their shoulder strap seat belt and I commend them as excellent role models. The only group of law officials I have seen who always wear their seat belts are the State Police.

It seems to me that the laws passed by our legislative body are for all citizens. How can officers ticket drivers for not wearing belts, which is contradictory to our civil rights, especially if they do not wear the seat belts themselves?

JOHN R. SHANK\ SALEM 


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