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

DATE: TUESDAY, January 14, 1992                   TAG: 9201140341
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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DIFFERENT SET OF LAWS FOR POLICE

THE DEATH of Roanoke city police officer Fred Robinson on Jan. 5 was a tragedy indeed. I couldn't believe that state law leaves wearing a seat belt to the discretion of the officer.

It seems when the law first went into effect citizens were told, mostly for intimidation purposes, that they could be ticketed for not wearing their seat belt. I can't recall the number of times I've been stopped at roadblocks while officers walked around my vehicle and checked to see if I was within the law, including the wearing of my seat belt.

To know that these same people can, by state law, ride around without wearing a seat belt makes me wonder. This whole situation leads me to believe what a lot of people have feared for years. This law says there is one set of laws for the common citizen and another for police officers.

KENNY BRICKEY

ROANOKE

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