ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 18, 1992                   TAG: 9201200202
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


CHANGE LAW ABOUT POLICE, SEAT BELTS

I READ with great interest the article Jan. 6 concerning police officer Fred Robinson's terrible and sad death. The interesting part was the fact that he had no seat belt on and, according to the article Jan. 7, was not required to wear one.

This is just another instance in which the Roanoke City Police Department is above the law. Had Mr. Robinson had his seat belt on, perhaps this tragedy wouldn't have occurred. If the Virginia law states that police officers don't have to wear seat belts, then the law should be changed.

I believe that Mr. Caldwell and Maj. Viar should consider twice before charging Regina Heck [driver of the other vehicle] when it appears that Mr. Robinson was in the wrong. I for one don't feel that laws are made for some and not others. PEGGY L. SELLERS ROANOKE



by Archana Subramaniam by CNB