I'm with mssassywi on this one. Why do we need to buckle up. It was not law 25 years ago when I got my drivers license, so why now? Just like cycle helmets. I do wear a helmet 90% of the time, but 10% of the time wear my seat belt. The govt. is taking over our freedom and is just another way for the states/law enforcement to make money at the expense of our rights as US citizens.

For all you people who think this law is ok & that those who don't wear their seat belts will get what they deserve....

Let me tell you I wear my religiously & still got a ticket for not wearing one when I was wearing it.

I see alot of comments about how this is a law to protect us and make us safer blah blah blah, then why are we still a state that doesnt require motorcyclists to wear a helmet or any other protective gear that would make them safer, i guess we just dont care about them, only people who drive cars. Im glad im not a motorcyclist.

lol. yeah. reminds me of the show true blood. interesting take on religion on that show. geez

If only those maniacs on the religious blogs could get along as well as we can!

;~)

:D Sometimes I can be a little too critical of others. It's one of my many shortcomings. No offense intended.

awww. I know gfan and hannah would not be able to take it if I were unable to post my comments here, especially if due to an unfortunate incident involving a seat belt. can you feel the love? :D

mssassy, please buckle up!!!

I appreciate your concern, hannah! However, I don't see that happening anytime soon. Perhaps I am a stubborn fool. Perhaps I am over confident in my driving skills. For now, I don't buckle up unless on road trips.

If we want to talk MV safety, I think that cellphones while driving are just as dangerous as NOT wearing a seatbelt and should also be BANNED!!

They have rick. Among other insurance mandates the new budget bill includes a mandatory insurance provision. I'm not certain but I think it becomes effective June 2010.

We complain because the state is in the "red", then we complain because they're fining us $10 for trying to help us stay alive. What's up with that? My seatbelt goes on so automatically half the time I don't even realize I buckled the darn thing. I'd rather have an occasional impediment with it than fly through a windshield at 70 miles an hour. They should be working on making everyone have auto insurance.

I think that justmy414 has it about right.
The more the government can control us, the closer they are to their goal. We are not the free country that we once were. The ONLY reason that Wisconsin has this new seatbelt law is because of the money that was given by the feds. Next the fines will go sky high for not wearing and they now have practically free rain over who they want to stop - They now have their legal right to so.

im trying to figure out why motorcycle riders don't have to wear helments? I mean we are atleast in a car and have some protection. Im a motorcycle rider myself and think everyone should wear one. People are passing away from falling on ski hills and bumping their heads...

This is suppose to be america land of the free
what do we vote for surely not freedom.what is good for one should be good for others not just a chosen few.Helmets need to be legalized
but cyclists say it puts a damper on their ability to drive safely.The mandatory insurance
is next. What new tax is the goverment going to impose next on us to give free insurance to give it to people who cant afford it so they have a right to drive to be able to get around.
Our rates will definately go up after the insurance companies have to start paying more for uninsured motorists that most of us carry on our insurance now.Or maybe the insurance companies will cancel our insurance just for being there even if the accident was not uor faults.

I'm a better city driver when not wearing a seat belt. I'm a better highway driver when I AM wearing a seat belt! Why, you ask? The damn thing keeps me awake on the highway and frustrates the hell out of me in the city. I don't wear it. I'll pay the $10 fine, begrudingly, of course, if I am stopped and ticketed. It seems like a waste of paper for the ticket to me, though.

Everyone has his/her reasons for wearing or not wearing a seat belt. I don't think anyone here is going to change his/her opinion because of a post on gazettextra.

You can pass all the laws you want. People just simply won't follow the law, or do the real American thing, and simply find ways around the law, or ways to prevent you from being caught! American ingenuity at it's finest! If you don't want to wear the seat belt, talk on your cell phone while driving, ext...NO law will ever stop you from doing so.

My list was excuses given possibly by others. I wear my seat belt. It isn't a problem to me nor do I feel it is a government infringement upon my personal freedom.
It is a shame so many lives are lost, especially among the youth who believe it isn't cool to wear a seatbelt. Many factors contribute to death in an accident but if a seatbelt has even the remotest chance of saving a life, then it should be WORN at all costs. And yes, motorcyclists need to wear helmets.

Dear Ingnorant Wisconsinites:

Next winter when the roads get icy and you are undoubtedly trying to keep your American truck on the road after a few too many Miller Lites, please remember to put on your seatbelt. Not only is it the law, but when you swerve into my lane and we crash, I don't want to see your body ejected from said truck and ultimately die. It's not fair for citizens like myself to have to witness the carnage and possibly feel somewhat responsible for your death because your cousin's, girlfriend's uncle once survived a car accident only because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt and you took that to mean that no one should ever buckle up.

Thanks in advance!

I love reading the posts of so many people. More critizing each other than necessary. Here in Michigan, being pulled over for "not" wearing a seatbelt will cost you $65.00. I think one of the posts stated that it's a $10.00 fine in Wisconsin.
Like Rooster states, buckle up, be safe, don't, then pay the price. It's that simple !!!

I remember a few years back when I was taking a road trip with a business colleague down to Kansas, and being pulled over in the middle of Iowa. The officer informed the driver that he was pulling him over for not wearing a seat belt (I was wearing mine). My colleague had a GREAT one liner when told of his seat belt infraction, that made me bust out laughing:
"Yeah; I have been trying to quit".
He got fined like $20, and as he pulled back onto the interstate, he took the thing back off again.
I personally always wear one when on the highways, but I don't think it's the governments, or anyone else's, business to say whether another adult should have to wear one.

yes, we have seat belt laws they are now "enforcing", yet no mandatory helmet laws for motorcycle riders. Seems pretty stupid to me.

Spark, you say you have a lot of friends who are cops. Fine, you should recognize that your opinion of police is affected by your friendship. I can guarantee I have read more police reports from more police than you could ever hope to know. Pulling over a car for a minor violation is often just a reason to get the car off the road, question the driver, ask to search the car, search the people in the car and thier possessions. The people pulled over, questioned and searched are proportionally more frequently minorities than white. When a minority is pulled over, quesitioned, searched, and detained while the officer searches the car it is embarassing and humiliating even for individuals who are completely innocent. So your opinion may be that police are "doing this for our safety". It is not a fact. The opinion that police will use this to "harass minorities" is just as valid.

I have been in two bad car accidents. Neither time was I wearing a seat belt. I have injuries from both. The one time a seat belt could have prevented me from having my injury. The police thought I was wearing it and I did not get a seat belt ticket. The other time even if I was wearing a seat belt. I would still have the injury today. It would not have helped me. And at the end of the accident I would have been stuck in the car.

earnhardtfaninwi-Thats the most idiotic thing Ive seen on here.

spark, i don't have kids, so that's not an issue. And when i drive my school bus i do wear them for just that reason. And yes, the insurance law starts next year. How about getting WI. to make it a felony for drunk driving BEFORE the 5th offense.

I thought the insurance thing doesn't start until next year.

The question should be why we're so obsessed with controlling people. It could also be is the legislature correct to be making bills like this.

I don't usually feel this way, but I'm glad that the government is stepping in to try and protect ignorant people from their own stupidity and laziness.

Seriously? Man, I hope that is true!!!!!!

Spark,
It's my understanding that the recent change that allows officers to pull over for failure to use seatbelts, also requires insurance.

When it's your time it's your time. I don't care if your wearing a seat belt or not. If God wants you He's going to take you no matter what you're wearing.

I can never understand the outrage against seat belts when all the data compiled by state and federal governments show cell phone use while driving is the largest highway danger (more than DUI and seatbelts).

I guess because many people have cell phones and the politicans are afraid to pass/enforce laws but worry about election.

sassy - I agree with you about the insurance. It's absurd that you don't legally have to have insurance to drive a car. That's really upsetting. I think the laws on drunk driving are getting more strict, except for the multiple offense situations.

I'm also a little confused. In Wisconsin, law enforcement pulling a vehicle over for not wearing a seatbelt is acceptable. But once said vehicle has been pulled over NOT HAVING INSURANCE is no problem!

My thoughts are: we (Criminal Justice system of Wisconsin) ignore the crime of drunk driving, don't mandate auto insurance yet allow LE to pull over for not wearing a seatbelt.

Either we care about motor safety or we don't. Seems like the state only cares about money. Imagine that. Let the drunk, uninsured criminals have the roads, while careful and alert drivers get stupid $10 seatbelt tickets. It's the principle of the matter that makes me angry. I agree statistics show that seatbelts save lives. I also agree that in a perfect world everyone would wear one. However, in a perfect world there wouldn't be accidents and seat belts COULD be hanging as interior decoration!

I see i've upset so many over such a common sense situation. Too funny.
Don't take it so personally. You can make your own decisions. You're all adults. Just watch out for the big, bad law!

If "spark" thinks he's "schooling" people.. we are in trouble.

So it's because it was a law that they buckle up? Not because of their safety? That's a little confusing to me.
-
justsaynotomath - Please do everyone a favor and go get an education. It's getting old schooling you on these posts.

spark i guess when it comes to my children it is do as i say not do as i do, when my children were born it was the law that they be buckled and that is how they have been taught, yes i hear from them all the time that i should buckle up (normally i do on highways and interstates)for them it is automatic.

Well I apologize if I offended some. I just wish more people would use common sense. We'd live in a safer place.

Spark: I do agree with you that seat belts saves lives and I do wear one always, I don't agree that you have to use a bat to beat people over the heads to get your point accross.

Ya, you can all teach your children not to wear their seatbelts and set a good example for them. Tell them they shouldn't wear it because the big bad police harass people.

elmooso is exactly right, whether it saves live or not is not the issue here, we all know it does. So does quitting smoking. It's about Govt.intrusion into our lives.

I received this email, which while a bit off-topic, rings alarmingly true:

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.

The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I can not accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Congressman was very happy and left the shop.

The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were two dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who are running it.

11. It DISTRACTS me from alert driving

1. Don't have time.
2. Doesn't fit properly.
3. Will wrinkle my outfit.
4. Only going a couple of blocks.
5. Nothing will happen to me.
6. It will trap me in if I am in an accident.
7. It's not manly or womanly to wear.
8. My friends don't wear theirs why should I?
9. It's my right to do what I want.
10. It's my funeral.

Wearing a seatbelt is automatic for me (always has been). No big deal, but my grandkids have a total MELTDOWN IF THEIR MOM IS NOT BUCKLED!!!

Heh-hehehhhh, I'm getting through to my daughter, through her children. Sneaky eh?

Yes everyone knows seatbelts saves lives..that's not the point..it's about freedom to choose, basic rights,etc. as long as riding motorcycles w/o helmits is legal and as long as cigarettes are legal and many other things..all this is ..a gov. intrusion..another tool for the law to pull over people to harrass..

What is SO hard about putting this seat belt on? Ok, so you're a fatty, buy one of those furry things to put on the seat belt so you don't asphyxiate yourself. So, you're old, just try to wear it for one month, by then, it's a habit. This molehill sure has turned into a giant mountain! Do I think cops should pull you over for NOT wearing one? No. They should be pulling over everyone from Illinois that nearly kills us Wisconsin-ites. and the jerks who stop at red lights...then go while still red. And people who litter, and morons who don't know what a blinker is or spacing between cars. I could go on. but I won't. PS. thankfully I'm white! Ha.

Now they should fine people for untied shoes. They might trip on them or break their neck and die. Maybe helmets when walking so one does not die from tripping. The seatbelt law should be a choice when over 18.

Everyone should have an emergency seat-belt cutter on their keychain. I have known two different people who were trapped in their cars upside down (the accidents weren't even their faults).
Why? The weight is on the seat belt and you can't unhook it.

Accidents happen, sometimes a seatblet will save you and other times it will cause more harm. It should be a choice or we should all have to wear helmets too.

I wear mine, so does everyone in my family my brother was hit head on by a semi at 55 mph he was in a Toyota he walked away with only scratches he wore his seat belt. I think I might buy a foreign car, as my Saturn probably would not have taken that impact very well. Just joking wanted to get another argument going sorry.

43,313 people died in vehicles in 2008. Around 5,000 motorcyclists died in 2008. I'm sure that has something to do with why more emphasis is put on seatbelts than helmets. I can honestly also say I don't know one person that I'm connected with that doesn't wear their seatbelt. This poll is joke.

Thank you Ms Sassy!! Finally some sanity in this conversation. Most people feel this way according to the polling results, most of us are not posting in here though.

hmmm I can be pulled over for not wearing my seat belt as I drive INSIDE a car; yet share the roads with motorcyclists who are not violating a law by not wearing a helmet. Lawmakers are, indeed, retarded. Their brain growth stopped and they are obviously confused by too many laws. Why can't they just let us do what we think is right, considering the laws are so convoluted and don't make ANY sense!

Ok. For those of you that are taking this so damn personally and obviously like reading into things. You obviously don't get it and can't grasp the obvious.
-
Your opinion is fine. As is mine. When you state such things as the police are doing this to discriminate, etc. however, that is not an opinion. That is a lie. Do you understand the difference? I'm going to respond how I feel if you are going to make such posts. Case closed. Buckle up or pay the price. Have a nice day.

"How sad is that that people aren't intelligent enough to watch out for themselves."
Spark: Again your generalizing about "people" is disturbing in that you put us all in one catagory...I am saying that your opinion isn't the only one on this post that is important. Please remember that.

ustsaynotomath - Try reading then posting. I addressed the others that commented on my posts, not just yours.
-
Seriously, if people think the cops are out to get them because they want them to be safe and wear your seatbelts, they can believe that all they want. If people don't think that it effects cops when they come upon a scene of an accident only to find someone dead, laying on the ground when they could have been buckled in, they are very mistaken. I have many friends that are cops and they deal with it everyday. They are not out to get you. GET OVER IT.

justsaynotomath - That's original that you can copy and paste what two other posters wrote word for word.
-
FYI, it's too bad the Government has to step in to protect certain people from themselves. How sad is that that people aren't intelligent enough to watch out for themselves. Sad.

justsaynotomath - Sorry you took some of my posts so personally. I just realized you were the one that made the comment about minorities and people who die wearing seatbelts. Please don't ever join a debate team because those are the two lamest arguments I've ever heard in my life. I also hope you don't gamble a lot, because if you're betting on the odds that you will die wearing your seatbelt as apposed to not wearing it, you are going to be in debt forever.

justsaynotomath - Key word. Violations. What violations are your referring too? Maybe not having a valid drivers license? Maybe driving while intoxicated? Maybe having something in vehicle you shouldn't have? Maybe things that are already against the law? I find it comical how so many people are concerned about getting caught for things they already shouldn't be doing. Pretty simple. Wear the belt, be smart when you drive. Problem solved. Really not much to debate here. If this is your idea of a debate, you my friend, need to worry about bigger things.
-
Oh and by the way...I read posts on this site just to get a kick out of how many people in this community live under boulders, not rocks. But I still love it here. Great place to live. Have a great day.

that's my point Eatlessmovemore, the police should not be wasting time protecting us from ourselves. It should not be a law! It should be our choice.

How many of you anti-seatbelt posters are "first-responders" or have witnessed the results of not wearing a restraint?

It's too bad that police have to waste valuable time protecting us from ourselves.

How about pulling over all the idiots that talk on their cell phone and tailgate. Morons!

I wear my seat belt anyway so I guess this change won't affect me.

If they are going to pull over for not wearing a seat belt how about pulling over all of those idiots doing illegal u
turns at intersections where there is a no u
turn sign

I already wear my seatbelt when I drive and also require my passengers to do the same, but I don't think the police should be giving out tickets to those who chose not to wear them. As others have stated, they're only hurting themselves (Bluemoon's incident I assume is a rare one.)and the police should be putting more effort into more important things. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most important, I definitely would put this issue at a level 1. Running red lights, driving recklessly, and arriving at the scene of an attempted break-in are way more important issues.

Hannah, I've read every post of this thread. If the belt in my car did not cut into my neck and cause severe discomfort, I too would wear mine. But the belts in my Grand Am GT are worthless. I am a larger person and can't breathe with the belt on either, so unless I can talk my wife into buying a new car I guess I am stuck being a scofflaw. I still feel it should be a personal choice, more people die from second hand smoke than from a flying human projectile and I don't see the Fed. gov. outlawing smoking.

glock - thanks for your opinion, but in fact, I don't think that anyone that has an opinion that differs from me is an idiot. Read what I said on my last post and it explains who and why I think certain people sound like idiots. I'm not ignorant to think only my opinion is right, but in cases like this, where people make such insane accusations, I'm going to say like I see it. If you don't want to look like an idiot, don't sound like an idiot. Seatbelts save lives. Period.

the only problem is that old habits are hard to break from the time i got my license 33 years ago i have never been required to wear one so yes it is an adjustment that i will have to work on

What is the big problem with putting on a seat belt? Most of you act as if it were a crime to save your life and the lives of others. It is a seatbelt not a straight jacket. If the government hid from you the fact that it would save lives, you'd be up in arms that the government was preventing people from saving their lives. Just obey the damn law, after all, it is one of the few that actually is a benefit.

nwd thanks for the suggestion i'll have to do that. it's a 4way stop on both ends of the block but people seem to think that if they don't see someone coming it's ok to roll on through. Also i had a situation at milton and center (i was going south,west whatever) anyway for reasons i don't know i decided to hesitate before i went on my green light. It was a smart move as someone going north on milton totally blew the red light, had I gone when the light turned green I would have been a goner and I don't think a seatbelt would have made much difference in that case.

im sure there arent any coppers out there who will watch the middle age white guy roll by w no belt an then pull the black/hispanic guy over just for the same thing. is it safer to wear a belt?? numbers say yes but if i was a 'minority' i would fear this as one more reason to get pulled over and NOT for my general safety. the law is currently forcing me to wear one for my safety...but to be able to get pulled over for JUST this infraction is not for my safety but...just one more thing for uncle sam to skirt our personal freedoms with. keep yo eyes closed an the next thing you know we will all be giving up our trucks and driving sub compact cars to meet the new CAFE standards just cuz uncle sam says so;)

spark believes that anyone who has an opinion that differs from his own is an idiot. I respect your opinion and your right to voice it. I am against more Government rules to protect us from ourselves. At some point they are going to stop intruding into our lives and let us make Decisions for ourselves, good or bad.

lynda - I take plenty of time to read them. When I read posts that state the police are doing this to harass people and discriminate against race, my response is going to be calling someone and idiot because that's exactly what they sound like. Nobody could possibly learn anything from a post so far from the truth such as those are. The seatbelt law is put in place to save lives and protect us. If someone has a problem wearing a seatbelt and obeying the law, than they can deal with the consequences if they get caught not wearing it. Similar to the consequences they might come across when they get into an accident. Those of us that know people that have died in accidents because they didn't take such a simple safety measure can speak or minds as much as we want. As can you. My days of tolerating such idiotic posts that I read on a weekly basis on here about how the police are out to get people or certain people feel the are "above the law" are over. The idiot response is perfect for such posts.

I don't usually wear my seatbelt in town, but I religiously wear it on the interstate. I am not sure why I do that... but I do.
.
I think people need to remember that driving is not a right, it's a priveledge. Every motorist on the road is just an accident waiting to happen (or at least that's how you should see it). Wearing your seatbelt SHOULD be your decision and realistically, if you think of the number of people that were saved by one, to the number of people that were not, it's pretty hard to argue NOT wearing one. It's something that takes two seconds to put on your body, but could add millions of seconds to your life if you were to be in an accident. But even if you choose not to wear one, at least it's only a $10 ticket, right???

Spark: I fail to understand your calling people who post their opinions " idiots". Yours words aren't the only ones on here and if you would take the time to really read them you might find out that people have views and ideas important to them. We can agree to disagree without resorting to name calling.

You'll never know the importance of a seatbelt until it's too late and your dead or wish you were dead because of the injuries. Then it really doesn't matter anymore to you. But it matters to the ones you leave behind who have to provide care or will have to mourn your lost. Where is their choice in the scheme of things. Your may be willing to sacrifice your life and limb but why must others have to suffer for your choice? But they don't count, do they. because it interfers with your freedom of choice to live or die. It is just a simple thing to click yourself in and only takes a second a second that could mean your life. Don't become a memory in the hearts of your loved ones or your friends.

If you should have to wear a seatbelt, you should also have to wear a helmet on a motorcycle! protective leather would be nice too! (and much safer!)

why is it that it is against the law to drive without a seatbelt? The only one I am endangering is myself, that should be my choice, we allow people to smoke and that is far more dangerous to the smoker and those around him/her. This is just a money maker, you don't believe me? consider this, why don't they make motorcyclists wear helmets? They are in far more danger in an accident, and if they are in an accident they are far more likely to become airborne and hit and injure someone else, but they have not developed a seat belt for them? why not? We can put rovers on mars but we are not smart enough to develop a seat belt system for bikes, give me a break. When they make it a law for all motorists then I will obey it.

Wear your seatbelt or suffer the consequences.

Why don't all you idiots just obey the law and wear it and you won't have to worry about it. That would be better than listening to your little crying and theories that they're doing it to harass you and because you are a minority. Give me a break. If you decide not to wear it, that's fine too. You'll just be another statistic and story about someone that was ejected from the vehicle or we can listen to another story like " I knew someone that actually died wearing it so I'm not going to wear mine." The intelligence level never seems to amaze me on these posts. Common sense simply doesn't exist.

To burbanmom, please call the police and ask them to stake out your corner. Also, it may be each person's choice to wear the seatbelt, but it is often all of us who pay taxes to take care of severe injuries that happen when seatbelts are not worn.

You're absolutely right. Seat belts will not save 100% of lives. Nothing will. There are no guarantees. However, seatbelts save many more lives when worn rather than just leaving them hang there for decoration. I'm not an advocate of the government stepping in and putting more mandates on anything and everything we do. However, the State of Wisconsin will receive a minimum of 15.2 million dollars for making this mandatory. This will offset other expenses in these tough economic times. There won't be an increase in the number of tickets written or traffic stops made. And I can gurantee that this is not a moneymaker for the state. It takes an officer an average of fiteen minutes on a traffic stop to write a ticket. You take his/her salary, along with the processing and court fees and this is a loss to whichever jurisdiction is writing the tickets. Sorry. No money made her other than the 15.2 MILLION dollars that the Fed will give the State!

First of all I will try and remember to put my seatbelt on now that it is the law, but I fail to see how that will make the roads safer? Make me safer yes (but that should be my choice)making the road safer I don't get it. If they want to make the roads safer the police should come sit at my house and watch all the people blow the stop signs at the intersections on each end of my block. I guarentee they would be bringing in the money.

here is an idea, in fact two. don't speed, and wear your seat belt. break the law, pay the price.

My cousins daughter was killed when a passenger didn't put on a seatbelt. Everyone else was wearing one, and the child was in a carseat. When the car was hit, the passenger flew into the backseat landing on the child, killing her. Of course everyone else was fine, including the passenger. So sad.

Of course I think people should wear seatbelts (I wear mine and require my passengers to while in my car), but I don't think cops should be wasting their time or anyone else's to actually pull someone over and ticket them for not wearing it. Stupid...if they have that much time on their hands, we need to cut back on the number of cops and the time they spend out on the road. Funny thing is the last two times I called for help from the police I was told that no cop was available to assist me in my area and had to wait nearly an hour for help as I watched two separate attempted breaking and entering events. Gee, I guess now I'll have to wait longer while they write out tickets for idiots who don't care about their own safety.

You're just stupid not to wear your seat belt in the first place.

I'm sure I will probably use my seat belt more often now. However, it would be nice if police would actually start pulling over and ticketing drivers that blatently blow through red lights in this city. It seems to me they are a greater threat on the roads than the lack of a seatbelt. People that don't wear seatbelts are only hurting themselves. Drivers causing accidents because they can't bother to stop for a light are risking OTHER people's lives. I have seen police witness major driving infractions and do nothing about it. Maybe federal and state money should be set aside for that as well if that's the only way police will do anything about the horrible drivers in this city. Hopefully I will be wearing a seatbelt when I finally do get hit by one of these idiots so my injuries may not be so bad.

Pulling over for seatbelt violations will just become the pretend reason officers use to stop people they want to hassle.