Seat Belt Laws.

I had to respond to this front page may 8th article entitled, "State Cops going after seat-belt scofflaws, Officers asked to issue three tickets an hour". I think it is completely understandable for the state of Washington to impose a seat belt law on "other occupants" of a vehicle, and that it is incumbent upon the driver of that vehicle to make sure all "Other Occupants" are buckled up and anyone under the age of 18. That being said, what of those drivers who are solo in their vehicle, excluding of course those under the age of 18? Why must the state of Washington mandate that we as individuals, who are alone in our vehicle, under our own volition elect to drive with out a Seat belt? In an accident, does this harm anyone else but ourselves? How does our not wearing a Seat belt impact anyone else? Let's take this a step further. I think we would all agree that cigarette smoking, fast food are deadly, yet it is not illegal to woof down five Big Macs or smoke three packs of cigarettes a day. We can legally damage ourselves in anyway as long as it is not at the hands of a missing Seat belt. I know the "Ney-Sayers" and health police will drag out there old tired debate, "Is driving a privilage or a right", my answer to them is this: Do we pay taxes for roads, fuel consumption tax, vehicle tax and other elusive fees that go along with driving?

John Wilson
Longview, WA.