Seat belt fines frustrate passengers

Saturday night after leaving an establishment just after 1 a.m. with a designated driver, we were pulled over at the intersection of Lawrence and Water.

After establishing the sobriety of the driver and authenticity of drivers license, registration and insurance, we were detained for no apparent reason for a time of 30 minutes.

Two passengers, including myself were demanded to produce drivers licenses as well.

After another timely wait we were produced with two failure to wear seat belt fines amounting to $167 each.

Although I admit I was in the wrong for not having a seat belt on, the amount of time that we were detained to issue two tickets was excessive.

Now I agree with keeping tabs on our loyal citizens to ensure no one is on the road inebriated and endangering the lives of themselves and others around them, however, to chastise those who have done the "right thing" and organized a safe way home only to attain a hefty fine for the failure to wear a seat belt is to say the least aggravating.

I am left to ponder how many drunk drivers drove past us while it took 40 minutes to write two simple fines.

Ivan Sexsmith