PEOPLE

With a "primary" seat-belt law already in 10 states, the Southeast Missourian asked people if Missouri should follow suit. Missouri's "secondary" seat-belt law allows police to cite drivers for non-compliance only if stopped for another violation.

Harriet Drusch: "I feel that it's a good thing, but I think that there are other priorities out there that our law enforcement officers should be doing than worrying about seat belts. Their time should be much better used than stopping someone for not wearing a seat belt."

Charlie Roberts: "I think seat belts are a good idea. They help prevent a lot of injuries in accidents. I buckle up on long trips, but not always on short trips. It's a habit you have to create. Personally, I would probably use a seat belt more often if it was a primary law in Missouri."

Cheryl Huffman: "It would be a good idea here. More people would use them to avoid a ticket. I used to live in Iowa where the police could pull you over for not wearing your seat belt. I found that I wore it more often. Then I moved here and I didn't wear it as often."

LaDona Henderson: "It's a good idea. Everyone should wear their seat belt. A lot of people would start wearing it if they got a ticket for not wearing it. Even though police have more serious crimes to handle, police should be able to ticket people for that alone."

Ron Unterreiner: "I feel Missouri should be a primary seat-belt-law state because it will reduce injuries and thereby lower insurance costs. A lot of people think airbags are going to save them, but they still need a seat belt. I think it's a matter of constant education."

Richard Park: "I disagree with the seat-belt law because they made it a law. The more laws they create in our country, the more freedoms they take away from us and the more rights they take away from the people. Let it be each person's choice to wear a seat belt or not."