Dave C.
This must be some meaning of 'always' that I'm not familiar with...
Pay up or take the bus 2737Yes. Those who doubt this should read "Nickel and Dimed' by Barbara Enrereich. (I probably spelled her last name wrong.) She's a journalist who decided to see first hand what it was like to work...
Hey, I always don't drink and drive. But the other day I did drink and drive. No worries. Hey, also I always stay in my lane. But the other day I drove out of my lane by accident and hit a pedestrian. poo happens. Wonder if I'll get fined for that? Hope not, I always stay in my lane, I just forgot that day.
It should encourage the guy to wear his seatbelt more often. So many lives could be saved if people wore their seatbelt all the time. What if he had been involved in a collision on the way to the dump?
If he chooses to ignore that warning, that's hardly the police's fault.
He got fined for dangerous behaviour (not wearing a seatbelt). That he forgot to behave safely, is no excuse. The fine should spur him on to be less forgetful in future. He should think consciously about putting on his seatbelt when he sits down in the car. NB. Being less forgetful is a choice you can make; for example you could put a note on your dashboard saying 'always put seatbelt on', if you cannot remember it any other way.
By this logic, nobody should ever get fined for anything they do by accident. It sounds more like you disagree with the fact that there is a law mandating seatbelt wearing -- perhaps you would be happier if it were only a recommendation.
There goes that funny meaning for 'ALWAYS' again...
How about the people who never speed but have been ticketed for it (eg. Aunt Judy).
