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Ticket disputed

Driver told by police that seat-belt clip that is sold in stores is illegal

While recently driving home from seeing the doctor (with discouraging news), my husband was pulled over by the RCMP in Penticton, and he was given a ticket for ‘not wearing a seat-belt,’ which he was.

We have a clip on our seat-belt, which we have had for many years. The seat-belt hooks onto the clip and doesn’t choke us while driving. They were bought at a major retail outlet, but the officer said they are illegal.

My husband asked why the store is selling them. All the officer said was, before you put anything on or in your vehicle, you talk to us. This officer thought he was god on earth.

Then the officer looked at me and said: You have one too, take that clip off and you’re getting a ticket too.

Each ticket was $ 167, and if we paid within 30 days, we paid $ 25 less for each ticket. We paid the tickets immediately, as no way were they getting an extra $50 from us.

Here we are, two old folks on a limited income, and this officer was extremely arrogant. No wonder the RCMP are not very well liked, if they all have the attitude this officer had.

If we had money, I would have disputed these tickets.

The officer had a book already stamped, that said fail to wear seat-belts. Perhaps I should not have accepted these tickets, as we definitely did have our seat-belts on.

Also, why are these seat-belt clips being sold, if they are illegal?

A warning to all those who have these clips on their seat-belts. Apparently they are illegal.

Annette Clarke

Penticton