Stupid Laws

[theweatherman]

Many of these "paternal laws" are in place because they help the society, at least in theory. Keeping citizens from dieing in droves trough seatbelt laws keep insurence rates lower, and keeps the productive elements of society in motion.

This is not a big problem in America but in africa, where there are very easy ways to die young (AIDS), the workforce is abrubtly truncated around age 40. This is a teriible situation forthese small nations. While this is very extreme it is not altogether implausibile.

Of course the real reason is to increase revenues through many more tickets given, as well as give the cops a reason to pull you over etc.