plequerre said:Chicki said:
We got pulled over a few years back. For not wearing our seat belts. We were still basically in the sand parking lot. My husband had to empty his pockets on the hood of the car. Our fine was $120. Coincidentally the exact amount we had on us. IMO it's a scam for tourists.
A scam indeed and it's not specific to St Martin. The same thing happened to me and my SO in NYC a few years ago. Leaving our hotel near Time Square after a conference. The valet parking attendant loaded our luggage in the trunk and I just pulled away from the curb when a NYC motorcycle cop pulls us over. We were less than 50 yds from the hotel!! He asked for my papers and my SO ID. A few minutes later, he handed each of us a $93 ticket for no seat belts. He knew damn well that with PA plates, we wouldn't come back to fight the ticket in Court.
plequerre,
The question that begs to be asked, WERE YOU WEARING THE SEAT BELTS?
There's pretty strict enforcement of the seat belt laws here in CT as well as in neighboring NY, and a hefty ticket is generally levied on in-state drivers as well as out of state in either state if caught in non-compliance. Place of residence is a non-issue if you're breaking the law in either one....
And, personally speaking, while I absolutely hate the seatbelt law, it is the law both here at home in CT and in ST. Martin, and as such, I will always comply with it. Just sayin......
