Wearing a seat belt in a car is probably one of the least polarizing rules or laws.
Click it or ticket!!
But that wasn't always the case!
In the 1980s, states started creating seat belt laws.
New York was the first state to require seat belts for front seat drivers in 1984.
And New Hampshire is currently the only state with no seat belt rules at all for anyone over 18.
Apparently, it was somewhat of a big deal when states started enforcing these laws.
A clip that first aired on the Daily Show has gone viral and shows people getting very upset about new seat belt laws, one in Florida and one in Michigan.
This clip from the Daily Show of people fighting against seat belt mandates in the 80s is absolutely surreal from start to finish given today's climate on both masks and COVID vaccines.
In the Florida clip, a police officer says people don't wear seat belts because they are uncomfortable, wrinkle clothes, and aren't cool.
And, of course, there's some guy complaining about freedom:
The other clip is from a small town in Michigan where they were passing a seat belt ordinance:
View this video on YouTube
We have this guy saying how everyone is just in "shock" over it.
This guy saying he would boycott the town.
And this guy saying he wouldn't wear the belt, period.
Sound familiar?
People are comparing the clip to 2021 anti-vaxxers.
This person compared medics back then to nurses now.
@NumbersMuncher With seat belt laws, people understood that police and medics were tired of scraping people off the pavement. Wish they had the same understanding and compassion for doctors and nurses.
This person compared it to the mask mandates:
Seat belt laws were the mask mandates of the 80's it appears. https://t.co/qSsolagMFW
And this person said their father STILL ignores seat belt laws because "you can't make me do it."
Can confirm. My biological father (who I do not have a relationship with because of his inability to be flexible in any way imaginable) has always ignored seatbelt laws for the simple reason of "you can't make me do it". https://t.co/st3lCiETCF
Some things truly never change.
