Im glad they were wearing seatbelts, hopefully that is the reason Officer Swanson lived. RIP Officer Throne.

BUT... if an Officer is caught not wearing his/her seatbelt then do they get a ticket (click or ticket it law)?

Also for cell phones, will they get tickets for being on their phones? I see it all the time.

If you saw the damage caused to Deputy Throne's patrol car you would know that even wearing his seatbelt would not have changed the outcome.  

Tiffani, on duty public safety officers are exempt from the new cellular phone laws. They are also exempt from the seatbelt laws, but their individual agencies may require them to wear them.

 OB- thanks i always wondered that...

I did see the picture.. there is no way a seatbelt would have mattered in that accident.... its too bad he lost his life, that makes me so sad... im just glad Officer Swanson is holding on for life and i hope for a quick recovery. this is so sad.

what other laws are "on duty public safety officers" above?

egalindo, they aren't "above" these laws. They are exempt, per statute. Do your research and you won't sound stupid. (Or maybe you will).

I just don't understand I guess, why does every "officer of the law" that I ever see in a moving squad car need to be exempt from something as dangerous as talking on the cell phone while driving? I notice more of the "boys in blue" than the punks in green doing this. I agree with the new law coming in effect next month. I think that is one of the smarter traffic laws in recent time. I know people that can't talk on the phone and walk straight let alone drive a 2 ton box of metal at high rates of speed down the public road..So maybe so I can understand better and maybe help change my perception of things....what other laws are these "law enforcers" "exempt" from?

Old Blue obviously they are above it or they WOULD HAVE BUCKELED IT!!!!!!!! DUH DUH 

It's irritating to see some people can't read!! A few of you need to read OB's post 6/3/08 at 5:14pm........

not that some can't read, Michele, but nobody's been able to expand on "exempt per statute" I CAN read, and this is what Merriam Webster says about statute:

See the bold underlined phrase "from status position," and definition : regulating its scope or authority

Pretty much says, because of their STATUS of "law enforcers", and because of their AUTHORITY as "officers of the law," they are exempt (above the laws they are supposed to enforce)

We've updated this story. Throne was not wearing a seat belt, But it wouldn't have mattered. Swanson's car pushed four feet into Throne's car. 18 inches is enough to kill someone. Four feet is more than enough.

Throne had his spotlight on checking the neighborhood for the store thief. He properly should not have been wearing his seat belt then in case he had to jump out quickly and chase a suspect. 

His mistake was not looking to his left when he got to Weedpatch Highway.

 wagner- OB didnt state they were "above" he stated that they are "exempt" and in your words "DUH DUH" learn how to read.

umm tiffani..those who live in glass houses and all that good stuff...

OB did not say they were except....he said exempt

ummmm....DUH HUH

ohh geez my bad "exempt" i had a spelling error. my bad ill fix it.

live in a glass house? HUH?

egalindo, since you looked up the word statute in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, you obviously ignored the first definition of the word given... 1. a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government. That means the LAW allows the officers not to wear their seatbelts and talk on the cellular phones.

Some people just don't get it.

 no OB they dont get it at all.

they would rather check my spelling errors then read the truth of what you have to say.

Other things cops can do and you can't:

1.  Wear a cop uniform

2.  Drive a squad car

3.  Walk around with an arsenal of dangerous weapons all day

4.  Decide who goes to jail and who doesn't

5.  Walk and chew gum at the same time

 hahahaha..... Catherine that was great.... dont forget they can speed, and we cant :0)

you are correct there tiffani... oh!! and wait...they can run red lights, as long as they turn their lights on, and turn them off once they are across the intersection...BPD again...not much from kcso...

I didn't ignore any of the definitions, Blue, but no. 3 is the one that obviously fits how I see it, and actually how you tried to explain it...because of their status, and their authority, they can do what they want

egalindo, you sound very envious. Tired of making those Happy Meals huh?

would you like some ensure, or prune juice with that cheeseburger mr blue?

I'd like to see some punk city attorney try to steal sausage mcmuffins from me..lol