I was deeply disappointed to find that my Farmington representative and friend, Janet Mills, voted for the new seat belt law (LD 24). I was pleased to see that both Sen. Walter Gooley and Rep. Tom Saviello voted against this invasion of personal-space legislation.

The Democrats have conjured up another sneaky way to take more dollars from the poor and law-abiding citizens, through harassing people while they travel to work to make money so that they can pay the already high taxes in this state.

This is an obvious money grab by the state rather than a safety issue, and we all know that this will not reduce insurance bills. These mandatory bills never have.

The current seat belt law was already working in this state with a 77 percent compliance rate. Now watch as local police departments harass citizens even more on the pretense of a primary seat belt infraction, rather than stopping drivers for a few miles over the speed limit.

This measure needs to be repealed, or perhaps a citizens’ referendum could get the question of repeal on the 2008 ballot. That would include the gathering of the required 50,000 signatures to propose the measure, and have those signature verified by the Secretary of State by March 2008.

It’s time for people to start taking on their civic responsibility and turn the tide on these invasions of constitutional rights to privacy – the right of the people to be secure in their persons.

William C. Crandall, Farmington