Armless driver in Saskatchewan who can’t put on seatbelt has ticket dropped

An armless Saskatchewan driver who was issued a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt has won a court challenge against that ticket after the province granted him an exemption to the safety rule.

But that doesn't seem to be enough for Steve Simonar, who says he will file a complaint against a Saskatoon police officer who issued him the infraction for not wearing a seatbelt, even though he totally wasn't wearing his seatbelt. Simonar alleges he heard the officer say he shouldn't be driving if he couldn’t wear a seatbelt.

The Canadian Press reports that Saskatoon prosecutors withdrew a $175 ticket issued to Simonar in May because of the 55-year-old businessman's new legal exemption.

Simonar lost both arms in a boating accident almost 30 years ago and drives his truck by using special equipment that allows him to steer with his feet. But putting on a seatbelt is still beyond his abilities and, while he used to carry a doctor's note, he mostly relies on the kindness of police officers to give him a pass.

[ Daily Buzz: Armless driver in Saskatoon says he’ll fight seatbelt ticket ]

As an aside, devices like the one Simonar uses to drive are rather impressive and ingeniously constructed. Building one seems far more complicated than building a seatbelt that would automatically engage when a person gets in a car. But there are limitations to everything.

To hold a driver's licence in Saskatchewan, or anywhere else, you must prove you can operate a vehicle based on your physical circumstances (eye sight, etc.), mental fitness and training. Simonar passed that test, so no issue there. But that has nothing to do with wearing a seatbelt.

The Saskatchewan Driver's Handbook reads:

It isn't a recommendation, it isn't a suggestion. It's a must. If a police officer comes across someone who is not wearing a seatbelt, especially in the midst of a traffic blitz, they pretty much have to issue a ticket.

As for the allegation that the officer said he shouldn't drive if he can't wear a seatbelt, it sounds like a fairly common piece of roadside advice. Advice that could be relevant to just about anyone.

Has an officer ever told you, "If you can't keep this car under the speed limit, you shouldn't be driving"? Yeah... me neither.

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Don't get me wrong, if Simonar has been identified, evaluated and has received an exemption to the seatbelt rule, then so be it. But at the time he was ticketed he was not, he had no documentation to prove he was legally allowed to drive without a seatbelt.

Simonar reportedly once fought a parking ticket on the grounds that, due to his lack of arms, he could not put money in a parking meter. That battle he lost, but this time he won.

The ticket has now been ripped up; Simonar has his seatbelt exemption and will continue driving. And the next time he is stopped at a road check he can say, "I have a permit to drive without a seatbelt."

Tell me again where the need to file a public grievance is. Because all I see is an officer who did his duty, a court system that did its and an awkward situation that found a quick, reasonable resolution.

Shouldn't that be enough?

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