OLATHE, Kan. — Jayne Hills was pulled over and ticketed by Olathe police Wednesday for not wearing a seat belt, but she says she was buckled up.
That’s when she learned that in Olathe, it doesn’t only matter whether you’re wearing your seat belt, but also how you’re wearing it.
Because she’s nine months pregnant, Hills says she needs to adjust the bands to fit properly. She had the shoulder strap positioned under her arm to accommodate her belly.
Hills says the Olathe officer who cited her said it was improper seat belt use and that was enough to ticket her. However, she says even so, she doesn’t get why if she had a seat belt on her ticket says she didn’t.
“It should be a writable citation that you’re wearing your seat belt improperly, not that you’re not wearing one,” said Hills.
Olathe police say it’s all the same.
“There us no separate traffic code for a seat belt worn improperly or not wearing a seat belt at all,” police said in a statement. It goes on to say a seat belt should never be placed behind your back or under your arm.
Hills says there is one way she could have gotten off without a fine.
“The officer did ask me if I have doctor’s orders and if was carrying around doctor’s orders. All the women out there who want to wear their seat belts underneath their stomach to protect their child should probably be carrying doctors orders if they’re driving in the city of Olathe,” she said.
It’s a lesson Hills is only learning after being pregnant for the third time and now she wants to warn other drivers.
“I’ll be having a baby in two or three weeks so hopefully it won’t be an issue again,” she joked.
Hills said she could fight the ticket, but because it’s only a $10 fine, it’s not worth the effort of going to court.
