14 DAY TRIAL // A resident of Saskatoon who has had both his arms amputated has been ticketed for failing to put a seatbelt on while driving.
55-year-old Steven Simonar is planning to fight the $175 (€134) in court and adds that he has followed the law, but cannot fasten the seatbelt if driving by himself.
“I’ll go to jail over this — I am not paying that ticket,” he says.
He recounted for Leader-Post how the traffic officer stopping him proved understanding of the situation, until ordered by a Police Service sergeant who was also present to issue a ticket.
“The guy looked like he was having a bad day ... trying to push his authority around.
“He became very ignorant, and said, ‘Well if he can’t put his seatbelt on maybe he shouldn’t be driving.’ That’s what really made me mad,” Simonar adds.
Since losing both his arms after being electrocuted during a boating trip 28 years ago, he has continued to drive.
He has equipped five vehicles with a device that makes it possible for him to steer using his left foot.
“It never dawned on me I’d get a ticket, because I’ve been stopped numerous times and I’ve never had an issue. [...] You just have to look once to figure it out,” he argues.
Simonar has been stopped before, but he has never been fined. However, Saskatoon Police spokesperson Alyson Edwards mentions that he has no proper documentation to allow him to drive with his handicap.
“The complainant was stopped as part of a very large traffic enforcement program last week. [...] Because Mr. Simonar didn’t have a medical exemption from [Saskatchewan Government Insurance], the supervisor directed that the ticket be issued.
“Unfortunately, even though you have a disability you have to follow the rules. [...] The police are probably within their rights to do this,” she responds.