On May 22, 2015, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed SB160 into law, heralding in the most dramatic reforms this state has seen in decades. Well, not decades, perhaps. Days would be a better description; heralding in the most dramatic reforms this state has seen in days.
The signing of SB160 means that a rural letter carrier of the United States Postal Service is not required to wear a safety belt while performing his or her duties on a designated postal route.This is a game changer. Things will really start happening now. Like postal workers falling out of their open vehicles, or smacking their face on the windshield during abrupt stops.
Clearly the US Postal Service, widely known for its efficient and low cost workers’ compensation system, didn’t think it was spending enough for on the job injuries. It needed more casualties.With this new law, Postal workers join the elite ranks of newspaper home delivery people as well as solid waste and recyclable collection personnel. They are the only others exempt from Florida’s draconian seatbelt laws.
