The Massachusetts highway propaganda machine

Massachusetts has decided that its electronic highway signs are a great way to deliver a steady stream of authoritarian threats to the population. Yesterday morning, the signs were threatening "Click it or ticket." This is a flatly illegal threat in Massachusetts; drivers cannot be ticketed for failing to use a seat belt, except in conjunction with some other violation for which they're first stopped. I've been unable to determine how many illegal tickets Massachusetts cops issue, how often they invent other offenses in order to issue seat belt citations, or how often judges break the law and fine people who have been illegally cited. Given the existence of the signs, I assume it happens.

In the evening the state's sign-makers suddenly expressed concern with legality, threatening everyone on Route 3 with jail if they have fireworks. Obedience to the law is obviously just for the masses, not for the government.

It doesn't much matter what they threaten people with. The goal is to make people feel controlled.