Q: Did his time in prison cause Nelson Mandela’s health to deteriorate? How long did he spend in prison?
—Eddie Webster, Douglasville
A: Mandela, the former president of South Africa who led the country's anti-apartheid movement, has a lung infection and has been in serious, but stable condition at a Pretoria hospital. He is 94. Mandela had tuberculosis during his 27 years of imprisonment under South Africa's white racist government and is susceptible to respiratory problems, The Associated Press reported. Tuberculosis killed his father. Mandela has had several medical procedures in the past 20 years, including cataract surgery in 1994, prostate treatment in 2001 and abdominal surgery in 2012. He also was treated for the recurring lung infection in March.
Q: What is the fine for not using a seat belt while driving in Georgia, and how does it compare to other states.
—Ken Hutchings, Woodstock
A: Laws and fines vary throughout the United States. Georgia has a primary seat belt law that allows "law enforcement officers to ticket a driver or passenger for not wearing a seat belt, without any other traffic offense taking place," according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. The fine for adults is $15 under Georgia code 40-8-76.1. The driver can be fined $25 for any minors from ages 8-17 who are not properly restrained. Fines range from $10 in states such as Arizona and Wisconsin to a minimum of $142 for adults in California, which also has a minimum fine of $445 for not restraining a child under 16.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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