Houston & Alexander August and September 2018

With the school year fast approaching, families are in preparation mode. Parents are busy buying new clothes and school supplies and thinking about the best way to get their kids safely to school. Keeping your child safe on their commute starts with knowing the transportation method that works best for you and the rules that accompany that method. Transportation Safety Tips Protect Your Children During Their Commute

Taking the School Bus According to the United States

Kids on the Road Whether your child is biking, walking, or even skateboarding, it’s vital that they know and follow the rules of the road. All children should practice road safety behavior, such as riding on the right side of the road, wearing helmets, stopping at stop signs, and watching out for cars. Internalizing these habits will help them stay aware of their surroundings when traveling to and from school. Sharing the Road When school starts, the roads become even more cluttered than usual. On top of people heading to work, there are large buses making frequent stops, parents rushing to drop their kids off, and young

Department of Transportation, the school bus is the safest means of transportation to and from school. Buses are built to withstand a hit and distribute the damage throughout the vehicle, keeping its passengers safe and sound. Knowing basic bus safety will help kids be mindful when taking the bus. Before the school year starts, take your children to the bus stop and show them where they should stand when the bus approaches — a minimum of three large steps or 6 feet from the street. Tell your kids about the importance of sitting still and not standing in the bus while it’s in motion.

kids biking or walking to school. With the added tension on the road, it’s important to be alert and move cautiously. Slowing down in school zones or around young pedestrians will keep you vigilant and could potentially save lives. Teach your kids to be prepared and safe on the road to ensure that they have a healthy and safe school year.

No Stone Left Unturned A DUI Case Study

A client came to our office after a wreck where he was charged with DUI. He had been driving in a residential area late at night, sped around a turn, oversteered, and his truck turned upside down on the roadway. Given that he worked in local law enforcement, a state agency was called in to investigate the case rather than the municipal authorities who initially reported to the scene of the accident. He was arrested at the scene and taken to jail; his breathalyzer test came in at 0.14, almost twice the legal limit. The client was suspended from his job and told that if he were to be convicted of DUI, his position would be terminated. In dire straits, the accused sought out a well-known DUI attorney, only to be turned away. This attorney reasoned that, given the breath result, there was no realistic way of beating the case. The client was informed that he should look for another line of work. Instead, he came to us as his last hope. He had already concluded that his case was unwinnable and there was likely no need to even contest the charge. After convincing him that we would leave no stone unturned, he hired us to represent him. We knew it was a long shot but quickly went to work, obtaining a copy of the video of the client taking the breath test. Tennessee law requires that the breath test operator

observe the subject for a solid 20 minutes prior to the sample being given. We discovered that the breath test operator left the room, making it impossible to observe our client for the requisite 20-minute time period. When we went to court on the case, the DA made his offer: Plead guilty to DUI and receive the minimum punishment despite the wreck — ordinarily a good offer, considering the circumstances. I took the police officer outside and showed him the video. Realizing he had not properly followed the procedure, the officer did not oppose a reduction, and the charge was amended to reckless driving, resulting in a six-month suspended sentence and a fine. There was no loss of license, no DUI conviction, and therefore no loss of job!

While we cannot guarantee a reduction or dismissal in every case, we do guarantee that we will work hard and do everything legally possible to beat the charges. We have seen countless lawyers over the years just take the money and try to work a case out on the day of court, which is a recipe for disaster! Had this client not hired us, he would have been found guilty of DUI and would have lost his 17-year job, as well as his pension.

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