Take a look at our December newsletter!
Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS , APC BIGGER
THE DAILY DRIVER Attorneys Defending Your Right to the Road
DECEMBER 2022
BY WATCHING ‘A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS’ Understand the True Meaning of Christmas
As we quickly approach Christmas, I can’t help but think of one of my all- time favorite Christmas movies — “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” This movie came out in 1965, and to this day, it’s still a family favorite for many across the country. Every year, I would excitedly wait for the 30-minute special to air. In the days before on-demand movies, there was a special thrill to a showing of one’s favorite films. I’ve seen the movie so many times that I’ve lost count. As a kid, I loved watching all the Christmas classics. However, I always had a special fondness for “A Charlie Brown Christmas” because the movie focuses the attention of the viewer on the true meaning of Christmas. Decorating the tree and home, eating delicious holiday meals, and getting presents are great, but not what Christmas is truly about.
If you or your family haven’t seen “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” or it’s been a while since you’ve seen the film, I implore you to watch it this year when you get a chance. It’s a beautiful story we can all relate to. My kids are still pretty young, but I hope they sit still through our family viewing of it soon. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year. I look forward to being here for you in 2023.
–Paul Harman
Like Charlie Brown, it’s easy for us to get distracted from the angel’s wonderful announcement.
After being exasperated by the rat race and superficiality of much of the holiday season, Charlie Brown longs for something meaningful and real. Fortunately, his friend Linus is there to recite Luke 2: 8–14, which describes the shepherds of Bethlehem watching over their flock when an angel came upon them and told them that our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, was born and could be found nearby lying in a manger. Hearing Linus recite these impactful verses stays with me today. While we see commercials about the “perfect” Christmas gift and other materialistic things that accompany the holiday, we must remember the true meaning of Christmas — that Christ our Savior was born. Like Charlie Brown, it’s easy for us to get distracted from the angel’s wonderful announcement. With how busy we all are during the holidays — trying to give the best Christmas possible to our children, working long hours, and preparing for the new year — it seems like this month can quickly pass us by. But it’s important to remember that the holidays are about giving thanks to God for his precious gift to us.
(661) 859-1177 | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
MEET THE BUGS WITH A TASTE FOR PLASTIC
’
P
T
E
S
Hundreds of years after you die and decompose, the Styrofoam takeout containers you used for last night’s Thai food will still linger in the landfill. Scientists estimate it takes thousands of years for Styrofoam (aka polystyrene) to break down when buried under other trash. Even in direct sunlight, the process takes decades! This is a huge pollution problem — but a tiny bug may be able to solve it. On the other side of the globe, at the University of Queensland in Australia, researchers are keeping a tank full of pets that may save us all from our plastic waste: Zophobas morio , aka the “giant mealworm” or “superworm.” In the wild, superworms are scavengers that will munch on anything from animals to apples. But in captivity, researchers have found another food they love: Styrofoam. “Superworms are like mini recycling plants, shredding the polystyrene with their mouths and then feeding it to the bacteria in their gut,” Dr. Chris Rinke, the leader of the superworm experiment at the University of Queensland, told Science Daily. “The breakdown
products from this reaction can then be used by other microbes to create high-value compounds such as bioplastics.”
Not only did the worms in the Queensland study eat the Styrofoam, but they actually gained weight from a healthy diet of takeout containers. Their ability to digest plastic is likely thanks to the gut bacteria Dr. Rinke mentioned. If we can grow and control these bacteria, we may be able to set it loose in landfills and turn our trash into something more useful. Superworms haven’t saved us yet — in fact, we usually use the 2-inch brown bugs as food for pet lizards and birds — but it’s about time we put their true potential to work. Fortunately, scientists like Dr. Rinke are on the case.
“Our team is very excited to push the science to make it happen,” he said.
To see the superworms in action, head to YouTube.com and search “superworm plastic.”
DON’T WAIT TO CONTEST THE SECOND CELLPHONE TICKET!
Last month, we discussed the penalties you could face if you’re caught holding a cellphone while driving a commercial vehicle. California laws are cracking down on distracted driving, and with Assembly Bill 47 in place, the penalties are harsher and have lasting consequences. Luckily, if you’ve never received an electronic device violation, you won’t receive any points on your license for your first offense. However, your insurance can increase by a lot if you get a second cellphone violation. The DMV will be notified of your second offense and you will receive NOTS points on your license if the second offense is within three years of the first.
day license suspension if you receive two within three years.
You may be tempted to wait to contest the second ticket since the first ticket doesn’t have the automatic points and suspension that a second ticket can bring. Don’t do that. Call us once you get that first ticket so that we can discuss your options. You may be able to successfully contest the first ticket so that you never end up with a “second” conviction on your record. If you or someone you know is facing a traffic ticket, please allow Bigger and Harman to assist you. We have years of experience with cases like these and can help you get the best outcome. Cellphone tickets are a big deal. So, please don’t hesitate to call us.
Cellphone violations are also considered “serious offenses” and can result in a 60-
2 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
If you receive a traffic ticket and fail to appear (FTA) in court, a bench warrant will be issued. On top of this warrant, the court can also authorize a fee you have to pay as an additional penalty. But what happens if you aren’t aware you have a traffic ticket? What do you do then? It’s hard to plead ignorance of most tickets since typically an officer will pull you over and hand it through the window. But some tickets, such as a camera-enforced red-light ticket, will go to your mailbox at home without you ever having contact with an officer. As a truck driver, you’re constantly on the road, so you don’t have the opportunity to check your mail as often as others. If you’re single and live alone, you may not have someone who can grab your mail and tell you about your traffic ticket. I Received a Camera- Enforced Red-Light Ticket and I Didn’t Know About It — What Now?
INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION
Thanks to your 120 referrals, we are able to donate $2,800 to fight human trafficking. To learn more about International Justice Mission, please go to IJM.org. MISSION: To protect the poor from violence by rescuing victims, bringing the criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts. Our long-term vision is to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice for the poor unstoppable.
Let’s say you’re out on the road most of the time and live alone. When you come home, you may decide to go through the sea of mail in your mailbox.
That’s when you notice you received a camera-
enforced red-light ticket in the mail and didn’t appear in court. Then you see an FTA notice advising that you could be found guilty and receive harsh penalties. At first, you may panic and wonder what your next steps should be. If the ticket was sent to you by accident and you weren’t the individual who ran the
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” PSALM 46:10
red light, you may decide to toss the notice in the trash. But that’s the last thing you want to do. Whether you were the one who ran the red light or not, the first thing you should do is contact a traffic attorney who can clear your FTA and resolve the red-light ticket with one flat fee. If you don’t seek assistance from an experienced traffic attorney, you risk having your license suspended because of the FTA. So, if you or someone you know is worried about their traffic citations and bench warrant, allow Bigger & Harman to assist you. We can appear in court on your behalf and fight for your rights so you can continue to drive.
(661) 859-1177 | 3
, APC HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BIGGER
Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1701 Westwind Drive Suite 203 Bakersfield, CA 93301
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
What Is the True Meaning of Christmas?........ PAGE 1
These Bugs Love Takeout Containers.............. PAGE 2
Don’t Wait to Contest the Second Ticket!..... PAGE 2
Don’t Toss the Ticket in the Trash! ................... PAGE 3
How to Impress Visitors This Holiday Season .................................................... PAGE 4
Have a ticket in California? Give us a call, and we’ll help you out! Regardless of the location, we can point you in the right direction free of charge!
The holidays are rapidly approaching, and soon, we’ll share laughs while enjoying the festivities with our loved ones. Before the celebrations begin, you must prepare your home for visitors, especially if they stay overnight. It can be stressful whether it’s your in-laws, best friends, or distant cousins coming to stay with you. You want to leave a good impression, but how do you ensure everyone’s needs are met, including yours? Here are three tips for setting yourself up for a successful holiday, regardless of who stays with you. STOCK UP ON YOUR GUESTS’ FAVORITES. Have you ever stayed with someone who didn’t have extra food for their guests? Don’t put your guests in this situation. Load up your pantry, refrigerator, and cupboards with your guests’ favorite foods and drinks. If you don’t know what they are, ask ahead of their visit! Your guests will appreciate your conscientious gesture and have a much more enjoyable time if they can eat their favorites while visiting. PREPARE A GUEST ROOM. If your guests are staying with you, you need to prepare somewhere for them to sleep. Make sure you make up the bed, have plenty of IMPRESS THE GUESTS With These Holiday Hosting Tips
pillows and blankets on hand, and provide adequate closet space for their clothes. Even if they aren’t staying in a traditional bedroom, their sleeping area should still be ready when they arrive. Clear off a table for them to use as a nightstand and put sheets on the couch or mattress where they’ll sleep. USE REAL DISHES. When we have company over for a meal, especially a large gathering, it’s usually easier to use plastic or paper options — saves on cleanup, too! The holidays are not necessarily the time for this shortcut. Break out the fine china if you have it, or use regular dishes for your guests. It’s okay for the kids to have paper plates, but if you want to make a good impression on visiting adults, nicer dishes will dress up the table setting and meal.
4 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator