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BIGGER
DAILY
Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS , APC
THE
DRIVER Attorneys Defending Your Right to the Road
JANUARY 2019
HOW’S OUR DRIVING?
Help Us Find More Ways to Help You!
Well, 2019 is upon us. I’m sure many of our readers are in the midst of setting their own New Year’s Resolutions in motion, and I wish you all the luck in the world. For my part, I’d like to be able to take a little more time to reflect on the things that matter. In the bustle of our lives, it’s easy to lose track of the changes happening in our world, in our industry, and in the lives of the people I care about. In concert with this goal, our firm’s resolution is to reflect on what we can do better. An easy enough thing to put on a whiteboard, but how do we make this a reality in practice? As the preeminent traffic attorneys in the central valley, we feel we’re in a strong position when it comes to the actual legal side of the equation. But there is more to being a lawyer than filing paperwork and showing up to court. For that reason, we’re turning to you, our readers. So many firms try to guess what the people they serve want. They go to seminars, pour over data, and chase trends just to get close to what their clients might be looking for. Why jump through so many hoops when we can just ask you directly? As Paul mentioned in our June edition, one of the most valuable things a lawyer can do is listen. So, we want to hear from you! What are some things you’d like to see us improve or expand upon? What should we add to the services we provide? We want to leave this open ended — if we’re surprised by your answer, all the better. The sky really is the limit with these suggestions. Would you like us to provide help contesting your CSA record?? Do you want us to expand our available meeting hours or locations? Do you want more Bigger and Harman merchandize? Our hoodies have proven popular, so we’re curious to
see if there’s an interest for more of this sort of swag. If you ever wanted to represent your favorite traffic attorneys on your coffee mug, now’s your chance to let us know! If you have suggestions, feel free to give us a call, send us an email, or swing by the office. We’ve come this far as a firm by always keeping our client’s needs at heart. We want to remain true to our roots by keeping an open ear to your comments and concerns. And hey, if you want one of those hoodies, just let us know! We’d be happy to send one your way!
As Paul mentioned in our June edition, one of the most valuable things a lawyer can do is listen. So we want to hear from you!
Paul and I are incredibly lucky to have built this firm the way we have. Not all lawyers can say they enjoy the grassroots relationship we’ve grown with our clients, and for that, we thank you. As we move into 2019 you have our word that we will never stop listening to your needs.
Happy New Year,
–Mark Bigger
(661) 859-1177 | 1
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
“Make a face like that, and it’ll stay that way forever.” You may have heard something like this from Mom’s book of wisdom. Maybe you never disputed the idea that mother knows best. But as you grew up, it slowly became clear that hair doesn’t grow back faster and thicker if you shave it, cracking your knuckles doesn’t cause arthritis, and gum doesn’t stay in your stomach for months after you swallow it. After a whirlwind of wives’ tales over the years, many common claims have been put under scrutiny. Wives tales have been known as pseudoscience and blind intuition, but even as many were disproved, some surprisingly proved to hold weight. Here are three wives’ tales that have proven to be true. MOM REALLY DOES KNOW BEST 3 Wives’ Tales Proven True
of proving it wrong, they found that 82 percent of women with severe heartburn during pregnancy gave birth to hairy babies. Turns out the hormones that cause heartburn in pregnant women also affect fetal hair growth. JOINT PAIN PREDICTS THE WEATHER Did you ever look at your mom with skepticism when she would predict rain because her knees hurt? If so, you might owe your mom an apology, because there is a scientific connection. The drop in barometric pressure that’s common during storm weather causes pain in arthritic joints.
GARLIC CURES COLDS For decades, moms have professed the healing properties of garlic, suggesting it can cure colds and help the body fight sickness. It turns out they were absolutely right. Garlic has antiviral properties that strengthen the immune system and nutrients that help combat illnesses. The effects of garlic can actually be more effective than over-the-counter flu medications. Some studies show that regular consumption of raw garlic lessens
the likelihood of getting a cold, so if you feel a tickle in your throat, try a clove before you open the medicine cabinet. HEARTBURN MEANS A HAIRY BABY It’s hard to list wives’ tales without bringing up one about pregnancy. Many are solely based on intuition, but a few that sound odd are legitimate. In 2007, a study done by Johns Hopkins attempted to debunk the myth that heartburn during pregnancy would mean a hairy baby at birth. Instead
WHY JANUARY?
The Origin of New Year’s Day
The month of January kicks off by welcoming the new year — there are countdowns, fireworks, and of course, the ball drop in a freezing-cold Times Square. But why? Why do we start our calendars when much of the U.S. is in the dead of winter? Why January? The short answer is Julius Caesar and Roman politics. The calendar had long been a political tool in Rome. Depending on who was in power, Roman pontifices would add or subtract entire weeks from the year, manually adjusting the term limits of elected officials. As you could imagine, this caused a lot of chaos, because months frequently slipped out of time with the changing seasons. After becoming emperor, Julius Caesar brought about some much-needed reforms. Inspired by the Egyptian solar calendar, Caesar fixed the Roman year at 365 days and instituted the leap year to keep months aligned with the solstices. He moved the new year from the spring to the day that elected officials traditionally began their year-long terms, Jan. 1. This choice carried spiritual significance, since January was named for Janus, god of doors and gates. What better month to celebrate new beginnings? Under Caesar and subsequent rulers, the Roman
Empire expanded its reach, carrying its calendar with it. While much of Europe adopted Caesar’s calendar, New Year’s Day remained a hot-button issue for centuries.
Thanks in part to the spread of Christianity and to the colder conditions in Northern Europe, there was a lot of resistance to the January start date. Religious leaders saw it as a pagan holiday, and much of Europe chose to restart the calendar on March 25, during the Feast of Annunciation. Much of Catholic Europe officially recognized Jan. 1 as the start of the new year after Pope Gregory reformed the solar calendar again, correcting certain mathematical errors made in Caesar’s day. There were still holdouts, however. In fact, England and its American colonies continued to celebrate New Year’s Day in March until 1752. So there you have it — we were very close to having our fireworks celebrations in lovely spring weather. Ultimately, the ubiquity of the Gregorian calendar won out, as the demands of our increasingly interconnected world made a shared calendar a necessity. So if you struggle to start your New Year’s resolutions this winter, blame Julius Caesar.
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HAVE A LAUGH
Too often we let our accountabilities slip in lieu of an easier road to travel. We never expect to be reprimanded until the ticket is in our hand and the reports have been sent. By identifying the risks and pre- planning your next trip, you’ll have far less regrettable moments. Drivers have a lot to lose when charged with an infraction. They are subject to Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) points, Compatibility, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) points, a fine, an out of service (OOS) order, or even termination of employment if convicted. The risks greatly outweigh the rewards, as the effects can range from inconvenient to devastating for your career. The top five inspection infractions may surprise you, but hopefully they will inspire you to make some preventative changes. The most common are Hours of Service (HOS) violations, of which Form and Manner violations make up 75 percent of instances. Always remember to keep your log updated after every change of duty status and make sure your non-permanent entries are current before every trip. This should be done daily alongside your Daily Vehicle Inspection Report. After HOS violations, brakes are the second most commonplace violation but the most common reason for a OOS order. Prevent this misstep by checking your adjustment while you perform your DVIR. Violations regarding your tires are number three on the list, as you need to always ensure that your tire tread never falls below 1/16th of an inch. This should always be addressed during your daily inspections. After that, your lights and turn signals are the most likely to land you in hot water, with an OOS order likely unless you keep spare light bulbs handy. Finally, your seatbelt, or lack thereof, is known to catch drivers off guard. Do not make the mistake of un- buckling your seatbelt to get your inspection folder. The inspection lineup is a part of the highway. If prevention isn’t possible, make sure to reach out to your friends at Bigger and Harman to get an experienced traffic attorney in your corner. We spend a great deal of time in traffic court, so we know the court officials and have expert knowledge to get you on the right legal roads. Don’t trust your career to a lawyer who treats traffic law as a part-time job. COMMON ROADSIDE INSPECTION FLUBS THAT WILL PUT YOU OUT Avoiding Violation Begins with Prevention
PUZZLE
(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
Driving Into the New Year............ PAGE 1
3 Wives’ Tales That Are True ...... PAGE 2
Why Start the New Year in Winter?...................... PAGE 2
Frequent Mistakes When Inspected and How to Steer Clear of Them ...................... PAGE 3
What Happens to Military Service Dogs? .................. 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!
SGT. FIELDY COMES HOME Reuniting Brothers in Arms There are around 2,500 military working dogs currently in service, and their efforts help save the lives of countless soldiers and civilians every day. One of these brave military dogs is Sgt. Fieldy, an 11-year-old black lab who was trained to locate the No. 1 threat in Afghanistan: IEDs. Sgt. Fieldy was deployed to Afghanistan with his handler, Cpl. Nicolas Caceres, in 2011. Early in their deployment, their vehicle struck a pressure plate while they were on patrol. Fieldy and Caceres were all right, but one of the other Marines in their company was badly injured in the explosion. The injured Marine could not be evacuated by helicopter until the landing zone was secured. Fieldy found another IED in the area and alerted Caceres. The bomb was quickly disarmed, and the injured soldier was taken to safety. This wasn’t the only IED Fieldy found. His sharp nose and dedication helped save thousands of lives. After his deployment, Caceres returned home, but Sgt. Fieldy served several more tours without him. While Fieldy continued to protect soldiers and civilians by tracking
down IEDs, Caceres worked tirelessly to make sure he could bring Fieldy home when his service was over. Military working dogs can be adopted by former handlers, law enforcement, or qualified civilians when they retire. After three years apart and a total of four tours served, Sgt. Fieldy was reunited with Caceres. In 2016, Fieldy received the K9 Medal of Courage Award, and in 2018, he won the American Humane Hero Dog Award for his service. “These dogs are out there with us,” said Caceres when he and Fieldy accepted the Hero Dog Award. “The dangers we face, they face them too. They deserve to be recognized. We ask so much of them, and all they want is to get petted or play with a toy. They’re amazing animals, and Fieldy is just an amazing dog. I can’t begin to express the gratitude I have for him.” If you are interested in supporting our nation’s working dogs or would like to adopt a retired working dog yourself, you can learn more at Missionk9rescue.org.
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