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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
AUGUST 2024
The Unforgettable Rewards of Climbing Half Dome CONQUERING PEAKS
Yosemite National Park is one of my favorite places to hike. With its giant sequoias and challenging peaks, it is one of the most majestic and beautiful destinations in the country. The naturalist John Muir, who inspired President Theodore Roosevelt to designate Yosemite as the first national park, wrote about the rewards of climbing the mountains there. I certainly reaped those rewards while climbing Yosemite’s Half Dome. In recognition of National Mountain Climbing Day on Aug. 1, I’ve been reflecting on that memorable climb and other uphill struggles I’ve undertaken in my life and career. Just as doing the research and hard work required to win cases for our clients can be extremely challenging, trekking off the grid for a tough climb like Half Dome can test your endurance. But the exhilaration you experience when you win — when you reach the top of that mountain — is worth it. There’s no feeling quite like it. The 8,800-foot Half Dome peak is more than 1,200 feet taller than Yosemite’s other famed climbing destination, El Capitan. The Half Dome hike takes visitors past gorgeous waterfalls and requires about 10–12 hours round trip. It is not recommended for beginners. The total elevation gain is 4,800 feet. The highest section of the trail is equipped with two metal cables that enable hikers to ascend the last 400 feet to the summit without rock climbing equipment. A few friends and I made the climb together on my last trip there. We started up the trail at about 6 a.m., wearing good hiking boots and carrying plenty of water. I have hiked in Yellowstone and made my way
to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. But even with that experience, climbing up the steep stairs and switchbacks of the subdome section, right before the top of the Half Dome trail, was exhausting. I made sure I wasn’t the first guy in our group to call for a rest break. But I was grateful to stop after others called a halt. Traversing the final cable section of the trail can be intimidating. The path climbs 400 feet in one-tenth of a mile in this final stage, which is a staggering grade of 75%. I am a little scared of heights, so I had to steel myself. That section ends right at the edge of the summit. After we reached the summit at around 10:30 a.m., the reward for making the climb was breathtaking. We had gorgeous views of the High Sierra and Yosemite Valley. Looking down onto the valley was one of the most amazing vistas I have ever seen. We hung out at the top for a while, just enjoying the exhilaration and peace of that place. That climb up Half Dome is not only a great memory but a reminder to me. To reap extraordinary rewards in life, you often have to put in a lot of hard work. But once you have succeeded in the climb, it’s great to be at the top.
–Paul Harman
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A CAT’S NOSE KNOWS
A FLUFFY GUARDIAN ANGEL
When a Virginia family of five decided to temporarily foster a dog in 2023, they weren’t expecting it to be a life-changing event. But they might not be here today if it weren’t for the Great Pyrenees named Moose that they took home for the weekend. Christopher Cushna and his partner, Sheila Janes, were looking for something fun and unique to do with their three children when they learned about the Paws Around Portsmouth program. This program allows people to foster dogs from the local Humane Society for a short time. They fell in love with big, fluffy Moose and decided to take him on a field trip around town. The family visited their own music shop, where Moose met potential adopters at an event sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard. The friendly dog later accompanied them to a farmers market, a community band concert, and a flea market, where they met a woman who wanted to adopt him. Moose returned to the family’s houseboat for the evening since the adopter could not bring him home that day. As everyone slept, Moose suddenly woke Christopher and one of their daughters, Anya. Though everyone figured the energetic dog wanted to go outside, he was persistent, and they quickly noticed a neighboring
houseboat engulfed in flames. As the fire began to spread, the family evacuated safely just minutes before the fire reached their boat.
“If Moose hadn’t gotten Anya and Chris up, we would not be here, as we were all sound asleep, and the fire spread very quickly,” Sheila said.
The family lost their houseboat and everything inside, but thanks to Moose’s heroic act, they are alive and grateful today.
“What I like to think about is that we saved Moose from the situation Moose was in, and Moose saved us on the boat,” Christopher said.
Moose’s life-saving actions made big news, and a local woman adopted him. Now, the hero dog is living his best life on a 5-acre farm, complete with a swimming pool. For this family, who had no idea just how transformative a doggy day out could be, Moose will always be their knight in fluffy armor.
No Safe Stops
Drivers Face Perilous Shortage of Parking
Commercial trucks lined up along highway exit ramps or idling in store parking lots are a common sight. They are also a safety hazard and a sign of an increasingly serious problem for professional drivers — a shortage of safe, legal parking spaces. Parking shortages for commercial trucks exist in every state and region of the country. Some 98% of commercial truckers regularly have difficulty finding safe parking. Drivers who park along exit ramps often don’t have a better option. Federal safety rules require drivers to stop for rest after a certain number of hours at the wheel, and most drivers sleep in their cabs. To avoid
being penalized, they must find parking when they are due for a break.
according to a survey by the American Trucking Associations, a trade group. Truckers lose driving time looking for a spot for a rest stop, costing them an average of $5,500 a year, the equivalent of a 12% pay cut. Bipartisan legislation is pending in both houses of Congress to provide $755 million in grants to expand commercial truck parking capacity. If you receive a moving violation in connection with searching for a safe, legal parking space, or for any other reason, don’t hesitate to call our firm. We will be happy to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to plan the best possible strategy for your defense.
In California, parked trucks were involved in 1,628 crashes between 2014 and 2018, and 131 of those incidents led to at least one fatality, according to a 2022 study by Caltrans. That doesn’t account for the crashes that might happen because a fatigued driver is searching for parking. In one example in Illinois, three passengers were killed last year when a Greyhound bus pulled off a highway in the middle of the night and collided with three tractor- trailers parked along an exit ramp.
An average of only one truck parking space exists for every 11 truck drivers,
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Skilled Defense Needed to Fight Speeding Tickets Rough Roads
Your Referrals Make a Difference! Thanks to your 70 referrals in July, we were able to donate $900 to help fight human trafficking and lead medical missions. INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION To learn more about International Justice Mission and their mission to protect half a billion vulnerable people from exploitation, please go to IJM.org . MEDICAL MISSIONS OUTREACH To learn more about showing God’s love by providing quality medical treatment to some of the poorest people in the world, visit the Medical Missions Outreach home page at Medical-Outreach.com .
Paying the fine is often the first thought that comes to mind for a commercial truck driver hit with a speeding ticket.
The actual stakes are far higher than paying a fine. Among the potential penalties for exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph or more are a fine of as much as $1,000, 1.5 negligent operator treatment system (NOTS) points on your commercial driver’s license, potential jail time or probation, and a misdemeanor on your record. A second offense within 36 months can result in a 60-day driver disqualification, and a third may trigger a 120-day suspension.
Penalties for exceeding the speed limit by a lesser amount are less severe. Traveling at 1–9 mph over the limit carries a fine of about $300 and 1.5 NOTS points. Penalties for exceeding the limit by 10–14 mph are usually about $486 and 1.5 NOTS points. An experienced traffic ticket attorney can help you choose the best course of action in defending yourself. This may include
“I remain confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” PSALM 27:13-14
arguing your case effectively in court, negotiating with the judge on your behalf, and exploring every avenue for a possible dismissal. A skilled lawyer also can help you avoid wasting hours of driving time sitting in court, waiting for your case to be heard. To prevent the problem, consider using a speed governor to maintain a consistent speed of 55 mph or lower, in compliance with California’s speed limit for commercial vehicles with three or more axles. Plan your route carefully to avoid having to rush to meet your delivery deadlines. And don’t allow yourself to be distracted by your phone or other electronic media. If you have been cited for speeding, don’t hesitate to contact our firm. We understand the pain points experienced by professional drivers. We will be happy to schedule a free consultation to explore the details of your case and plan the best possible defense strategy. We look forward to assisting in your defense!
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, 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
The Rewards of Scaling Life’s Toughest Mountains............................................. PAGE 1
Meet Moose, the Great Pyrenees With a Hero’s Heart.............................................. PAGE 2
Truckers Face Serious Shortage of Safe Parking........................................................... PAGE 2
Professional Truckers Risk Severe Consequences for Speeding.............................. PAGE 3
Start Strong This Upcoming School Year....... 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!
Tips for a Successful First Day of Class
BACK TO SCHOOL
SHOPPING SPREE Students also want to come to school prepared! Shopping for school supplies is a great way to get everything they need for the year ahead, including a snazzy new outfit for the first day, notebooks, organizers, and favorite brands of pens and pencils. It’s also important to write names in notebooks to make them easier to identify if they end up in the lost and found! MENTAL MAP No one likes getting lost. Whether returning to the same school as last year or heading into a new environment, finding one’s way can be daunting. If your kids arrive at school early, they can figure out where each class is and plot a path beforehand. Getting a feel for where they need to go throughout the day can be a great way to help them feel more prepared and comfortable. Many schools also have physical maps, which can be a great resource to store in a backpack if they ever feel lost.
With summer break tragically ending (as it does, sadly, every year), it is time to get back in the groove and prepare for the new school year. If you want to help your kids get over the first-day jitters and start out strong, employ these tips to make their first day back at class so successful that others will want to study it. GETTING A HEAD START According to research by the Center for Economic Security and Opportunity, students lose as much as 25%–30% of the knowledge they accumulated the previous school year over summer break. Reading and math skills are particularly affected and see the highest regression rate. And the higher the grade level, the more students are likely to forget. The best way to combat this summer slump is to keep learning. Reading books and practicing arithmetic at least three times a week will help kids maintain what they have previously worked so hard to learn.
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