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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
JULY 2018
A ROAD WITHOUT LIMITS
Lessons From the Autobahn
Much of my career as an attorney has been spent defending people who have the same itch I do: to drive fast. Ever since I was a teenager driving around the Oregon coast, I’ve felt that urge to open the throttle and see what’s under the hood. The challenge of my adult life has been to find ways of doing that legally and responsibly. That’s why a few years ago, my friend and fellow lawyer Chris and I caught a flight from sunny California to explore Germany, the land where automobiles are still allowed to travel as their earthly makers designed them to. We went to find driver nirvana, the German freeway system with a beautiful- sounding name: the autobahn. I had first heard about this speed-limitless stretch of asphalt from my father. While serving our country during the Cold War, he served a stint in Germany and experienced the country’s beautifully engineered and intelligently regulated roadways. The experience had a lasting effect on my dad. He proceeded to get himself two speeding tickets within a month after returning stateside. It was the search for this magical stretch of road my father had spoken of that led Chris and me to Europe. We started our weekend blitzkrieg at the Hertz counter in Dusseldorf. One painfully obvious downside of speed in Germany is the cost of petrol, but we weren’t about to sacrifice speed for fuel economy during this particular experience. I once drove around Lake Michigan in a Cadillac CTS-V with an average of 18 miles to the gallon. We gladly paid the $6-per-gallon price of petrol for an awesome display of horsepower. We hit the road in our BMW and rocketed almost 3,000 kilometers in the span of a long weekend.
that there are no speed limits anywhere. To the contrary, about two-thirds of the autobahn is regulated at 65–80 mph. There is also a network of electronic signs that can change the speed limit based on driving conditions. The second myth follows the first. Police do regularly enforce speeding laws, and the punishment can be quite severe. But in the no-limit section of the autobahn, officers are looking for a lack of driver courtesy and common sense rather than enforcing an arbitrary number.
“
I learned this firsthand when I came upon an officer in the left lane of the no-limits section. With my speedometer clocking 120 miles per hour, his rear bumper was coming up fast. I began to let off the gas when something incredible happened: The officer turned on his signal, merged right, and let me fly on through. This is the sort of experience you can only get on the autobahn. In Germany, while driving is a joy, that joy comes from recognizing that it is also a responsibility. If someone wants to go faster than you, no offense
We had gone to find driver nirvana, the German freeway system with a beautiful-sounding name: the autobahn.”
is taken. The common good is considered in that a highway system is about moving people and goods as efficiently as possible. Blinkers are not optional in Germany, and rearview mirrors get used a lot more. One of the reasons that the autobahn can have such high speeds is that a high level of responsibility is expected. In American car accidents, fault is largely placed on the driver who was going faster than the arbitrary speed limit. But in a place where there is no speed limit, driver attention is valued more. The focus is placed squarely on ensuring that everyone gets home safely and quickly! While our lawmakers here in the States continue to have their hang-ups around speeding, I am proud to be able to represent those drivers with the exceptional responsibility of driving safely on American Roads. And sometimes, they have a strong right foot. For those readers who truly want to experience the full potential of the automobile, I cannot recommend a trip to Germany more highly. You won’t just have a blast — you’ll gain a new appreciation for what it truly means to drive quickly and responsibly on the safest freeway in the world.
Now, there are a few myths about the autobahn that have made their way to America. The first myth is
–Mark Bigger
Happy trails,
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WHEN POLITICS GOES TO THE DOGS
6 Dog Mayors From Around the US
Most towns and cities around the country play it safe: They elect humans to hold political office. But a few towns decided to do something a little different. They threw political formality to the wind and elected dogs to office. Here are a few popular pups from around the country.
Duke. This Great Pyrenees became one of the most popular pups to hold elected office. He first ran for mayor in 2014 in Cormorant Township, Minnesota, and won by a landslide. He’s been in the mayoral race every year since then — and he’s won every time! Today, Duke is still in office, where he never misses a photo-op or a pat on the head. Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller. This golden retriever was first elected to office in 2012 in Idyllwild, California. His election was part of an initiative put together by an organization called Animal Rescue Friends, or ARF. As part of the election, area residents could nominate their cat or dog for mayor. During
the inaugural event, 14 dogs and two cats ran for mayor, with Max leading the pack. Max was elected to a second term in 2013, but soon passed away after a battle with cancer. Thankfully, his successor was quickly appointed: Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller II. Brynneth Pawltro, Lucy Lou, Junior Cochran, and Goofy Borneman. These four dogs all hail from Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. Back in 1998, the people of Rabbit Hash decided to elect a dog mayor. That year, Goofy Borneman, a mixed breed, became the first in what would become a continuing tradition. He held the office until 2001, when he passed away at age 16.
In 2004, Junior Cochran, a black Labrador, took on the role of mayor, but his term was plagued by scandal after he spent too much time hanging around the town’s general store — and Health and Safety was called. Then, he too died in office in 2008. Later that year, Lucy Lou, a border collie, was elected into office and became the town’s first female mayor. The good news is she saw her term through to the end, but she didn’t run for a second term. Instead, pitbull Brynneth Pawltro, or Brynn as his friends call him, ran and won. Today, you’ll find Brynn roaming Rabbit Hash, staying carefully out of Health and Safety’s way.
THIS AMERICAN GRUB
If your plans for this Independence Day involve firing up the barbecue, you’ll probably be cooking two American classics: hot dogs and hamburgers. Come the Fourth of July, families will be grilling up burgers and dogs from sea to shining sea, but it wasn’t always this way. The story of how beef patties and sausages became culinary symbols of our nation will give you plenty of food for thought. THE HOT DOG It was German immigrants who brought the “frankfurter” and the “wienerwurst” to American soil in the 1800s. There is much debate over who first decided to place one of these franks in a bun, but by the opening of the 20th century, hot dog stands had popped up all
a nation suddenly living on a tight budget. By the 1930s, hot dogs had become so unquestionably American that Franklin Roosevelt famously served them to King George VI during his royal visit in 1939. THE BURGER Like the hot dog, the exact origin of the beef patty’s eventual “sandwiching” is lost to history. Once again, it was German immigrants who brought their recipes for “Hamburg steak” with them across the Atlantic, but reports vary as to who first sold the meat patty inside a bun.
Multiple diners and fairgrounds across America claim to be the home of the first hamburger. All of these claims date to the turn of the 20th
over the Eastern Seaboard. We do know the identity of the man who took the hot dog’s popularity to a national level: Nathan Handwerker. A Jewish immigrant from Poland, Nathan sliced buns for a hot dog stand on Coney Island. After scraping together enough money, he quit his job and opened a stand of his own, undercutting his former employer’s prices by half. Not only did Nathan’s hot dogs outsell the competition, the Great Depression made them the perfect food for
century, a time when our nation was faced with feeding a growing working class quickly and cheaply. By the 1950s, the burger had become a symbol of the American everyman. Both the hot dog and hamburger embody the history of our nation. Immigrant traditions merged with blue-collar needs to create two uniquely American foods. It’s fitting that we celebrate America’s birthday with the grub that has grown along with it.
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THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES Of Reckless Driving
HAVE A LAUGH
Reckless driving is an extremely serious offense that can impact your personal and financial life and can even land you in jail. Despite these severe consequences, there is no concrete definition of what is and is not reckless driving in the state of California. The only criteria for an officer issuing one of these tickets is whether he or she deems that you drove with “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” While the grounds for receiving a reckless driving ticket may be vague, the consequences are not. FINES AND JAIL TIME Those convicted of reckless driving can spend up to 90 days in jail. On top of this three-month sentence, you may also face fines of up to $1,000. Needless to say, these punishments carry with them plenty of stigma and financial stress, but the pain doesn’t stop there. Between the Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) and your insurance company, you can be facing hardship for many years to come. NOTS POINTS Many infractions only cost you one NOTS point; however, reckless driving is more expensive. A conviction will cost you two points, meaning you’ll be closer to a license suspension. Commercial drivers can only receive three points before this happens, meaning you’ll be stripped of your livelihood. INSURANCE PREMIUMS If you get a reckless driving conviction on your record, expect your insurance premiums to hike significantly for the next several years — sometimes by thousands of dollars. Depending on your insurer and previous driving record, your policy may even be canceled. WORTH A FIGHT Considering these extreme long-term costs of conviction, you should never attempt to face a reckless driving charge alone. There are many defenses that can fight this ill-defined but consequential charge. They can minimize the impact to your driving record, reduce the long-term cost of insurance, or lead to a full dismissal of the ticket. This is where an experienced team of California traffic attorneys can come to your aid. If you are facing a reckless driving charge, please reach out to us for a free consultation, and defend your future. You can reach our office at (661) 349-9300. Para español, llama (661) 349-9755.
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, APC HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BIGGER
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Traffic Lawyer Passes Cop at 120 MPH........ PAGE 1
6 Dog Mayors From Around the US.............. PAGE 2
The History of Hot Dogs and Burgers.......... PAGE 2
What Reckless Driving Really Costs............. PAGE 3
Must-See Swimming Holes of the World..... 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!
SECRET SWIMMING HOLES OF THE WORLD Exclusive Spots You Must See to Believe
Summertime is for swimming, but why settle for a community pool when you can have access to the most beautiful swimming locales in the world? These three exclusive, little-known spots are sure to take your breath away.
HALI’I FALLS, HAWAII
With its spiral staircase of waterfalls, this remote jungle location offers up more than one unique spot to take a plunge. Visitors never fail to be awestruck by the deep blue-green hue of each pool created by the four cascading waterfalls. Hali’i means “to spread out,” which is precisely what each waterfall does, showcasing a serene experience unlike any other. But the beauty of this one-of-a-kind experience is only outdone by its exclusivity. To reach these pools, you’ll have to hike through dense forest, deep marshes, and wide-open pastures of sugar cane. The Spanish translation of the name for this magical system of caves is “two eyes,” and you’ll want to have yours checked after you see this swimming hole. When limestone bedrock collapses, a sinkhole called a “cenote” is formed. The unearthed water from the natural aquifer balances a color palette of earth tones with the most majestic shades of blue you’ll ever behold. The calling cards for these bodies of water are the Blue Eye and the Black Eye. Both offer unforgettable experiences, but the price of DOS OJOS, MEXICO
entry is a hefty sense of adventure. You’ll need a full set of scuba gear to get to either hole.
THE BATHS, VIRGIN GORDA
A day in the Caribbean is like living every moment inside a beautiful pastel painting. The elegance of this location in the British Virgin Islands will make you feel like you’ve been transported into a cathedral. The large boulders and natural rock formations create shallow caves that will captivate your eyes as you wade through the water in wonder. When you exit, you’ll witness the sight that gives this beautiful spot its name. A handful of 40-foot granite boulders form private pools as if that was what they were made for.
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