A CAT’S NOSE KNOWS
Hero Husky Saves the Neighborhood
On Dec. 15, 2023, pet owner Chanell Bell of Philadelphia was taken aback when she noticed that Kobe, her 4-year-old miniature Alaskan husky, had dug a hole in her home’s front yard. This was a stark departure from Kobe’s usual behavior, which Bell initially dismissed as boredom and promptly refilled the hole. However, when Kobe began to dig again in the same spot, Chanell realized something was amiss. “We’ve been here at our home for a while now, and he never digs holes,” Bell told USA Today. “So, I knew something was up.” She investigated further, reviewing footage from the family home’s security camera overlooking Kobe’s newfound digspot. Then, she witnessed Kobe sniff the air around the area before digging the hole in the same spot again.
Thinking something Kobe smelled must have alarmed him, Bell phoned Philadelphia Gas Works, which sent a crew out to investigate. The engineers discovered that the gas lines beneath the Bell household were old, dilapidated, and beginning to leak. After fixing the issue, the company told Bell that if Kobe had not discovered the leak, the line would have posed significant health and safety concerns for the whole neighborhood. “They told me something as simple as a light switch turning on could’ve caused an explosion,” Bell told USA Today. After Bell shared Kobe’s story on social media, it caught the attention of PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who awarded the young husky the Heroic Dog Award. Inspired by Kobe’s efforts, Bell wrote a children’s book dedicated to him called “The Dog That Saved the Block Before Christmas.”
Dialing Disaster SECOND CELLPHONE CONVICTION DRAWS HEAVY PENALTIES
Commercial truck drivers may be tempted to take lightly the first citation they receive for using a mobile phone behind the wheel. Paying the fine and walking away seems like an easy solution. However, paying the fine is equivalent to pleading guilty and opens the door to far more serious consequences in the future. Some drivers are surprised to learn that penalties escalate quickly if they are convicted again. If a commercial truck driver is found guilty of a second cellphone violation within a three-year period, the California Department of Motor Vehicles will assess 1.5 Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) points to the driver’s license. That’s not all. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) considers this type of distracted driving a serious offense. The agency will revoke a driver’s commercial license for 60 days following a second offense, jeopardizing their livelihood. A third conviction within the same time frame doubles the length of the suspension to 120 days.
A truck driver in California doesn’t need to be holding a phone in their hand to get ticketed. Merely swiping the phone screen more than once can bring this penalty down on your head. The law defines cellphone use broadly, as holding it in one hand, dialing it by pressing more than one button, or reaching for it in a way that requires you to maneuver out of your seat. Another unpleasant surprise for many commercial truck drivers is that they can be cited for a mobile phone violation when driving into a weigh station. These entrances are still part of the highway, and they are monitored by California Highway Patrol cameras. If you have been ticketed for a cellphone violation or any other traffic offense, don’t hesitate to call our firm to review your options. We have assisted many professional drivers with citations in our area, which includes Kern, Tulare, Fresno, Inyo, and Mono counties. We will be happy to offer you an appointment at your convenience for a no-obligation consultation free of charge.
2 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
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