Take a look at our March 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
MARCH 2023
The Frustrations of California Cellphone Laws One of my tips for you is to use a cellphone holder while driving and other hands-free options. If you put your phone in a holder in front of your center console, that will eliminate about 99 percent of cellphone As all of you know, California updated its cellphone use law in 2017 to crack down on distracted driving. Before the law change, drivers would receive a ticket if they were caught making a phone call or texting while driving. I Wasn’t on My Phone, Officer!
tickets. But if you pick up the phone, even just to move it from one place to another, you are technically guilty.
But now, the law states that for both commercial and non-commercial drivers, you may receive a citation if caught holding a cellphone while driving or even swiping the phone more than once. This not only includes using your phone to communicate with others but also using it as a GPS or any other purpose.
However, when using a cellphone holder, be mindful of California’s “one swipe” rule. While it’s challenging to enforce, you can only swipe on your phone once. After that, it’s illegal. Furthermore, remove your phone from its holder only when you are parked; it’s the only safe location where you can use your phone freely before you get on the road again. In honor of March 3 being National Unplug Day, develop some strategies to limit your screen time while working. If you want additional tips or have questions about cellphone use and serious offenses, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
While it’s not illegal to use your GPS to navigate you to your next destination, it is illegal to hold your phone in your hand while driving.
Some truckers have asked me why California enforced stricter laws and penalties for cellphone use. The possible answer I have is that it was difficult to prove if someone was using their cellphones while driving — and many cases were dismissed. But with the new law, it’s almost impossible to disprove someone was using their phones. I understand how frustrating this new law is for truckers. I’ve had several instances where truckers moved their phone from one place to another and were given a ticket. Paul and I represent dozens of truckers who have found themselves in similar situations just in the last few months. In fact, we have one officer that writes so many cellphone violations that we personally defend two or three tickets a month that he issued to our truck drivers. However, the frustration doesn’t stop there for our truckers. In July 2021, CA Assembly Bill 47 went into effect. If you have one electronic device violation, you’re required to pay a $162 fine. But luckily, you won’t receive any points on your record for your first offense. However, the penalties quickly add up if you receive a second offense. If you are cited for another cellphone use violation or other serious offense like speeding 15 mph over the limit, an unsafe lane change, or failing to stop at railroad crossings in a 2–3-year period, your license can be suspended for 60 days. With stricter cellphone use policies and harsher penalties, truckers must be cautious while on the road. I know you can’t afford to be out of work if your license is suspended — my team and I will help you in any way we can to ensure you can remain on the road.
–Mark Bigger
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Schnautzie Saves the Day Facing a Gas Leak, She Thought Fast
Besides a fire, a gas leak is one of the worst things that can happen in the middle of the night. Fortunately for one Montana couple in 2007, Schnautzie the cat was on the case. She woke up her owners to alert them to the danger, preventing a deadly — and explosive — tragedy. People magazine reported that Greg and Trudy Guy adopted Schnautzie from a local pet store in April 2007. They’d gone with hopes of adopting a puppy but instead fell in love with a tiny black kitten. The couple only intended to foster Schnautzie, but she proved herself a hero and became a permanent family member.
nose. Since cats sometimes do strange (and annoying) things, Trudy didn’t think too much of it — until Schnautzie kept at it. Now, Schnautzie had her attention, especially when Trudy noticed her persistently sniffing the air around her. Once fully awake, Trudy noticed a hissing sound somewhere in the house. Getting up to investigate, she found a broken pipe outside her bathroom, pumping gas into the basement. “The gas was just fuming,” Trudy remembered. “Our house was saturated in a short time.” The Guys quickly vacated the house with Schnautzie in tow and called the fire department. Only upon the rescue workers’ arrival did the Guys realize the extent of the danger they had faced. While the gas alone could have killed them, it was also an unseasonably frigid night in October. Had the
heater or water tank turned on, it would have ignited the fumes and caused an explosion.
Schnautzie was a hero to the Guys, but extra treats and a permanent home were thanks enough for her. Still, she received a bit more than that in 2010. The Great Falls Animal Foundation learned how Schnautzie had saved the day and decided to honor her with the Purple Paw Award. While Schnautzie appreciated the thought, Greg said she didn’t enjoy the reception. “She’s shy around strangers,” he explained. But there’s no doubt that Schnautzie deserved her award. Sally Cerny of the animal foundation told Catster.com that the Purple Paw is given to pets who uniquely demonstrate the bond between animals and humans. And, she concluded, “There’s no more special way to show that than to save your family.”
That October, Schnautzie climbed up on Trudy’s chest at 2 a.m. and started pawing at her
You will likely make mistakes on your first day at a new job or while trying out a new habit or activity. But that’s okay! We learn from our mistakes, and it makes room for improvement. For our rookie drivers, we wanted to highlight three errors you should avoid while on the road. DON’T IGNORE ROAD SIGNS! While our phone GPS can direct us to where we want to go, it can sometimes be inaccurate. Perhaps road construction is underway, and roadside workers had to close off the road. Or maybe your GPS wants to take you down a street big trucks shouldn’t be on. Your device may not notify you of speed limit changes or show you a clearance marker. Therefore, paying attention to road signs is crucial even if you’re using GPS navigation designed for professional drivers. “My GPS Made Me Do It” is not a legal defense. REMEMBER YOUR TRAILER. Although you won’t forget to attach your trailer to your truck, always remember it is there while driving. When making sharp turns, you can misjudge your turning distance because of the size of your truck and trailer. ATTENTION ALL FIRST- TIME TRUCK DRIVERS! Try to Avoid These 3 Mistakes
Think through what regular car drivers are seeing as well. They might not imagine the wide berth necessary to get around a corner and cut you off, or they may sneak inside to your blind spot when you take a wide berth and get squeezed. Expect regular drivers to do stupid things because they don’t recognize how a trailer changes the way you have to drive. FUEL UP BEFORE GOING TO A WEIGH STATION. On the interstate, you will likely see signs of weigh stations where you must stop. But before you pull into the station, you should fuel up. Each gallon of fuel weighs about 6 pounds. While it doesn’t seem like much, it can affect your weigh-in, trip time, and gas mileage.
Furthermore, if you know you will be making a long trip with few truck stops, fuel your truck beforehand to save time and stress.
One of the best ways to learn is from those with experience. To our seasoned drivers, do you have any tips or strategies that could help first-time drivers? Please email your inquiries to us or post them on our social media pages. We would love to hear from you and highlight your thoughts in a future edition.
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As most of you know, Tesla announced they would be rolling out their fully electric semitrucks with a 500-mile range in the future. However, Tesla didn’t mention how many would be road worthy or when we would begin to see them on the highways. We Don’t Think We Are! Are We Ready for Electric Semitrucks?
INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION
Thanks to your 54 referrals in January, we were able to donate $1,080 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.
So, what do we know about these electric semitrucks?
According to a Bloomberg article, electric trucks may need as much power as a stadium. The report states, “... by 2030, electrifying a typical highway gas station will require as much power as a professional sports stadium — and that’s mostly just for electrified passenger vehicles.” This begs the question: How will we generate enough power for 2.9 million 40-ton, 18-wheelers that deliver America’s goods and products? What about the 10 million smaller trucks from Amazon, USPS, UPS, FedEx, and others? The only insight the Bloomberg article gave was that we would need “a connection to the grid that can handle more than five megawatts … it can take up to eight years to build and costs tens of millions of dollars. If power upgrades don’t start soon, the transition to electric vehicles — let alone electric trucks — will quickly be constrained by a grid unprepared for the demand.” ARE WE READY FOR ELECTRIC SEMITRUCKS? Electric semitrucks cost $75,000 more than diesel — many can’t afford it. However, experts say these new trucks will be less expensive to maintain. Other than that, based on our perspective, it seems like we are not ready for this transition. While the California Air Resources Board (CARB) can mandate renewable energy trucks and buses, who will fund the facilities responsible for recharging the trucks? Speaking of fueling stations, recharging massive batteries is not like fueling your truck (which only takes a few minutes). How long will it take for electric trucks to recharge to a full battery? Will that cut into our truckers’ road time? Your friends at Bigger & Harman will keep you updated on any news regarding this information. Please be on the lookout for newsletter articles and blog posts on BakersfieldTrafficTickets.com/blog for updates within the trucking industry.
“Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.”
ROMANS 12:9
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, APC HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BIGGER
Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Avoid Breaking the CA Cellphone Laws......... PAGE 1
How a Cat Saved Her Humans’ Lives............... PAGE 2
Good Advice From Experienced Drivers!....... PAGE 2
What’s New With Electric Semitrucks?........... PAGE 3
Want a Vitamin Boost?....................................... 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!
Soak Up the Sunshine Vitamin HEALTH BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D
IT REDUCES THE RISKS OF DEPRESSION. Studies have shown that those who are deficient in vitamin D become more prone to mood disorders and depression. To ensure that you support your mental health, step outside and get some happy, feel-good rays! IT’S POSSIBLY LINKED TO WEIGHT LOSS. While it’s not fully proven that vitamin D helps with weight loss, many studies have found links between vitamin D supplements and shedding a few pounds. In one study, one group of people taking vitamin D and calcium supplements lost more weight than another group taking placebos. IT PREVENTS AND HELPS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. Not only is vitamin D proven to lower a person’s chances of getting this horrible disease, but for those who already have it, it can also reduce symptoms or slow down the disease’s progression. This spring, be sure to get outdoors and soak up some vitamin D; however, don’t forget to protect your skin, too! To avoid overexposure, only about 10–15 minutes a day of unprotected sun is recommended.
With spring on the horizon, we all will be able to get outdoors a little more and soak up some sun — and extra vitamin D! Bring on the picnics, pool days, hiking, sports activities, and leisurely walks through the park!
Let’s take a look at the many benefits this vitamin
provides for our bodies.
IT BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. Vitamin D helps your body fight off sickness. In fact, it’s been proven that deficiencies in vitamin D are connected to an increased possibility of developing infections and autoimmune diseases such as the flu, heart disease, and diabetes. IT COUNTERS OSTEOPOROSIS. Osteoporosis, a loss in bone mass, is common as we get older. However, vitamin D is one of the key players in helping to slow down bone loss and prevent or treat osteoporosis so we can maintain a healthy skeletal system.
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