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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 TEAM PLAYER HELPING WIN CASES, ONE DETAIL AT A TIME Our firm is known for helping countless clients successfully challenge traffic tickets. Some of our great team members work long hours behind the scenes making sure we take advantage of every possible route to acquittal for our clients. A key player in this effort is our team member, Kristina. Kristina helps prepare clients’ cases for trial by written declaration. This legal process allows people who have received traffic tickets to challenge them in writing. If clients lose a trial by declaration, they still have the right to go to court for a trial in person. This gives us more opportunities for a good result — basically, a chance to take a second bite of the apple. However, trials in writing require timely gathering of evidence, meeting tight filing deadlines, and following up efficiently on judges’ decisions. Kristina excels at these tasks. She makes sure our clients’ written filings meet every requirement, including payment of the right amount of bail, a formal trial request, and a clean presentation of legal arguments drafted by Paul or me. Sometimes we also include a personal statement from the defendant, and evidence in support of our case, such as photos or diagrams. Kristina does all this while also helping other team members answer dozens of calls a day, always with a cheerful attitude and a willingness to help anyone who needs it. Kristina didn’t imagine early in her career that she would find work in the legal field. At the University of California, Merced, where she earned a degree in literature, an advisor told her that her knowledge of literary criticism would be helpful in a law career. “I never gave it much thought at the time, but perhaps that was a sign of things to come,” Kristina says. A longtime resident of Bakersfield, Kristina had worked in human services for about five years when she noticed a 2021 job posting by ‘a local, fast-paced traffic law office.’ “I took a chance and applied,” she says, but she was nervous about changing fields. “Trying to convince two seasoned attorneys that you deserve to work for them would be nerve-wracking for anyone.” As it turned out, her worries were groundless. Kristina has been doing a great job for us ever since, filing as many as 100–200 requests each month for trials by declaration and handling a variety of other tasks, too.
JULY 2024
Kristina credits her parents, who are both Marines, for her strong sense of responsibility and commitment. Asked what she likes most about her job, she says it’s hard to pick just one thing. “The office as a whole has a type of rapport that makes even some of the most challenging projects easy to overcome,” Kristina says. She appreciates “seeing all the hard work and effort everyone puts into each case” and the care and empathy team members show for clients. In her free time, Kristina says, “I’m a bit of a nerd,” with a love for video games, including “The Legend of Zelda” series and Tetris. She enjoys personal writing and outings with a co-worker exploring “every locally owned coffee shop we can find. That typically evolves into a full day of caffeinated drinks, shopping at antique stores, and watching horror movies,” she says. Kristina also mainlines music from many genres during most of her waking hours, from hip-hop and classical to jazz and K-pop. “My Spotify Wrapped is a roller coaster ride,” Kristina shares. Like the hard-working truck drivers she helps, Kristina goes all-in to produce the best possible results for those she serves. And we are grateful for her presence every day.
–Mark Bigger
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A CAT’S NOSE KNOWS
FLUFFY’S HEROIC DEED SAVES A VETERAN
FLUFFY TO THE RESCUE One fateful day, at around 8 a.m., Ron slipped and fell on his way out of the shower. He landed on
In 2020, Ron Williams, a Korean War veteran in his mid-80s, lived alone. His only lifeline was his Life Alert, a small device designed to alert health care officials if an emergency occurred. That was until he was gifted a black-and-white spotted cat named Fluffy. From the moment they met, it was clear the two would make a perfect pair. But what Ron didn’t know was that he had been given more than a companion — he had been given a savior. FELINE FRIEND While Ron did not have many people to talk to, he did have Fluffy. The two shared mostly one-sided conversations, likely interspersed with the occasional meow. Whenever Ron received a call on his cellphone, he got in the habit of saying, “Ring-a-ding.” While the two shared a deep bond, Ron never considered that Fluffy was actually listening.
his arm, which became pinned under him. His Life Alert, which he had relied upon for situations like this, was charging in the other room. His cellphone, his only other
means of calling for help, was on the bathroom counter, out of reach. The hours ticked away, and Ron lay in agonizing pain on the bathroom floor. At just past midnight the next day, Ron had an idea. Fluffy had wandered into the bathroom to check on his friend. “Ring-a-ding,” Ron told him, and Fluffy knew to retrieve his phone and bring it to him. Ron was able to call for help in time to save his life. Fluffy’s quick thinking prevented tragedy. This heroic act is a great reminder that our pets care — and listen — more than we may ever give them credit for.
“I just fell in love with him,” Ron said of Fluffy in an interview with FOX17 in Michigan. As it turned out, Fluffy loved him back.
STAY IN THE CLEAR
Get Legal Help With a Lane Violation Rap
A citation for a lane violation in California is one of the biggest potential headaches facing commercial truck drivers. Police officers, professional truck drivers, and motorists in other vehicles can easily disagree about whether a trucker’s lane change was safe or not. Big trucks are confined by California law to the right lane on roads with three lanes or less. On four-lane highways, tractor-trailers may only use the two right lanes. More than a dozen other states place restrictions on truckers’ use of left lanes, but California’s laws are among the toughest. If you are cited for a lane violation, understanding the nuances of defending yourself is essential. Several types of
evidence could help you avoid a conviction. Road conditions are important to note. Rain, snow, ice, or fog could serve as evidence that you had a legitimate need to change lanes. Also, if you moved over to avoid debris, potholes, or other hazards, this could support your argument that you were putting safety first. If you were navigating through heavy traffic and you needed to change lanes to maintain a safe speed, this will support your defense. Similarly, if another vehicle suddenly swerved into your lane, you may be able to show you had to change lanes to avoid a crash. Courts also consider whether you put on your signal in advance of a lane change, so gathering any evidence that you signaled your intention is important.
Defending yourself against a lane violation ticket can be complicated. An experienced traffic attorney can help you build the strongest possible defense. If you are tempted to simply pay the fine, be aware that paying the fine is considered an admission of guilt. Lane violations are considered serious enough to be recorded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. That conviction will stay on your record for three years, and any subsequent convictions will result in suspension of your commercial license. Don’t hesitate to call our firm if you have been cited for a lane violation. We will be happy to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at your convenience to plan the best possible strategy for your defense.
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Speeding tickets are among the most common traffic violations, and the stakes for truckers who get one are high. Convictions can result in a steep fine, lost employment, skyrocketing insurance on trucks, and restrictions on driving. SPEEDING TICKET MYTHS TO AVOID TICKET TACTICS
Your Referrals Make a Difference! Thanks to your 68 referrals in June, we were able to donate $860 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 .
If you are ticketed for speeding, knowing your options under the law is essential. Here are four misconceptions about speeding tickets to avoid.
First, your ticket will not automatically be thrown out if the arresting officer does not show up in court. Law enforcement officers are required to appear for your trial but not for your arraignment. Hoping they fail to show is hardly a strong defense. It’s a gamble, with your driving privileges as table stakes. A better path is to work with an experienced traffic attorney who can advise you on whether the officer is likely to appear, what procedures to use to increase the odds of a good result, when to negotiate to avoid points, and what arguments to use if the officer does show up to get the charges dismissed anyway. Second, some truck drivers believe they should just take traffic school if ticketed in their private vehicle. This is not true either. You have a legal right to dispute any ticket and the advantages of traffic school for a trucker are not as great as for a Class C driver. A conviction is not confidential for truck drivers even if they take traffic school. The point is avoided, but your employer, insurer, and the feds all can still hold the speeding ticket against you. Third, some people believe they can ignore a speeding ticket if they were cited outside their home state. Don’t do it! The states have an agreement to share information about drivers’ citations and cooperate in enforcing safety laws. If you have a speeding ticket from another state, California has the right to assess penalties until you resolve it. Finally, a common belief is that your speeding ticket will be thrown out if the officer makes a clerical error, such as writing the wrong vehicle code. This doesn’t usually happen. If an officer makes a mistake, they might file a correction with the court or ask the judge at your hearing to change it.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
While judges should deny an in-court request, they may grant it if you appear without an attorney and don’t insist on correct procedures. If you have received a speeding ticket, reach out to an experienced traffic ticket attorney to help you plan your response. We will be happy to meet with you for a free, no- obligation consultation.
ROMANS 15:13 NIV
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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
Meet Kristina, a Key Behind-the-Scenes Player at B&H........................................................ PAGE 1
How a Cat Saved an Army Veteran in Need..... PAGE 2
Safeguard Against Lane Violation Convictions............................................................ PAGE 2
Don’t Believe These Myths About Speeding Tickets!.................................................. PAGE 3
A Guide to Vitamin D-Rich Foods.................... 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!
THE IMPORTANCE OF A VITAMIN D-RICH DIET FOOD FOR THOUGHT
NATURAL SOURCES OF VITAMIN D If you are searching for a natural vitamin D source, you will likely have to get your feet wet. Some of the best natural sources of vitamin D are fatty fish like salmon, herring, sardines, and tuna. While a 3.5-ounce serving of farmed salmon contains about 526 IU, a serving of wild-caught salmon may contain significantly more and may even exceed the daily
ARTIFICIAL SOURCES OF VITAMIN D If you do not mind using artificial sources to hit your daily recommended dose of vitamin D, then your best bet is a supplement. A great source is cod liver oil, which contains 450 IU of vitamin D per teaspoon. For those who don’t enjoy seafood, fortified milk is a great way to hit your daily recommended intake. No matter how you acquire your vitamin D, the benefits are worth the effort. From helping revitalize cell growth to keeping your bones strong and healthy, vitamin D is a nutrient you should consider incorporating more of into your diet.
Vitamin D, best known as the “sunshine vitamin,” is uniquely both a nutrient we eat and a hormone our body makes when exposed to sunlight. While our bodies need vitamin D to absorb calcium, allowing us to build and fortify our bones, it does far more than that. The fat-soluble vitamin is also an anti-inflammatory and helps our brains and immune systems function. According to the Mayo Clinic, the daily recommendation for vitamin D intake for the vast majority of the population is around 600 international units or IU. However, unlike many other nutrients, not many foods naturally contain a large amount of vitamin D. Whether natural or fortified, here are the best foods to add to your diet to help you hit the recommended daily vitamin D intake.
recommendation. A 3.5-ounce serving of herring or sardines
will net you around 200 IU, or about a third of your daily recommended vitamin D. You can also obtain trace amounts of vitamin D from foods such as egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver.
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