Bigger & Harman, APC - July 2020
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
JULY 2020
MY LAWN MOWING BUSINESS AT 10 YEARS OLD HOW A SUMMER JOB HELPED ME THROUGH MY EDUCATION
homemade cookies, tea, lemonade, or ginger beer. They all took care of “their lawn guy” and I made sure to take care of them, too.
When I was about 10 or 12, I started my own sort of lawn mowing “business.” It began back in Connecticut, where I grew up, when I was just mowing my neighbor’s lawn with the tiny mower my dad loaned me. It was the first job I ever had, and I worked in the summers when I was in middle school and high school. I grew the business in my mid-teen years because the hard work in the summer sun paid significantly better than most jobs that were available to teens. What I didn’t realize at the time was that hard work and effort would influence the rest of my life. I started by reaching out to my close neighbors. Over the span of eight years, I used a lot of different methods to get my name out there. At one point, I made my own flyers and left them at people’s doors, but the most successful means of reaching people was word of mouth. One year, I took care of my trumpet teacher’s lawn, and he told a lot of his friends about me. The elderly women in bridge clubs were some of my best advertisements. They would talk to one another about their lawn mower guy and how much they liked me. They’d pass my name around and give me all sorts of treats when I came to mow. The usual snacks included Klondike bars or
During the early years of getting into the lawn mowing business, I realized that if I could mow more efficiently, I could make more money. So I began to put some of my earnings aside to purchase a large commercial mower of my own. As I saved, I started to realize that what I was doing could have a significant impact on my future. By saving up money, I could invest in my future and my education, so that’s what I aimed to do. I started to save with the perfect mower in mind. I wanted an expensive one that had a wide reach but not too expensive so as to make the investment not worth it. Riding mowers were usually very expensive than push mowers and, knowing I wanted to go to law school later in life, I didn’t want to spend too much money on the equipment. By the time I was 16, I had saved several thousand dollars, enough to buy the perfect mower. It cost more than my first two vehicles combined, both of which were cheap trucks to get me around town. It was a Bobcat 48” walk- behind mower. For the next few years, that mower helped me increase my productivity and performance pretty drastically, and it helped me save up even more. By the time I graduated high school, I had saved up enough to help me through law school, and even a few unpaid internships. When I left home, I decided to put my lawn mowing business to rest. I left my expensive mower and the rest of my nice yard tools with my dad, who still uses them to take care of his yard. When I visit my parents over the summer, I still like to fire the mower up and take it for a spin around the yard for old time’s sake. While my first job and business helped support me financially for a long time, it also built my work ethic. Often, I’d find myself working on long, hot summer days, and it wasn’t fun a lot of the time. But learning to work through hard things for great end results is beneficial in all aspects of life. This lesson also applies to everyone coming into our office to start a case. Many people who come into the office hoping to fight a traffic ticket hesitate regarding the upfront cost it takes to hire a lawyer. But like my decision to invest in top-of-the-line mowing equipment in order to enjoy long-term profits, the benefits that follow the initial cost are worthwhile.
–Paul Harman
(661) 859-1177 | 1
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
A MEAL FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
MEALS ON WHEELS GOES THE EXTRA MILE
Meals on Wheels doesn’t often get the credit it deserves. The international nonprofit ensures those who are unable to buy or make their own meals get the food they need to survive. Of course, for many recipients, the efforts of the organization go far beyond “survival.” For those who receive food daily or weekly, those deliveries may be their only source of social interaction. And during times of social distancing, the program became more important than ever. Meals on Wheels doesn’t just serve meals to the elderly and people with disabilities — it also serves those people’s pets. In 2019, Meals on Wheels Atlanta realized there was a huge need in their community to feed the pets of senior citizens. It stands to reason that if an elderly individual is unable to shop or cook for themselves, their pets may be in a similar predicament.
And when someone’s pet is their entire world, making sure the animal is fed and healthy means everything. In response to this need, Meals on Wheels Atlanta began stocking up on cat and dog food, creating its own pantry to serve the local pet community. When volunteers made their rounds delivering meals to seniors, they made sure to bring cat and dog food along, too. One volunteer with Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Larry Auberbach, had a unique experience delivering meals to Jeffery Jones and his dog, Grizzly. The volunteer told 11Alive News in Atlanta that Jeffery and Grizzly “have their own special relationship.” Larry loved Grizzly long before Meals on Wheels Atlanta started the pet pantry because he saw how much Grizzly’s companionship meant to Jeffery.
Now, Larry enjoys his service that much more since he gets to provide for Jeffery’s beloved pet as well. On top of delivering food to seniors and their pets, Meals on Wheels Atlanta also delivers pet toys and pet beds, and they are happy to take in any pet-related food or items for donation. The organization says this endeavor was done out of love, not only for the people they serve but also for the whole family — wagging tails, fuzzy whiskers, and all.
A SUDDEN CHANGE IN WEATHER
forecast along your route. By doing so, you can prepare yourself for potential bad weather. If you’re traveling through areas prone to hurricanes or tornadoes, knowing about delays and warnings well in advance might help you avoid disaster. Likewise, if you’re traveling through areas more prone to flash floods, you can better prepare yourself if you come across one or plan an alternative route. USE WEATHER APPS The best tool at your disposal is your phone. To keep up with the weather, track your route, and predict weather along your route, download a weather app. Even though most phones come with a built-in weather app, explore other options and download the best app available to accurately predict the weather you’ll likely face on your route. The Weather Channel app is free and available for Android and iPhone. It comes with an assortment of meteorological data, interactive weather
maps, and Doppler radar data. This app allows you to track current and future weather events, check the temperature, and receive severe weather warnings all while out on the road. KNOW YOUR TRUCK STOPS In addition to keeping an eye on the weather, make sure you’re aware of the truck stops along your route. While many truckers already know the stops they pass, when you’re driving through an area with weather warnings, knowing where the stops are is essential. In the case of an emergency, truck stops can provide respite until the storm blows over. While many truckers — both seasoned and new — know the importance of planning their routes before setting off, these strategies are good to remember.
TRUCKERS, BE PREPARED
Truckers often face all kinds of weather, whether they’re driving in California or elsewhere. While ice and snow may not be the main concern in July, the summer brings a torrent of thunderstorms, flash floods, hurricanes, extreme heat, and tornadoes across the country. Drivers must be prepared for unexpected turns in the weather. Here are a few helpful tips to better protect yourself and other drivers while out on the road. CHECK THE FORECAST Before you head out on your trip, do some research and check the weather
Stay safe out there!
2 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
CONSEQUENCES OF PAYING YOUR SPEEDING TICKET LATE OUR ATTORNEYS ARE HERE TO HELP
INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION Thanks to your referrals, we were able to give $620 to fight human trafficking. To learn more about International Justice Mission, please go to IJM.com. 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.
Receiving a speeding ticket is a frustrating thing. While you know you need to pay it right away, doing so can easily slip your mind, particularly if you’re busier than usual or if receiving the ticket was an especially unpleasant experience. But what happens when you forget to pay your ticket on time? ADDED VIOLATIONS AND LICENSE HOLD When you signed your speeding ticket, you made a contract between yourself and the People of the State of California. Like many contracts, you will be bound to it until the contract is fulfilled or until your arraignment, where you can plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. If the ticket is not paid or you fail to appear to fight your case, the court will add a violation for failing to appear and put a hold on your license. For truck drivers, this could be devastating, as it could lead to the suspension of their CDL. FEE INCREASES In the State of California, a person who receives a speeding ticket will typically have 60-90 days to pay the fine or contest it in court. If you don’t handle the ticket on time, the court may assign an additional fee to the ticket, which is normally around $300. At this point, the court gives the violator a period of time to pay both of these fees. If neither is paid, the court will often send your case to collections. DRIVER’S LICENSE SUSPENSION If you fail to take care of a license hold for too long, you may end up with a license suspension. This can put commercial drivers in a stressful situation. In order to pay the fine, you need income, but with a suspended license, you lack the means to get a paycheck. If you’re a California driver, the DMV will normally mail you a warning letter first. But, to solve the problem, you must handle the ticket with the court — not the DMV. After an appearance or payment is made on the case, the court should notify the DMV to allow you to reinstate your license if it has been suspended. Before taking action against your speeding ticket, talk to a traffic defense attorney. Our attorneys at Bigger & Harman can help you take the correct course of action and help reduce or avoid the negative consequences of the ticket you received.
“... ONE THING I DO: FORGETTING WHAT IS
BEHIND AND STRAINING TOWARD WHAT IS AHEAD, I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS”
–PHILIPPIANS 3:13–14
(661) 859-1177 | 3
, 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
Mowing Lawns Helped Me Through Law School........................... PAGE 1
How Meals on Wheels Atlanta Stepped Up for Its Community......... PAGE 2
Keep Truckin’ No Matter What Mother Nature Throws at You ......... PAGE 2
Your Livelihood at Risk ..................... PAGE 3
National Ice Cream Day Prompts Homemade Creations . ...................... 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!
Whether you’re a fan of mint chocolate chip or just plain vanilla, nothing cools you down on a hot summer day quite like ice cream. It’s only fitting then that National Ice Cream Day lands on July 19 — right in the middle of the hottest month in the U.S. Ice cream’s history stretches as far back as 500 B.C. when Middle Eastern royalty combined sweet flavors with ice for a cool treat. Ice cream made its way to North America in the 1700s, and it remained a dessert for the wealthy and famous for years. George Washington even spent $200 on ice cream throughout the summer of 1790. (That would be $5,611.20 in today’s dollars!) Thankfully, these days you don’t have to be rich to enjoy ice cream. In fact, you can even save money by making it yourself! Celebrate National Ice Cream Day by creating this everyday treat using these tips. MAKE IT HOW YOU WANT IT. You can flavor your ice cream however you’d like, but there are a few basic ingredients that are necessary for most batches: milk, sugar, gelatin, and eggs. Dairy-based products like milk are the most common foundation for ice cream. Sugar adds the sweet, scrumptious flavor we all love, and gelatin aids in thickening the mixture. The eggs happen to be one of the most important ingredients because they give ice cream its classic Celebrate National Ice Cream Day BY MAKING YOUR OWN SWEET TREAT!
texture while reducing the rate at which it melts. This ensures your ice cream remains in near “mint” condition as you enjoy it. Healthy Alternatives: Use bananas or almond milk for dairy-free ice cream. For vegan ice cream, use agar powder instead of gelatin and eggs. For those looking to avoid sugar, honey is a naturally sweet substitute. GET TO WORK! You’ll need to heat your ingredients on the stove prior to churning and cooling your ice cream. An ice-cream churner is the easiest way to create a perfectly smooth texture, but if you’re looking for an activity to wear out the kids, then have them shake their own ice cream! Simply place all your ingredients in a small baggie, close it up, and place that baggie in a larger one with ice cubes. Shake firmly for at least 15 minutes for homemade creamy goodness.
4 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker