Bigger & Harman, APC - June 2019

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BIGGER

DAILY

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

JUNE 2019

AT THE WHEEL

LESSONS FROM MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER

With Father’s Day right around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about the legacy and example the men in my family have left me. Both my grandfather and father have helped shape how I view the world. Without them, I might be in an entirely different line of work. Their traditions and values have — in a very real way — paved my path to being the best lawyer I can be. It all started with the open road. In my very first article in this newsletter, I recalled the memory of my grandfather taking me on motorcycle rides when I was a boy. It felt amazing to have the wind on my face and the road rushing beneath my feet. Memories like those sparked my love of driving, and admittedly, the love of speed that sometimes got me in trouble in my early driving years. But it was the work my grandfather and father depended on that would define my professional career. Both my father and grandfather made their livings as professional drivers at some point during their careers. My grandfather was a trucker, braving the Grapevine with his son occasionally in the passenger seat. That son would go on to shuttle people across Oregon on the I-5 from Corvallis up to PDX airport. In fact, my father still holds a professional driver’s license today, ferrying senior citizens who are too old to drive themselves in a shuttle. It’s this tradition that makes me passionate about representing drivers across the Central Valley. Every traffic lawyer will tell you they understand how scary it is to have your license at risk — how they know your family depends on your driving. Well, I was a member of one of those families. While I don’t doubt many of these lawyers have sympathy for their clients, very few have the empathy that comes from directly experiencing their situation.

about personal responsibility and looking out for other people through his example on the road. That’s why when I think back to childhood memories of my father, I often picture him in the driver’s seat. Naturally, as a driving family we took plenty of road trips. From Oregon, we’d drive to see family in Walla Walla and Yakima, Washington. When my sister was old enough to go to college, we drove her all the way to Southern California. That was my first time going through the central and southern part of California, and I have to say, the traffic was a culture shock.

“... when I think back to childhood memories of my father, I always picture him in the driver’s seat.”

From winding through northwest mountain roads to navigating the crowded city streets, my father kept a sharp eye on the road. He always emphasized how important it was to keep us and other people on the road safe. To this day, the image of my father at the wheel captures my idea of what it means to be a responsible, conscientious man. That’s why Paul and I like to say we’re at the wheel of this firm. We have a responsibility to our clients and staff to be the best lawyers and employers we can be, keeping our eyes on the road for any challenges ahead.

We won’t steer you wrong,

But, of course, I owe more than just my professional outlook to my father. In raising me, he taught me

–Mark Bigger

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ANCIENT INVENTIONS LOST TO THE AGES WE STILL DON’T KNOW HOW THEY WERE MADE

Even as the modern world becomes more technologically advanced, we still haven’t been able to uncover all the secrets of some ancient civilizations. From waterproof fire to unbreakable steel, these carefully guarded inventions were taken to the grave and have never been recreated or rediscovered. Like the civilizations that birthed them, they have been lost in time.

variously shaped stones is still unknown, but its construction allowed the citadel to withstand earthquakes for centuries.

DAMASCUS STEEL

GREEK FIRE

SAKSAYWAMAN BLOCKS

In 500 A.D., superior swords and knives began to appear in the Middle East. It was said that their blades could cut through a feather midair and that they were stronger than any other metal. “Damascus steel” was named for Damascus, Syria, the city where the steel was supposedly created. However, the secret to creating the blades was in the steel ingots from India used to make them, called Wootz steel. The technique for creating Damascus steel was lost in the 18th century, and though many have tried, no one has been able to replicate Wootz or Damascus steel.

There’s a reason the Byzantine Empire ruled the land and sea in Eastern Europe for seven centuries. That reason was Greek fire, an incredibly flammable, petroleum- based substance that the Byzantines used to incinerate their enemies. It was unique from other incendiary materials because water purportedly did not put out the fire. Some even reported that water helped it spread. Its composition was carefully guarded by the Byzantines, and with the decline of their empire, the secret ingredients for Greek fire were lost.

On the other side of the world, the ancient Incans built an awe-inspiring citadel outside Cusco, the capital city of their empire. It was called Saksaywaman, and it functioned as a fortress, temple, and storage depot. However, it is not the function of the citadel that is mysterious, but the architecture. The walls of Saksaywaman are made with large stones, some weighing 200 tons, that are cut so precisely that mortar was not necessary to hold them together. The technique the Incan stonemasons used to fit the

DON’T RISK YOUR VISA!

A SIMPLE MISTAKE CAN HAVE MAJOR CONSEQUENCES

In California, we’re lucky to attract hardworking professionals from all over the world who come to live and work here on visas. Of course, because some of these individuals overstay their limited time in the US, agencies like ICE have been stepping up their enforcement efforts around the country. This heightened scrutiny can turn a simple speeding ticket into a full blown investigation. A SPEEDING TICKET CAN’T COST ME MY VISA, RIGHT? In theory, this is correct. A simple “fix-it ticket” or minor traffic infraction shouldn’t cost you your right to live and work here — only misdemeanors or felony charges carry that kind of weight. However, in practice, the way you conduct yourself during the traffic stop can determine whether immigration officials come knocking at your door. WHAT’S PROPER CONDUCT? We normally urge drivers to exercise their Fifth Amendment rights when being questioned at a traffic stop regarding the reason for the pullover. However, the worst thing you can do is

lie about your identity or other material fact. Be polite. Give the requested information to the officer not related to the offense and remember that normally fewer words on a stop are better. If immigration finds you lied to law enforcement, your chances of getting or keeping the legal status you want in the United States is much smaller. WHAT IF I DRIVE FOR A LIVING? This is where even a minor infraction could have major consequences for your visa. Under U.S. law, you must satisfy all the conditions of your visa for it to remain active. Thus, if having your license suspended means you are unable to do the job you came here to do, then your visa can be revoked. That’s where an experienced team of traffic attorneys comes in. If a traffic-related offense is putting your visa status at risk, our team can help. Even if you must be back in your home country during your appointed traffic court date, your legal representatives can show up in your place to defend your right to re-enter our nation legally.

2 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com

DRIVE FOR UBER? TICKETS COST YOU MORE

HAVE A LAUGH

For many people in the Central Valley, becoming a rideshare driver is an attractive option for part-time or full-time employment. In Bakersfield, Uber drivers make an average of $42,000 a year — not bad for essentially getting to be your own boss. But this newer line of work isn’t without risk. If you’ve made the transition to rideshare driving, traffic tickets are no longer just an inconvenience. They’re a threat to your livelihood. THE THREE IN THREE RULE Any California rideshare driver gets three strikes against their license in three years before they’re out of the game. Unlike regular drivers, who can rack up eight Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) strikes in three years before their license is suspended, companies like Uber hold their drivers to a higher standard. In fact, they treat their “private contractors” much the same way trucking companies treat their drivers, even though ridesharers aren’t required to hold a commercial driver’s license. Yet, Uber still makes use of the Employer Pull Notice (EPN) program, which lets them receive reports on your driving performance from the state. THE COST OF SPEEDING Under state law, a speeding ticket is one strike against your license. Normally, this minor infraction is little more than a bad day for your average driver. So long as your driver’s license isn’t on the line, you pay the ticket and move on. But for those in the rideshare industry, even a low-cost speeding ticket puts your employment in jeopardy, regardless of whether you were “on the clock” when you were pulled over. One little ticket means you only have two more strikes left over three full years of driving. A big ticket can sideline you. FENDER BENDERS AND MORE Worse still is the cost of “at-fault” accidents. Not only does this count as two strikes, but you and your insurance are on the hook for damages. Even if you were driving “on the clock” for Uber, their insurance won’t come to your aid — it only exists to protect them from civil suits. On top of the risk to your livelihood, you face increased premiums, repairs, and injuries from your accident. This is why rideshare drivers should fight any questionable infractions they receive, even minor speeding tickets. An expert traffic attorney from our team at Bigger & Harman can keep you employed and on the road.

PUZZLE

BEACH BREAK FUN HOT

JUNE OUTSIDE PLAY SUMMER

SUN TAN TRAVEL VACATION

(661) 859-1177 | 3

, APC HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BIGGER

Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com Thanks to your referrals, we were able to give $600 to fight human trafficking. To learn more about International Justice Mission, please go to www.IJM.com

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Lessons From My Father and Grandfather ............................... PAGE 1

3 Ancient Inventions That Puzzle Historians ................................ PAGE 2

What Visa Holders Need to Know ............ PAGE 2

Uber Drivers Pay More for Tickets ............ PAGE 3

Exploring the River of No Return ............. 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!

There’s more to Idaho than potatoes. Sitting square in the center of the Gem State is one of the largest contiguous areas of protected wilderness in the U.S. While the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area may not roll off the tongue as easy as Yellowstone or Yosemite, this 2 million-acre swath of mountains, gorges, and alpine lakes offers something for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. RIVER OF NO WHAT, NOW? The name of the wilderness may sound a little ominous at first — who wants to travel down a river of no return? — but in truth, it’s a title from times gone by when canoes and small watercraft could travel down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River swiftly but couldn’t fight the current going back up. Today, those same rapids make the Middle Fork a wildly popular whitewater rafting destination, with plenty of local and out-of- state enthusiasts making a return journey every summer. RAFTING ISN’T FOR ME. WHAT ELSE YOU GOT? If crashing down 300 Class III rapids isn’t your speed, the Frank Church Wilderness has plenty of other ways to enjoy the wild mountain country. There are several lodges that were grandfathered in to the wilderness area, most of which are only accessible by jet boat, light JOURNEY DOWN A RIVER OF NO RETURN THE UNSPOILED BEAUTY OF CENTRAL IDAHO

aircraft, or good old-fashioned hiking. Some, like the Middle Fork Lodge, offer five-star accommodations, located conveniently close to one of the area’s many natural hot springs. Those with the right permits will find the rivers and lakes full of fishing opportunities, and the surrounding pine forests are teeming with game. LODGES? I JUST WANT TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL. For those looking for a truly unplugged experience, backpacking to the many campsites scattered throughout the region can be an incredible journey. If you spend a night beside the crystal-clear waters of Langer Lake, hundreds of miles away from any light pollution, you’ll find peace, quiet, and a sky bursting with stars. If you’ve ever wanted to experience a truly untamed part of the United States, Idaho is the hidden gem you’ve been looking for.