Bigger & Harman, APC - February 2021

Bigger & Harman, APC - February 2021

BIGGER

THE DAILY DRIVER Attorneys Defending Your Right to the Road

Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS , APC

FEBRUARY 2021

STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT

When I was a kid, I was always very interested in learning about the Civil War. Learning how determined the people were to live up to their ideals and to fight for what they believed in had a huge impact on me. I’ve said it plenty of times before; I particularly admired Abraham Lincoln. His willingness to stand up for what was right and be a man known for keeping his word was inspiring. As a kid, I also felt I could relate to and understand him because we had similar roots. Lincoln was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky, and was raised in a cabin. One could say that he was a country boy who lived away from crowds and had plenty of time to himself and his family. I can relate to this at least because I had a similar childhood. I’m also a country boy who lived up in the mountains with my family and spent a considerable amount of time with my own thoughts. After my parents finished my homeschooling, I’d grab my dog and we’d go for long hikes in the woods around my home. When you’re raised like that, it gives you a lot of time to think, especially about who you are as a person. It’s almost as though it gives you the chance to fully develop or understand your personality. Having ample time to think through life, quite frankly, can make you stubborn. Societal pressures don’t easily sway me because I know who I am, and I know what I stand for; Lincoln was the same way. I believe his country upbringing helped Lincoln become the man he was. He could make those hard decisions in the times of crisis and stand up for what he believed in, even when peers or advisers disagreed.

One decision, in particular, I admire is when he insisted upon Ulysses Grant being in charge of the Union army. George McClellan, the general prior to Grant, was a very cautious individual; his reluctance to attack the Confederacy with force often made him bump heads with Lincoln. So, the president decided he needed someone more willing to act in that time of war and replaced McClellan with Grant. Although Grant did not have incredible wits, he was a fighter. Lincoln knew Grant would not give up, and that was the quality he needed to lead the Union. Many of his advisors wanted to remove Grant from his position at the head of the army, but Lincoln defended him, stating: “I can’t spare this man, he fights.” I believe Lincoln’s character was partly formed in that log cabin he grew up in, spending so much time thinking about life. He became a distinct individual who could recognize certain qualities in people: a rugged individualism and a desire to stand up for what they believed in, no matter what. Lincoln knew these stubborn characteristics combined with a willingness to fight for what was important and not yield to the majority’s opinion just because of numbers were what mattered most.

“His willingness to stand up for what was right and be a man known for keeping his word was inspiring.”

When it comes to how I represent my clients, I strive to be like Lincoln and stand up for my clients’ rights and what I believe, no matter what the obstacles are.

–Mark Bigger

(661) 859-1177 | 1

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Heroes Come in All Sizes

MACKENZIE THE CHIHUAHUA IS ONE BIG HERO

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards competition is an annual celebration that honors some of the world’s most extraordinary canines. The awards recognize dogs that have gone above and beyond the call of duty, whether it’s saving lives on the battlefield, comforting the ill or elderly, or demonstrating just how powerful the bond between humans and animals can be. Winners are crowned in several categories, but the “American Hero Dog” is the top winner selected by expert panelists and a popular vote. It most often goes to dogs who show astute bravery in what they do, and in 2020, that bravery came in a 4-pound package. MacKenzie the Chihuahua bested over 400 competitors to be selected as 2020’s American Hero Dog. Born seven years ago with a cleft palate and severe pneumonia

that nearly took her life, MacKenzie fought hard to overcome her sickness and birth defects. Soon after she defied all odds, her owners noticed her affinity for other animals — despite being tiny compared to many of them. That’s when they gave her a special job: caring for baby animals born with birth defects just like she was. Many of the rescue animals MacKenzie helps care for have medical problems that prohibit them from staying with their mothers, but MacKenzie takes a genuine interest in each baby from the moment they’re introduced, no matter its species or size. She plays nurse, cleans, and comforts them through their recovery, becoming a pseudo-mother that teaches them how to socialize and play. She’s nurtured countless puppies, kittens, birds, squirrels, mice, goats, and turkeys. Despite her tiny size,

she’s even mothered a Great Dane.

In addition to caring for rescued animals, MacKenzie also helps

kids learn to be open-minded about both animals and people with physical differences or disabilities. The Chihuahua teaches the kids kindness and patience and shows them that no matter how small you might be, you can make a big difference. MacKenzie lost her ability to bark very early in life, but she has one of the loudest voices when it comes to speaking for disadvantaged animals. Heroism truly comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms, but MacKenzie demonstrates that the most heroic act of all is exuding compassion for others, no matter their circumstances.

HIRING TRAFFIC ATTORNEYS: THE BEST CHOICE YOU’LL MAKE

Therefore, they know how a judge typically rules, given a specific defense. Even if a driver were to take their case in front of a judge and tell them the exact things an attorney would, a lawyer understands what legal rationalizations to make. This is just one of several reasons to hire a traffic attorney if you’ve gotten a ticket. Many attorneys charge a flat fee, which is far different than the fine and increased insurance rates you will pay from the ticket itself. The fine for a 1–15 mph over speeding ticket is around $238, and 16–24 mph over will cost about $360. Yet, this fine is often miniscule compared to the increased insurance premiums. The increase in auto insurance is typically $500 to $600 per year for the average CA driver. Why does it increase so significantly? In 1988, CA voters approved Proposition 103, which forced the insurance

industry to give a “good driver’s discount” of 20%. As a result, when you get a conviction, they take the discount and then add the increased “risk factor,” depending on how fast you were driving. Additionally, hiring a traffic attorney allows you to continue your business, go into work, or go to school knowing your ticket will be resolved professionally. Even if the ticket cannot be dismissed, a traffic lawyer can often get a reduced no-point conviction where you only pay the fine and keep your “good driver’s discount.” At Bigger & Harman, we are here to help drivers who have been issued a ticket, no matter how fast they may have driven or what conviction they face. If you know someone who has been issued a ticket and needs legal representation, direct them to our office line or our website at BakersfieldTrafficTickets.com.

The fine for a speeding ticket in CA is expensive, particularly when you add the increased auto insurance premium that comes with negligent operator points. Yet, if you dispute your ticket with a traffic attorney at your side, you will come out of the other side in better shape than if you hadn’t. A traffic attorney understands the process of traffic court, its laws, and how to defend their clients. They offer their clients the insight and experience through spending their lives studying nothing but traffic law.

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INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION Thanks to your referrals, we were able to give $1,300 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.

When it comes to speeding tickets, going more than 100 mph is a big deal. A speeding ticket for 100-plus mph has substantial consequences for drivers, some of which we’ve highlighted in previous newsletter editions. Here we highlight five major differences between a regular speeding ticket and a 100 mph speeding ticket that every driver should know. 1. A speeding ticket for less than 100 mph carries a fine of between $238 and $490, while a speeding ticket for over 100 mph has a fine of between $900 and $2,500. The traffic code states that the fine for a 100-mph ticket will not exceed $500, the base fine. However, since the CA governor signed this section of code into law, 10 special interest fees, penalties, and surcharges have been added to bring the actual fine much higher. 2. Though it is not advisable, a driver can go to the courthouse with a regular speeding ticket, plead guilty, pay the fine, and accept traffic violators school (TVS) if eligible. A speeding ticket for 100-plus mph does not allow TVS. 3. The DMV will penalize a driver with two negligent-operator treatment system (NOTS) points for a speeding over 100 mph conviction. A regular speeding ticket is only one NOTS point. 4. Without the benefit of TVS, it costs the average CA driver between $500 and $600 more per year for three years, a total increase of around $1,500–$1,800. A conviction for speeding 100-plus will result in a doubled or tripled auto insurance premium for seven years, which could cost an additional $13,270 for the average CA driver. 5. A traffic court judge has the discretion to suspend a driver’s license for 30 days for 100-plus mph convictions. In these situations, a driver may be forced to call a taxi to get home, though most CA traffic court judges give you time to drive home. If you have been issued a speeding ticket, whether it was for driving over 100 mph or less, you need to fight it. To learn more and start fighting back, call our office at (661) 859-1177. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE SPEEDING OVER 100 VS. REGULAR SPEEDING TICKET

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 4:19

(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

My Shared Stubbornness With Abraham Lincoln.............................................. PAGE 1

A Tiny Dog Is Crowned the Biggest Hero..... PAGE 2

Resolve Your Ticket With Professional Ease............................................. PAGE 2

5 Differences Between Speeding Tickets. .... PAGE 3

Is Dark Chocolate Really Good for Your Heart?........................................................ 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 Truth About Dark Chocolate

As you give and get chocolate for Valentine’s Day (or jump on post-holiday chocolate sales), you’ll probably hear that dark chocolate is healthy for you. Before you decide to incorporate dark chocolate into your daily diet, you should ask yourself what that means. Can dark chocolate really be “healthy”? Studies on dark chocolate’s supposed benefits focus on compounds found within cocoa, specifically flavanols, which are found in most fruits and vegetables (and cocoa!) and help lower blood pressure and reduce low-density lipoproteins, aka “bad” cholesterol. By that notion, dark chocolate does have heart health benefits, but taking advantage of those benefits is not as simple as just eating dark chocolate. Each bar will include a percentage, which indicates the amount of cocoa. The higher the percentage, the better; 70%–80% is considered the sweet spot in

terms of balancing health benefits and flavor, but as the percentage of cocoa increases, the more bitter the chocolate becomes. However, the amount of flavanols found in a typical 1-ounce piece of 80% dark chocolate is very small. Alice H. Lichtenstein, a Gershoff professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University in Boston, says, “Dark chocolate has more flavanols than other types of chocolate; the >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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