Bigger & Harman, APC - July 2021

Bigger & Harman, APC - July 2021

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 2021

TELL THE TRUTH — OR USE YOUR 5TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS

When a person is pulled over on the road, the first question people ask themselves is also the most important: “What do I say?” It can be paralyzing to be in front of a police officer, and if you happen to suffer from anxiety, it may be even more difficult to keep your composure. However, there’s a constitutional right that operates in favor of people in these situations. It’s the Fifth Amendment — the right to remain silent.

why you were pulled over. Just don’t get too carried away with pleading the Fifth by actually saying it and rubbing it in the officer’s face. You don’t want to irritate the officer. The main trick is to let the officer do the talking because you don’t need to. Cooperate when they ask for your license and registration, but just keep in mind that you don’t need to talk during that time. Of course, there’s plenty of ways to deflect questions while talking — just take it from a lawyer. If an officer pulls up to your window, and says, “Do you have any idea how fast you were going?” You could tell them, “Not exactly. What did your radar say?” People often make the mistake of saying, without hesitation, they were “just driving at the speed limit.” That may be true, but if it clearly wasn’t the case, then saying so just causes you to lose credibility with the officer. I’ve also had clients exclaim to officers that they were driving “at 65, not 72!” But in a zone where the speed limit is 55, that’s still an admission of guilt. July 7 is National Tell The Truth Day, but for many of my clients, especially those who may be more frequently targeted by the law, it’s important to remember that while sometimes the truth doesn’t need to be said, at least don’t lie. It normally just makes matters worse. At Bigger & Harman, it’s our honor to represent you in those moments.

“This is what I tell all my clients: The best thing you can do is plead the Fifth — nicely.”

–Paul Harman

We’ve been taught since kindergarten that honesty is the best policy. This is true! If you lie to a police officer, there can be very serious consequences. It can worsen the severity and penalty of your case, turning it into a serious criminal case rather than a simple speeding ticket. Lying to a police officer comes in many forms. Some are tempted to say they were driving slower than they actually were. Some lie about where they are going. Still others use a fake driver’s license. No matter the severity of the lie, it rarely helps and even a little white lie can raise suspicion and lead to greater scrutiny and less leniency. This is what I tell all my clients: The best thing you can do is plead the Fifth — nicely. That is, be polite and conversational, but say as little as possible about

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The Meow at 10,000 Feet

High on the slopes of Bristen, a mountain in the Glarus Alps in central Switzerland, a pair of skiers discovered something unexpected. At 4:30 a.m., the skiers climbed toward the summit of Bristen when they realized they weren’t alone. They were being followed by a cat — not a lynx or a wildcat, but a little mewling house cat. How does a house cat end up on the slopes of a snow-covered, 10,000-foot mountain? This was an answer the skiers wouldn’t get. They weren’t even sure what to do with a cat in general. It’s likely that it simply wandered away from one of the nearby towns or villages near the base of the mountain, but even for a human, that’s a major undertaking. Lost, the cat followed the only sign of civilization it could find: the skiers, Cyril and Erik Rohrer. “She started to shiver, and her paws began to bleed from the hard

snow,” Cyril noted. “We picked her up and carried her when she was too exhausted to walk uphill anymore. We were definitely confused. I felt really sorry for the cat. She was really exhausted on the ridge underneath the summit.” The cat stayed with them for some time before they met up with another group of hikers who were headed down the mountain. The cat joined them for what would hopefully be a journey back home. And it was! Remarkably, the cat’s owners were found. They revealed that their cat had vanished four days earlier and apparently followed yet another group of hikers up Bristen. “Animals do weird things. And they are way tougher than humans. They’ll never give up. Even though they are hurting really, really bad,” Cyril said of his feline hiking companion. Hopefully, that will be the little feline’s last trip up for some time!

WHY HIRE AN ATTORNEY THAT COSTS MORE THAN THE FINE? The Real Cost of a Ticket Is More than the Fine

A TRAFFIC TICKET VS. INCREASED INSURANCE COSTS What most drivers don’t consider is that paying the fine on a ticket will normally trigger increased insurance premiums the next time your insurance company renews your policy. That’s why it’s normally worth it to fight a ticket, especially if you’re unable to keep a violation confidential by attend traffic school. Getting a point on your driving record may get rid of your “good driver” discount and result in you being considered a higher risk to insure. One may see a premium increase of more than 30% for three years for a first-time offense. That increased expense will usually dwarf the fine of the ticket. Before paying for a ticket or appearing in court yourself, be sure to reach out to an experienced traffic attorney to consider your options. An attorney may be able to help you get the ticket dismissed or reduced to a less severe violation. That would save you from paying the whole fine, but more importantly, may eliminate the risk of increased insurance premiums for three years.

Most traffic attorneys charge a flat fee for handling a traffic ticket. Because California traffic ticket fines are so expensive, often the attorney’s fee is less than the fine amount. However, sometimes the reverse is true. Some people then wonder why it may be worth it to hire an attorney in that situation. California fines typically range from around $160 for a cellphone ticket to $2,100 for speeding over 100 miles per hour. Obviously, it seems much easier to justify hiring an attorney when one is facing a fine of more than $2,000, but what about for a simple $160 cellphone ticket? On July 1, the DMV will start assessing one Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) point for a cellphone ticket if you have a prior within 36 months. That’s a game-changer. Once that goes into effect, the $160 fine is just the beginning. A cellphone violation will soon count toward a license suspension (4 NOTS points in a 12-month period). Additionally, one will face increased insurance premiums.

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DID YOU GET A RED LIGHT TICKET? GOOD NEWS: YOU’RE NOT OUT OF LUCK

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION Thanks to your referrals, we were able to give $820 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.

We’ve all been in a situation where we were going fairly fast, but the traffic light suddenly changes. Stopping too suddenly would seem dangerous — what do we do? If you run a red light in California, the fine alone can cost around $500, plus the cost of traffic school or increased insurance premiums. However, the red light camera ticket system is not always perfect.

PREVENTING RED LIGHT CAMERA TICKETS Remember: Entering the intersection when the light is red will trigger the camera. The best way to avoid a red light camera ticket is to slow down when the light turns yellow if you can’t safely enter the intersection before the light turns red. Don’t be tempted to speed to get through the intersection because you may end up with a speeding ticket trying to avoid the red light ticket! If you do enter the intersection late, you may trigger the camera and see the bright flash. Don’t forget to check your mail after that! If the address on your vehicle’s registration isn’t current, the ticket may be sent to your old address. So check with the local court after a few weeks if you’ve moved recently. DEFENSES FOR RED LIGHT CAMERA TICKETS If the traffic camera did not get a clear image of you and you receive a ticket in the mail, you stand a good chance of having the charges dismissed. However, it is not a guarantee and the process can be time- consuming without using a traffic ticket attorney. A ticket can also be dismissed if the camera is found to have been malfunctioning, or if the video clearly shows that you were avoiding an accident. A knowledgeable attorney will advise that you not tell the police or court officials who was driving. You are not required to inform the court of the driver’s identity. It is up to law enforcement to prove that you were the driver. Law enforcement officers examine the still photos and video before mailing out the ticket and will come to court with the images and video to make their case. If you need the most seasoned attorneys to help you challenge your red light ticket to prevent your insurance premiums from going up, just give us a call. We look forward to fighting for you!

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23

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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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1701 Westwind Drive Suite 203 Bakersfield, CA 93301

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Tell the Truth — Or Use Your 5th Amendment Rights.......................................... PAGE 1

The Miraculous Mountain Cat........................ PAGE 2

How Traffic Attorneys Save You Money...... PAGE 2

How to Beat a Red Light Camera Ticket.... PAGE 3

Wake Up Without Coffee — Really!............. 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!

3 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine DON’T REACH FOR THE COFFEE

If you can’t start your day without your daily cup — or cups — of joe, you’re not alone. More than 450 million cups of coffee are consumed by U.S. residents every day, and unfortunately, heavy caffeine consumption may not be healthy. (It’s a big reason why celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey, and Kim Kardashian don’t drink it!) Moderate amounts of caffeine can improve your mental health, and some studies suggest it could even prevent some chronic conditions. However, there are major downsides to overconsumption, which equates to about more than four cups of coffee each day. These can include high blood pressure, addiction symptoms, and decreased mentality.

knee. Switch to the other side and repeat as needed. Finally, pull your head toward your shoulders to loosen your neck.

GO FOR A WALK When you wake up in the morning, head outside! Movement stimulates your brain and improves your mood, and

the act of walking is relaxing enough that it doesn’t require much effort on your part. Plus, it’s a great way to get your steps in, wake up slowly, and get outside before a busy day. JUST BREATHE This might sound like it will lull you to sleep, but there are actually some breathing techniques that can help you wake up! The “breath of fire” is a rapid-fire breathing technique, during which you inhale deeply, exhale deeply, inhale deeply again, and then exhale quickly. Repeat this as needed. Other practices that focus on breathing, like yoga, can be effective, too.

If you want to break out of the caffeine cycle and reduce how much coffee you drink, try replacing that cuppa with one of these methods!

STRETCH After lying in one position all night, your body may feel stiff and achy. Stretching awakens your muscles and helps you break out of that groggy morning feeling. Start with your back and do some slow core twists. Then, sit on the floor and lay your legs out in front of you. Stretch forward, then sit back up. Next, position your right foot on the opposite side of your left knee. Keeping your hips centered, turn your torso toward your right foot so that your right arm is on your right

Waking up isn’t an exact science, but once you find a healthy method that works for you, you may never need coffee again. (Gasp!)

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