Bigger & Harman, APC - May 2020

Bigger & Harman, APC - May 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

MAY 2020

A LESSON IN COMPASSION WHAT MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME

Dear readers,

I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones well during this recent public health crisis. We’ve seen so many acts of compassion and self-sacrifice, especially from truckers and other CDL holders who have stayed on the job to keep supply chains and transportation options open during this time of great uncertainty. Our nation owes you a debt of gratitude. So, rather than focus on the gloom in the headlines recently, this article is dedicated to someone who has shown me the true value of compassion: my mother. It’s fitting that Mother’s Day is this month because if anyone has been an example of empathy in my life, it’s the woman who raised me. My mother has always been deeply concerned with helping the most vulnerable members of society, even outside of a crisis. When I was a young child, my mother would take our family to visit a nursing home once a month to spend time with the residents. It was a monthly outing we’d go on along with her sister’s family. We’d sing with the residents, listen to their stories, and play bingo. I have memories as a little kid spinning that bingo machine. To this day, I remember the smiling faces of those elders and the difference we made in their lives thanks to my mother. Of course, she did even more on her own. Specifically, she cared for her grandmother’s neighbor even long after my “nana” passed away. I was very young, but I remember him as a kind man who had a large vegetable garden each summer. To this day, my mother and father take an elderly woman to church each week. My mother’s compassion continues to inspire me,

especially during these troubled times. Being at a higher mortality risk if infected with COVID-19, and with grocery shortages continuing, older folks need our support more than ever before. Of course, now is not the time to sing songs in nursing homes, play bingo, or even give people rides to church. But we all can do much to help these vulnerable members of our community and keep them safe from infection. Dropping off food at their homes is one of the best ways to help keep them isolated from germs. So long as you take

“MY MOTHER’S COMPASSION CONTINUES TO

INSPIRE ME, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TROUBLED TIMES.”

proper hygienic precautions, this can be a perfect way to make a difference in a home-bound person’s life. Even just phone calls and messages are appreciated — quarantine is a very lonely time, especially for the elderly. More importantly, let’s carry on this compassion even after the crisis abates. Thanks to my mother, I’ve learned that elderly individuals just want to be treated like everyone else. Too often we hold them at a distance or neglect them, and I’d like to see that change. I hope that the lessons we’ve learned through this pandemic will stay with us when it’s gone.

And, of course, a big thank-you to my mother for being such an amazing woman and an inspiring example of compassion.

Happy Mother’s Day,

– Paul Harman

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BIRD-WATCHING FOR BEGINNERS WHY MAY IS THE BEST MONTH TO START

Bird-watching is like a lifelong scavenger hunt that you can play anywhere on Earth. The activity provides a mixture of science, travel, and beauty, and it’s a chance to get outside for feathered adventures and quiet reflection. The month of May is a great time of year to go birding because rising temperatures prompt spring migration. So if you’re eager to begin bird-watching, there’s no better time than now. Here are some tips to get started. EDUCATE YOURSELF Thousands of species of birds span all corners of the globe. That’s why finding them is an exciting prospect — there’s no end to the hunt! Start by researching birds that are native to your location. Purchase a field guide with pictures of each bird and maps of their range and use it to figure out where different birds live. From there, it’s easy to pick your first spotting goal.

You can even get yourself extra excited by watching a few bird documentaries. GEAR UP One of the best things about birding is that you don’t need a lot of equipment to do it. As long as you’ve got your field guide and comfortable walking shoes, the only other thing you’ll need is a pair of binoculars. And they don’t have to be fancy. As long as they can zoom in on faraway trees and perches, they’ll work for now. You can always upgrade later.

distracted by other species. The thrill that comes with spotting your first bird will keep you coming back to find the rest. Bird-watching is a wonderful hobby because it’s easy to get started and can last a lifetime. As long as you can walk, drive, or look out a window, you can be a birder. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and find some birds!

GO EXPLORING Your very first birding excursion is

important because you don’t want to be overwhelmed or underwhelmed. So use your field guide to home in on a single bird and go find it. It may be local, or you can plan a trip to a specific bird’s natural habitat. Stay focused and don’t get

WATCH OUT FOR MORE THAN JUST MOVING VIOLATIONS

Truckers are expected to adhere to higher standards than a typical driver. Anyone who drives a semitruck, box truck, coach, bus, trailer, or another commercial motor vehicle (CMV) must drive with the utmost professionalism while out on the road. As such, it is essential for CMV drivers to understand the severe consequences that come with a moving violation. However, commercial drivers need to watch out for more than just moving violations. WHAT EXACTLY IS A MOVING VIOLATION? This type of violation occurs when a driver breaks traffic laws while their vehicle is in motion. A driver who runs a red light, fails to stop at a stop sign, or fails to yield is committing a moving violation. These traffic infringements are usually infractions. However, if a driver is charged with DUI, reckless driving, or leaving the scene of an accident, these moving violations are normally misdemeanors.

For a CMV driver, any of these charges can be catastrophic. Not only does each violation go on their record and add points to their commercial driver’s license, but also their entire driving career is at risk. WHAT ABOUT OTHER VIOLATIONS? Commercial drivers need to watch out for more than just moving violations. In California and many other states, points can be added to a driving record for violations that do not occur while a vehicle is in motion. For instance, most logbook violations, some vehicle safety violations, and even parking in the wrong spot can result in points being added to a driving record. Whenever you get a traffic ticket in California, give us a call so we can look up the violation with you and determine whether or not it is something you should be concerned about. We always give free consultations and would be happy to speak with you.

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START PLANNING YOUR RETIREMENT EVEN IF IT FEELS FAR OFF

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION Thanks to your referrals, we were able to give $560 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.

Everyone has a difficult time saving money, especially when it comes to retirement. Truckers are no different. Whether you’ve been trucking for one decade or several, it can be hard to start thinking about retirement with that open road stretching out in front of you. But, taking the time to sit down, think, and start preparing for your retirement is essential for you and your future. One of the biggest concerns planning for retirement is knowing what you’ll need to be financially stable when the time comes. The goal for retirement is to cover all your expenses with your savings to allow a healthy and comfortable life. However, to know exactly how much you’ll need to live comfortably, you need to think about your retirement plans and expectations. Some trucking companies offer their truckers a 401(k) retirement plan. This plan not only boosts your salary but also helps you save and plan for your retirement. It allows you to take a portion of your paycheck and add those funds to a retirement account — this amount is usually fixed at a certain percentage but can be a specific dollar amount in some situations. When it comes to retirement plans, you have choices about what type of account to create with your company’s 401(k) plan. Before you decide which retirement plan best suits you, talk to a financial expert and do some research and see which plan your employer offers. If those plans don’t suit you, you may be able to create an IRA account with your bank. Despite your careful planning, though, receiving a ticket while out on the road can influence the amount of money you make and, in turn, the money that goes into your retirement account. If you get a ticket, call Bigger & Harman today to speak to an expert traffic attorney and protect your future.

I HAVE SAID THESE THINGS TO YOU, THAT IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION. BUT TAKE HEART; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.

–JOHN 16:33

(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

Compassion, Crisis, and Mother’s Day. ....................................... PAGE 1

Bird-Watching for Beginners............ PAGE 2

Your Livelihood at Risk ..................... PAGE 2

Plan for Retirement Today ............... PAGE 3

Have You Heard of the Interrobang?......................................... 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!

PUNCTUATION’S PROBLEM CHILD WHY THE INTERROBANG FIZZLED OUT

It’s a punctuation mark that’s over 50 years old, but you may not have heard of it before. It’s an odd-looking squiggle that denotes a common inflection, but many experts argue it has no place on paper. In an age when thoughts are limited to 280 characters, wouldn’t a single punctuation mark that does the job of two be valuable? Some say yes, others say no thank you. So what is this mystery punctuation mark? It’s the interrobang! In 1962, advertising agent Martin K. Speckter believed ads would look better if rhetorical questions were conveyed using a single mark. He merged the question mark, also called an interrogative point, with the exclamation point, known in the jargon of printers as a “bang,” and the interrobang was born. In the first few years of its existence, the interrobang made some mild headway, appearing in some dictionaries and even

on some typewriters in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. And while it was used in magazine and newspaper articles for several years, it wasn’t meant to last. There are a few explanations for why the interrobang never took off, but the most prominent one says that as writing styles changed, there was less use of rhetorical questions in writing, especially formal writing. Because the interrobang was originally intended to denote rhetorical questions, it faded from use. Today, using the two punctuation marks that make up the interrobang is still popular, especially in nonformal writing like social media copy. Any variation of “!?” denotes a sense of excitement, urgency, or disbelief in the form of a question, rhetorical or not. But the reason people don’t use the interrobang to serve the same purpose is simple: It’s not a key on keyboards. There are still certain

fonts that are equipped to display the nonstandard mark, but if you want to use it, you have to go digging for it. It’s just much quicker to write two punctuation marks than search for a single one. But who knows what the future will bring? Language is in an ever-changing state, and the interrobang may rise again. Or will it?

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