Bigger & Harman, APC - January 2021

Bigger & Harman, APC - January 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

JANUARY 2021

The Repercussions of a Traffic Citation CONSIDER PRESENT AND FUTURE PROBLEMS

January not only marks the beginning of the year, but also celebrates the 315th birthday of one of U.S. history’s most famous men: Benjamin Franklin. He was born Jan. 17, 1706, and went on to become one of the Founding Fathers of our country, a writer, scientist, and a renowned inventor. Throughout his lifetime, Franklin invented several items we still know of and use today. At the age of 11, he invented swimming fins and then went on to invent the Franklin stove, the glass harmonica, and bifocals. The bifocal lenses were one of his most revered inventions because they allowed someone who was both farsighted and nearsighted to use a single pair of glasses. In our modern age, this is tremendously helpful. If, for example, a person with this condition wears bifocals while driving, they can read the dashboard and see what’s in front of their car without switching between two pairs of glasses. While thinking about this, I couldn’t help but be reminded of how similar this is to the work we do here at Bigger & Harman. Just as bifocals allow people to see both near and far, our services allow people to avoid the consequences of a traffic citation, both in the present and the future. Our goal is to consider both the short- and long-term effects of a citation and ensure the driver has the best possible outcome.

“OUR GOAL IS TO CONSIDER BOTH THE SHORT- AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF A CITATION AND ENSURE THE DRIVER HAS THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME.”

It’s always a bad idea to pay off a ticket before considering the consequences of doing so. Short- term, a traffic ticket may look harmless, but in fact, it could have severe repercussions later on. Paying off the ticket will almost certainly raise one’s insurance rates. So, even if the fine on the original ticket is small, it may be worth the investment to hire a lawyer to avoid the long-term consequences of the ticket. Additionally, a conviction for a moving violation will normally result in a DMV point being added to their license. Apart from increasing insurance fees, a driver who accumulates enough points will have their license suspended. For commercial drivers, this prevents them from working, which threatens the income they depend on to support themselves and their family. Let us be the bifocals of your case. We always offer free consequences and will help you consider the short- and long-term consequences of your ticket.

–Paul Harman

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THE FIRST DOG TO WIN A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOXTROT’S HEROICS WITH THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

Just this past October, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to what can only be described as one the world’s goodest boys — a dog named Foxtrot, known also to his Instagram followers (of which there are nearly 7,000) as humanitarian_pup. While Foxtrot wasn’t responsible for improvements to auction theory (like Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, who won the Nobel Prize for economics) or for a standout career in writing poetry (like Louise Glück, who won the Nobel Prize for literature), this incredible canine shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the World Food Programme (WFP) for their work in combating world hunger. As the organization’s official mascot, Foxtrot shared in the win with the thousands of other WFP workers worldwide. Foxtrot lives in Bangladesh (one of the most densely populated countries in the world) at a WFP outpost that works to supply one of the world’s largest refugee camps. According to an NPR article that spotlighted Foxtrot and the efforts made by his WFP humans, they worked not only to get food to refugees but also to flatten hillsides to make room for shelters for Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar.

Foxtrot himself became part of the effort to combat world hunger during a WFP beach cleanup in his home country. Workers found him as a 4-week-old pup, and after failing to locate his owners, took him in as one of their own. For the past two years, Foxtrot has helped however he can to further the WFP’s efforts to end hunger in Bangladesh. This usually includes accompanying his humans while they work, wearing an adorable custom-made WFP cape, and taking to Instagram to raise awareness about how anyone can join in the WFP’s mission.

After learning that he and his humans had won the Nobel Peace Prize, Foxtrot didn’t waste the opportunity to share his excitement

with his followers. “Woweee,” the pup said. “I … think it would be even more amazing if we didn’t need any peace prizes because peace was the status quo in our world.” If Foxtrot and his humans keep up the good work that won them the Nobel Peace Prize, it seems like that status quo could be within reach.

RENEWING YOUR LICENSE Even in the Midst of a Pandemic

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The greatest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 is among those aged 85 or older.” This caused problems for any CA drivers in that age range, as CA law requires any driver over the age of 70 to renew their license in person. However, in order to keep older adults as safe as possible, the CA DMV automatically extended license renewals for these individuals for one year. Anyone 70 years or older, whose license expired between March 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, can renew their license this year. Drivers 69 or younger have the option to renew online through the State of California DMV website, with a few exceptions. A person may not renew their license online if:

• They need to upgrade from a standard driver’s license to a Real ID • They need a no-fee or reduced fee driver’s license or Real ID • They need a senior ID Keep in mind, that while these extensions are automatic, drivers will not receive a new card or written verification through mail. Drivers can, however, request a free temporary paper extension through the DMV’s Virtual Field Office, though obtaining one is not required to legally drive. Without a valid driver’s license, a CA driver can be charged with a misdemeanor. Be sure to take the appropriate steps necessary to renew your license. To learn more about the documents you need and where to submit them, visit www.DMV.CA.gov today.

When the pandemic struck, everyone was forced to adapt to the new circumstances it placed on us. Workers across the state suddenly found themselves having to work remotely from their living rooms, kitchens, or offices, including DMV employees. For the drivers throughout CA, this was a stressful time. If their license expired and they were unable to go to the DMV, what did that mean? Fortunately, the DMV authorized renewal extensions and online renewal options.

• They need to change their address, name, or gender

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HOPES: Helping Our Public Education System This month, your referrals helped us donate to teachers and students in need through HOPES — Helping Our Public Education System. MISSION: This organization supports an inner- city middle school by assisting teachers with materials, renovating classrooms, and providing meals to families of students in need.

When a law enforcement officer pulls you over and gives you a ticket, it’s never a good start to the day. It’s even worse when you get the mail and find a ticket waiting for you amongst the bills without ever being pulled over. If you’ve ever received a ticket in the mail for running a red light, don’t panic. You might not have to pay for that ticket at all. Before you start to fight the ticket, you should know a few important things. Even before the ticket is issued, it must be viewed by an officer. Additionally, if you weren’t driving the vehicle at the time the ticket was issued, you’re not responsible for paying the ticket or telling anyone who was driving. This is why you should always check the photo and the date and time on the ticket. Often, it might not be the driver’s fault at all. Traffic law requires that yellow lights remain yellow for a prescribed time before turning red, but some lights can change quicker than others. One good way to fight this is to go back to the light you’ve been accused of running with a stopwatch. Record several intervals of yellow-to-red changes. When the light changes to red sooner than the prescribed time, record it and compare it to the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) yellow light standard. This can be found at DOT.CA.gov by searching for CA MUTCD under section 4D-10 and Table 4D-102(CA). By taking these factors into account, a traffic attorney may be able dispute a red-light ticket and get it dismissed or reduced. Typically, a red-light ticket fine will be $489 for a first-time offense. However, a second offense will almost double the cost. It’s vital that you do not pay the fine without consulting a traffic ticket attorney first. The attorneys at Bigger & Harman are happy to discuss your case and can assist with your defense of a red-light ticket; it just takes one call. What You Should Know ABOUT A MAIL-IN RED-LIGHT TICKET

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

MICAH 6:8

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, 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

The Repercussions of a Traffic Citation...... PAGE 1

The First Dog to Win a Nobel Peace Prize........................................................ PAGE 2

DMV’s Automatic Renewal Extensions. ...... PAGE 2

Red Means Stop — Don’t Pay That Fine!.... PAGE 3

Your Devices Deserve Clean Screens.......... 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!

Grease and Fingerprints Be Gone

3 HANDY WAYS TO CLEAN YOUR SCREENS

While phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops have become convenient, everyday technology, one struggle remains: constantly dirty screens. Regular cleaning is a must for battling fingerprints, dust, and other smudges, not to mention all the germs that can collect on the surface of your device. But how do you clean your screens without ruining any functionality? Before you drench your device in your typical household cleaner, try these three cleaning products and say goodbye to dirty screens! MOBILE SCREEN WIPES Chances are, you use your phone more than all your other devices combined, resulting in a constantly dirty screen. With Zeiss Mobile Screen Wipes, you can rest assured that no matter how dirty your phone screen gets, you can clean it any time, any place. These wipes are individually wrapped and can easily fit in a pocket, purse, or drawer at work. As an added bonus, they can also clean your eyeglasses. You can find them for $7.49 on Amazon! SCREEN CLEANER Best Buy has its own brand of screen cleaner called Insignia. Insignia can thoroughly and safely clean any device’s screen and keep it

streak-free long after cleaning. Since you simply spray some onto a cleaning cloth, the 5-ounce bottle lasts quite a while. With a 4.7 rating from over 1,400 reviews, Insignia is perfect for all of your screen- cleaning needs! Pick up a bottle of your own at Best Buy for $9.99. ELECTRONIC WIPES Weiman Electronic Wipes are perfect for removing grease smudges, dust, and fingerprints from any of your delicate screens, including TVs, tablets, phones, and laptops. They can even be used to spot- clean keyboards. The wipes come ready to use and contain no harsh ingredients. You can purchase them on Amazon for $14.98.

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