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Do You Hate DUI Checkpoints? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t

Do You Hate DUI Checkpoints? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t

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Do You Hate DUI Checkpoints? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t

Whenever a holiday that involves a lot of drinking rolls around, you can bet that there will be an increase in DUI checkpoints. With Saint Patrick’s Day right around the corner, you will definitely be seeing more of these checkpoints.

Most people do not like DUI checkpoints, and for obvious reasons. Checkpoints like these slow the flow of traffic and can cause gridlock. When a person has somewhere they want to be, getting stuck at a checkpoint can be understandably frustrating. However, while DUI checkpoints can be annoying, the police officers create them for a reason.

Roughly 800 people are injured by drunk driving accidents every single day, and that is without the excuse of a holiday to start drinking. In an effort to reduce the amount of accidents that could occur around a holiday, local police setup DUI checkpoints to catch people who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Going through a checkpoint may be slow going, but it is incredibly easy if you have not been drinking. When you arrive at a checkpoint, an officer will wave you forward. The officer will then ask a few questions such as:

  • Where are you going?
  • Where are you coming from?
  • Have you been drinking?

After all of the questions have been answered, if everything checks out, the officer will send you on your way. However, if the officer suspects that you have been drinking, they will ask you to pull over to the side where another officer will perform a more thorough investigation. If it is determined that you have been drinking, then you will be arrested for DUI.

Driving while under the influence of any substance is never a good idea. Substances like alcohol affect a person’s abilities to make good decisions and their control over their motor skills.

Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while drunk endangers the driver’s life, as well as the lives of every person that they pass on the road. DUI checkpoints help catch drunk drivers before they have a chance to hurt anyone, thereby making the roads safer for everyone around any day where people will be consuming more alcohol than usual.

California: The Sanctuary State

California: The Sanctuary State

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California: The Sanctuary State

For those unaware, the start of the new year also marked the start of California being a sanctuary state. The controversial decision to become a sanctuary state was decided on by California politicians at the end of 2017. At the beginning of October, Governor Jerry Brown signed it into law, and the law would take effect on January 1st, 2018.

By becoming a sanctuary state, California has announced itself a safe place for undocumented and illegal immigrants. The new law effectively limits what state and local law enforcement agents can do to assist federal immigration authorities. The law bans enforcement agents, at both the local and state level, from enforcing immigration holds on arrested individuals.

This new law is in direct defiance of President Trump’s calls to focus on deporting millions of undocumented and illegal immigrants. This only led to a greater rift between Washington D.C. and the state of California.

Many California police chiefs opposed the bill in its early stages, and switched to a neutral stance when the bill was later amended. However, many still express concerns for the safety of the general public. They fear this new law will allows certain career criminals, ones who stick to lower levels of crime, will be continually released back onto the street due to the new law.

Only time will tell if California’s decision to become a sanctuary state was a good idea or not.

New California Marijuana Laws for 2018

New California Marijuana Laws for 2018

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New California Marijuana Laws for 2018

It’s a brand new year, and that means new laws for Californians. One of the big ones this year, is the ability for marijuana dispensaries to legal sell their product to anyone who is over the age of 21. This is something that some Californians are very excited about, however, they need to realize that there are still restrictions on how and where marijuana can be used.

Starting January 1st, licensed marijuana dispensaries will be able to sell their products to of age, legal adults. Anyone under the age of 21 is not legally permitted to buy or use marijuana in any form.

If a minor is caught using then they will be required to take a drug education course and perform community service. Any dispensary caught selling product to a minor will risk losing their license and paying a hefty fine.

There are also restrictions for where marijuana can be used, just like there are restrictions for drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. For instance, marijuana cannot be smoked in public areas, or near schools. A person is also not allowed to drive while under the influence of marijuana.

The use of marijuana in California has been approved for recreational use. This means it can be used by a person in the privacy of their own home. They cannot use it in a way that disturbs other people. If a person plans on enjoying this new law, they need to make sure they understand all of the laws surrounding the use of marijuana. If they don’t they could find themselves in more than a little bit of trouble.

Drive-High-Get-a-DUI

Drive High, Get a DUI

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Drive-High-Get-a-DUI

2018 is bringing a lot of new changes to California laws. One of the biggest is that licensed dispensaries will be able to sell marijuana to anyone who is over the age of 21. This new law will make it easier for individuals to get ahold of marijuana, which will likely lead to more people using this. Unfortunately, this can include drivers.

A person should never get behind the wheel of a vehicle when they are under the influence of any kind of substance.

Doing so can negatively affect their ability to safely drive a vehicle, and lead to an accident. This is why the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has started a new campaign: Drive high, get a DUI.

This new campaign is to remind everyone that it is illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This includes driving while high on marijuana. Being high can impair a person’s motor skills and reaction times. This makes them more likely to get into an accident than drivers who do no smoke marijuana.

In an effort to keep the roads safe, the CHP will pull over anyone who they suspect is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If a person wishes to avoid this, then they need to be safe while driving. This means they should not drink alcohol, or ingest marijuana, before getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

How-to-Recover-from-Identity-Theft

How to Recover from Identity Theft

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How-to-Recover-from-Identity-Theft

We all only have one identity, and for most people that is enough. However, some bad people out there like to steal other people’s identities to gain access to funds they normally wouldn’t have. This is called identity theft and can be very damaging to the person whose identity was stolen.

Most people learn about identity theft after some damage has already been done. They discover the theft when strange bills start coming in, or when they try to apply for a loan. That is when they find out their identity was stolen, and their credit ruined.

Thankfully, this is not the end for them. It is possible for a person to recover from identity theft. The first thing they need to do after discovering the theft, is contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and file a report of the identity theft. The FTC will ask questions about the theft, and inform the person on how they can recover from the theft.

After that has been done, the person will then need to contact the companies where they know fraud from the identity theft occurred, and alert them to the problem. The person should also issue a fraud alert and get a credit report, which will allow the person to check for any other incidents of fraud. Lastly, a person can file a report with their local police department.

Learning of identity theft can be startling and upsetting, but it is possible to recover. The most important part of recovering from identity theft is remaining calm. This will help the person make good, clear decisions while on the road to recovery.

Motorcycle-Laws

Motorcycle Laws

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Motorcycle-Laws

Each state has different laws in regards to a lot of things, but what you may not think about is the difference in motorcycle laws. California has a different set of laws pertaining to motorcycles than others states. If you’re thinking about getting your motorcycle license (M1), you may want to look at all the laws and requirements first. It’s not as simple as buying a bike.

Here are some of the laws the California DMV has in regards to motorcycles:

  • Eye protection is not required.
  • In order to be street legal motorcycles must have turn signals and a mirror.
  • The age requirement to obtain a M1 is 16.
  • If you are under 21 years old, you must take a safety course in order to get your M1.
  • If you are over 21 years old you must take a skills test in order to obtain your M1.
  • “Lane Splitting” is authorized per California Highway Patrol.
  • Helmets are required of all motorcycle riders and must be Department of Transportation (DOT) approved.
  • When carrying a passenger, footrests for the passenger are required.
  • There is no age limit for a passenger.
  • Periodic safety inspections are required by law, but are at random.
  • Daytime use of headlights is required for all motorcycles from 1978 and later.

There are several more technical laws in regards to handlebar height, insurance speakers, and ear plugs. There are two laws that vary the most between the states. Those two are the helmet laws and lane splitting.

The helmet requirement, even though it seems obvious for safety reasons, is not a law in other states. States like Texas don’t require riders to wear a helmet when operating a motorcycle. As long as they have completed a rider safety course, or have the proper insurance coverage. However, if you are under 21 in the state of Texas you must wear a helmet.

The lane splitting law is also different between states. Again, most states, like Texas do not authorize lane splitting. Lane splitting is when a motorcycle shares the lane with another vehicle, or rides the line between lanes. Lane splitting is common in heavy traffic situation. Motorcyclist will use lane splitting to pass vehicles.

If you’re ever in doubt of motorcycle laws in your area, the DMV suggests looking at their Motorcycle Safety pamphlet. Another great source of information for motorcyclist is the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) website. On AMA they also have more information about off-road motorcycle laws, as well as all of the road laws.

Motorcycles can be fun, and freeing to ride. However, if you don’t follow the laws you might not be a free-bird for very long.

Getting-a-Safe-Ride-Home-in-2018

Getting a Safe Ride Home in 2018

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Getting-a-Safe-Ride-Home-in-2018

It is the start of a new year, and that means new laws will be going into effect. One such law is California State Assembly Bill 711. This new law will allow alcohol manufacturers and licensed sellers to provide customers with discounted or free transportation through a taxi or other ride sharing service.

The idea behind this new law is to try and reduce the amount of drunk driving accidents that can occur. This will provide people who have consumed alcohol a safe and convenient way to get home. With this new law, bars and alcohol manufacturers will be able to offer vouchers for free, or discounted rides through a local transport service. Examples of these services include taxis, Uber, and Lyft.

Before this law, alcohol manufacturers and providers were not allowed to provide their clients with any sort of reward or incentive to drink their product. Under this new law, these providers will be able to offer vouchers for free or discounted rides home, however, they cannot be offered in a way that forces customers to purchase their product.

California is not the first state to allow alcohol manufacturers to provide this kind of service. There are 44 other states that have enacted a similar law in an attempt to reduce the amount of drunk driving accidents that occur on their roads.

Partying-too-Hard

Partying too Hard

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Partying-too-Hard

The official countdown to the New Year hasn’t started just quite yet, but your party planning for the New Year may have. Whether you plan on staying in, or going out, plan your New Year’s celebration wisely. This is the time of year where DUI checkpoints are around every corner, so don’t drive drunk, and remember your driver’s license.

On top of being responsible, try to be kind to your body as well. PreventionLane.org has several tips on how to be safe when consuming alcohol. The first tip is to know your limit, and stick to it. Consuming too much alcohol can land you or a loved one in the emergency room with alcohol poisoning. When consuming high amounts of alcohol it is wise to keep your body hydrated with water and eat a well-balanced meal beforehand.

Prevention Lane also recommends slowing down and sipping your drinks. Along with sipping your drinks, it is also suggested that you alternate between alcohol and water. While you’re alternating between water and your drink, also try to space out the drinks. The faster you consume your drinks, the faster you will become intoxicated.

Most importantly, have a designated driver and friend. The more you drink the lower your ambitions and cognitive abilities get. Having a friend to help guide you and make safe decisions, can help you have a successful New Year Party.

New-Years-Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions

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New-Years-Resolutions

It is that time of year where people begin to form a list of promises they want to make to themselves. New Year’s Resolutions are positive and uplifting to some, while they are a joke to others.

According Nielsen.com, Newswire, the top ten New Year’s Resolutions are:

  • Stay fit and healthy
  • Lose weight
  • Enjoy life
  • Save more money
  • Spend more time with friends and family
  • Get organized
  • Learn something new
  • Travel more

The pros to having resolutions are that they provide you with an opportunity to reflect on your life. In order to form a list, you have to first look back and evaluate your life. Another positive thing about resolutions is that they give you a goal and help you plan the next year.

The cons to a list of resolutions is it enables procrastination. For example, if you failed to lose weight this last year, no worries, you can procrastinate again this year. Also, there’s a lot of pressure to actually do your resolutions, especially if you share your list with friends on Facebook. Ultimately it is a personal choice whether to have a list or not.

More Checkpoints Around Holidays

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More-Checkpoints-Around-Holidays

DUI checkpoints can be intimidating to people, even when they have done nothing wrong. When it comes to DUI checkpoints, the only people who need to worry, are the ones who were drinking before they got behind the wheel of their vehicle. These checkpoints increase in frequency around holidays, especially ones that involve a lot of partying.

The police know that people tend to drink more around holidays. This leads to an increase in drunk driving incidents. That is why the police set up more DUI checkpoints around holidays like Christmas and New Year’s. The goal is to save lives by reducing the amount drunk driving incidents that can occur.

When a person comes across a checkpoint, they will likely encounter a line of cars. One by one, a team of officers will each call forward a vehicle to interview the driver. The officers will ask where the driver is headed, where they came from, and have they been drinking. They will also ask to see the driver’s license and registration.

So long as the driver cooperates, and the officer does not suspect that the driver has been drinking, the driver will be able to go on their way. However, if the officer does suspect that the driver has been drinking, then the driver will be asked to pull over to the side. From there, another officer will likely issue a field sobriety test. If the driver fails this, he or she will be held until they sober up, or someone comes to pick them up.

DUI checkpoints are nothing to be afraid of. They are only meant to catch drunk drivers. These checkpoints catch hundreds of drunk drivers, and keep the streets safe for everyone on the road.