Archive for the ‘Blogs and News’ Category

Study Says DUI Checkpoints Ineffective

Monday, December 17th, 2007

Study Says DUI Checkpoints Ineffective

December 14th, 2007 @ 6:54am

by Hanna Scott/KTAR

Drunken driving checkpoints are costly and do little to prevent DUI-related traffic deaths, according to new data from the American Beverage Institute.“The states that use roving patrols have an average of 7 percent fewer alcohol-related fatalities than those states that use checkpoints,” said Sarah Longwell of the institute, which compiled the numbers with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.She said some states “really see the value in increasing roving patrols over sobriety checkpoints, while others defend the practice, saying it’s a “deterrent mechanism.”

Mesa Police have used mostly roving patrols in recent years, but checkpoints aren’t out of the picture, said Detective Steve Berry.

More Here:

SR-22 for Safe Driving

Sunday, December 9th, 2007

The SR22 Form for DUI insurance is not the same as the Cirrus SR22.  That SR22 is an airplane.

 Here is some news about the other SR 22

Four Killed In Minnesota SR22 Crash

By Mary Grady, News Writer, Editor

A Cirrus SR22 was on its second try to land at the Faribault airport in southern Minnesota on Sunday afternoon when it flipped over and burst into flames by the side of the runway. All four on board were killed.

More here:  http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusSR22_Crash_FaribaultMinnesota_196677-1.html

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence - Orange County (NCADD-OC)

Friday, December 7th, 2007

Treatment Center Profiles - Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Treatment Centers

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence - Orange County (NCADD-OC) is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides professional resources on alcohol, tobacco, and drug-related issues. For 50 years, they have provided high-quality programs and services aimed at improving the quality of life for the residents of Orange County.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence - Orange County (NCADD-OC)

Since their establishment in July 1957, they have provide high-quality programs and services aimed at improving the quality of life for the residents of Orange County. Their California State licensed Drinking Driver Programs offer educational classes available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Korean in order to cater to the needs of our diverse community.

Two locations are at:

Irvine Spectrum Office (405 and 5 freeway split)

5 Mason #150
Irvine, CA 92618

Phone: 949.770.1191
Fax: 949.770.4660

Santa Ana Office:

1631 N. Bristol Street #300
Santa Ana, CA 92706

Phone: 714.835.4252
Fax: 714.560.1680

For more information please visit them on the Internet at National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence


Treatment Programs

Multiple Offender, First Offender Level II (9 & 6 Months), First Offender Level I (3 Months) Wet Reckless
SB38 M.O. - 18 Months
First Year
  • 26 - 2 hr. Groups Sessions, one every other week.
  • 26 - 15 min. Face to Face Meetings, (with a case manager), one every other week.
  • 6 - 2 hr Alcohol Education Classes.
  • (Absences Allowed = 10)
Last Six Months - Reentry Phase
  • 6 - 1 hr. Reentry Groups.
AB1353 Level II 9 Months
  • 22 - 2 hr. Group Sessions, one every other week.
  • 19 - 15 min. Face to Face, (with a case manager), one every other week.
  • 6 - 2 hr. Alcohol Education Classes.
  • (Absences Allowed = 7)
AB762 Level II 6 Months
  • 15 - 2 hr. Groups Sessions, one every other week.
  • 13 - 15 min. Face to Face Meetings, (with a case manager), one every other week.
  • 6 - 2 hr. Alcohol Education Classes.
  • (Absences Allowed = 7)
AB541 Level I 3 Months
  • 3 Months before exit.
  • 10 - 3 hour group/education sessions, (one per week).
  • 3 - Face to Face Meetings with a case manager.
  • (Absences Allowed = 5)
SB1176 Wet Reckless
  • 12 week program
  • 6 Alcohol Education Sessions.
  • (Absences Allowed = 2 consecutive or 3)
For completion of most of our programs, additional weekly Self-help meetings are required.

Driving Advice - Help for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

Thursday, December 6th, 2007

Help for Alzheimer’s Caregivers - Driving Advice

Audio File:  Help for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

People suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other causes of dementia are driving an average of ten months longer than their caregivers think is safe. Brian Osuch has more with help for caregivers.

Newsbreak, I’m Brian Osuch. New research by The Hartford Financial Service Group in conjunction with the MIT Age Lab and Boston University helped to develop “At the Crossroads,” a new booklet designed to help Alzheimer caregivers make the difficult decision on when their loved one should stop driving. Jodi Olshevski is a corporate gerontologist with The Hartford.

Quick Auto Insurance quotes for elder drivers.

(Olshevski) The booklet includes all kinds of helpful information in terms of the issues of dementia and driving, warning signs for them to look for. We also have a conversation planner, how can the caregiver have a good conversation about not driving.  Lisa D’Ambrosio, a research scientist at MIT, says the goal is to help caregivers gradually move the person from driver to passenger.

(D’Ambrosio) What we encourage caregivers to do, is actually get in the car and observe driving of their loved one to keep track of these warning signs and look for patterns or changes in patterns that signal the driving has become a problem. To order or download your free copy, visit Thehartford.com/alzheimers. That’s Newsbreak from The Hartford, I’m Brian Osuch.

Cheap Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers

Wednesday, December 5th, 2007

Cheap Teenager Auto Insurance

That actually sounds like an oxymoron to most people.  As soon as teenagers begin wanting to drive a car, parents begin dreading the cost of teenage driver auto insurance.  When teens begin researching acquiring his or her own car, the problem of costly teenager insurance coverage becomes even more problematic.

Before allowing your teen age son or daughter to drive they must be of the proper age within your state, they must obtain a license or learning permit / driving permit and they must be properly trained. In the Greater Phoenix Metro Area, parents have an exciting new opportunity to help get their teenage drivers off to a good start. Driving MBA, a company headquartered in Scottsdale Arizona, provides simulator based driver training for teenagers and adults at their facilities in Scottsdale and their brand new training facility in Chandler Arizona.

Once your teen has a license or permit and the proper training the next thing that you must think about is car insurance. One of the first and most important considerations is the cost of the monthly premiums or annual insurance premium. Most insurers see teen driving group as an ultra high risk category and they charge ultra high risk premiums. This is because these companies see most teen drivers as being more reckless driving and accident-prone than adults. As a result, they charge higher premiums for auto insurance for teenagers.

Fortunately, there are ways in which you can lessen the charges for your teenager’s car insurance. These same factors might help you get a better deal on your own auto insurance in the future as well.

1. Encourage your teen to maintain a spotless driving record. It is essential that you emphasize the importance of observing traffic laws. A clean driving record for your teenager can be critical to obtaining low cost auto insurance. Encourage them to avoid speeding tickets and other such traffic violations at all costs. Being aware of their surroundings and avoiding distracted driving can minimize the incidence of accidents happening. A clean driving record will be awarded with lower premium payments.

2. Look for auto insurance with a higher deductible. The premium payment is usually less for auto insurance that carries a higher deductible. The higher the deductible, the cheaper the auto insurance rates can be.

3. The more safety features the car has, the less likely it is to fall into a higher hazard rating class. If your teen’s car has a lot of advanced safety features you may avoid vehicles require a premium for being in the higher hazard ranking class.

4. Follow any license restrictions listed on the license or permit. First time drivers may be restricted to driving with a licensed passenger, may only be allowed to drive at night or may have other restrictions, depending on the state and local regulations. Teenage drivers need to stick to the restrictions and guidelines that are specified on their licenses.

5. Get a teen only stand-alone policy. With this kind of policy, your child will be responsible for his own insurance.

As a parent, you should attempt to communicate the value of responsibility to your teenager. Make them accountable for what happens to their car and perhaps encourage them to work part-time to can pay for one-half of their premium.

After your teen is licensed and trained and you begin the hunt for cheap auto insurance, your best bet will be to contact an insurance agency with many years of experience and one that shops the rates from many different insurance companies to find your teenager and you the best low rate auto insurance coverage at the most affordable price.

Call 1-800-774-0520 right now or visit Cheap Auto Insurance online to fill out the quick quote form and see if cheap teen auto insurance is in your teen’s future.

You can also chat with an agent online or have an agent call you.

Texas Speed Limit May be Lowered to Boost Toll Revenue

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

Texas Speed Limit May be Lowered to Boost Toll Revenue

Toll road contract in Texas allows state to lower speed limits on nearby interstate freeway to avoid paying penalties to a private company.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has agreed to consider lowering the maximum speed limit on a stretch of interstate highway that competes with a planned toll road. Cintra-Zachary, a joint Spanish-US venture, paid TxDOT $1.3 billion for the right to collect tolls on 40-miles of State Highway 130 set for construction beginning in 2009. Although TxDOT suggested that free market competition was part of the goal of using a public-private partnerships to construct and operate roads, the contract it signed on March 22 to construct this portion of SH130 was specifically designed to limit the desirability of alternate, free routes.

“The compensation amount owing from TxDOT to Developer on account of the competing facility shall be equal to the loss of toll revenues, if any, attributable to the competing facility,” the contract states. (11.3.2.1)

The provision ensures no improvements can be made to nearby roads unless the agency issues payment to the Spanish-US private consortium with taxpayer funds. TxDOT can reduce the amount of compensation owed, however, if it agrees to increase toll revenue by imposing a “decrease in the maximum daytime posted speed limit for passenger vehicles on all or a substantial portion of I-35 where it runs generally parallel to the Facility.” This means that TxDOT can recover money generated by additional tolls as motorists abandon I-35 because of the lowered limit and increased congestion.
 

More here:  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/20/2025.asp

DeKalb Police May Have Ticket Quotas

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

DeKalb Police May Have Ticket Quotas

DECATUR, Ga. — CBS 46 News has learned that the DeKalb County Police Department may have instituted a quota system.

Sources tell CBS 46 that officers are being ordered to make a certain number of arrests, and write a certain number of tickets each month.

Regardless, the line to get into DeKalb’s traffic court is growing and may continue to grow if Police Chief Terrell Bolton has anything to do with it.

CBS 46 News has learned that under the Guided Achievement Plan, Bolton is ordering his officers to write more tickets and arrest more people because they are well behind the number of arrests and tickets compared to 2006.

More here:  http://www.cbs46.com/news/14317413/detail.html

New Jersey Judges Caught Fixing Tickets

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

New Jersey Judges Caught Fixing Tickets
Nearly half of the Jersey City, New Jersey municipal court judges face ticket fixing charges.

New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram announced yesterday the filing of corruption charges against nearly half of the Jersey City’s municipal court judges. Four of ten magistrates had been caught in a ticket fixing scandal that surfaced last month.

Former Chief Judge Wanda Molina, 48, is accused of dismissing five parking tickets, worth more than $200, for a female companion. Judge Pauline Sica, 45, allegedly dismissed one parking ticket and reduced costs on a second ticket that Judge Victor Sison, 64, received. Judge Sica also knocked off the license points for a traffic ticket that one of Judge Sison’s family members received. Judge Irwin Rosen, 52, was charged with dismissing his own $42 parking ticket.

More here:  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/20/2031.asp

West Virginia Looks to Boost Revenue with Court Costs

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

West Virginia Looks to Boost Revenue with Court Costs

Traffic tickets will become more expensive in West Virginia as motorists are double and triple charged for court appearances.

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals yesterday moved to boost revenue from traffic tickets by warning lower courts that they must collect the maximum possible amount in court costs from each defendant. The admonition came during a meeting of the Magistrate Education Committee which continues today. As a result of the clarification, any motorist charged with, for example, both speeding and failure to signal must pay the $160.50 assessment for court costs twice — for a total of $321 — even though the motorist appeared only once in court.

More:  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/20/2038.asp

If you are visiting this site looking for Low Cost Auto Insurance you can call the toll free number, chat with an agent online, have us call you, or fill out our quick insurance quote request form.

Motorists Forced To Let Officers Draw Blood Samples At DUI Stops

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

Motorists Forced To Let Officers

Draw Blood Samples At DUI Stops

There have been an increasing number of police departments allowing their officers to draw blood samples from motorists under suspicion of a DUI/DWI. This takes place on the roadside as opposed to a hospital where there are trained medical professionals. It seems like a recipe for disaster to allow officers to do blood draws when they do not have adequate medical training.

According to Scripps News, a man developed a persistent infection at the site of a blood draw administered by a Pima County sheriff’s deputy. He has filed what is believed to be the first claim in Arizona against the practice, which could put local taxpayers on the hook for any damages.

Arizona law requires that drunken driving suspects submit to a test or lose their license for a year and it’s the officer’s choice, not the driver’s, whether to use a breath or a blood test.

More at the link above.

DUI Auto Insurance Information


Cheap Car Insurance 1-800-546-5470 -- SR22 Insurance 1-800-774-0520