Conserving Electricity This Summer
Since May, various people have expressed concern that the power grid won’t be able to provide enough electricity to meet everyone’s needs. According to a May 6, 2022 article that was posted by CBS Sacramento, the California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO) was already seriously concerned about whether supply would meet demand. At the time, it was predicted that the state’s power grid would be approximately 1,700 megawatts short.
There are a few different reasons why electricity is becoming increasingly difficult for Californians to use. The leading reasons that electricity is in short supply include wildfires that not only destroy many electrical resources but often put an additional strain on the grid. The drought makes it harder to find the water needed to create electricity. Last is the sheer demand people are placing on the state’s electrical system. As the days get hotter, people are using their air conditioning more frequently which drains electrical resources.
While you may not be able to completely spare the state from rolling black and brownouts this summer, there are a few things you can do that will limit the strain you place on the overtaxed system and also lower your monthly electricity bill.
Use Window Covering/Treatments
You will be amazed by the amount of money upgrading your window coverings/treatments saves you. Good quality window coverings/treatments are designed to significantly reduce the amount of heat that’s let into your house. The less heat that enters your home, the less you’ll pay to keep the interior air conditioning.
Consider Using a Fan
Switching the air conditioning off and turning a fan on is always a great way to conserve electricity, especially when you’re the only person home. Fans create a wind-chill effect as they circulate air around the room. Occasionally using a damp towel to moisten your skin will enhance the fan’s cooling properties.
Since the fan doesn’t actually cool your home but simply moves air around, you’ll want to shut it off whenever you leave the room. Continuing to allow it to run will simply drain your electrical supply for no good reason.
Invest in a New Thermostat
Believe it or not, the thermostat you’re using can have a major impact on your monthly utility bills. All you have to do is replace your traditional thermostat with an automated one that you can program to accommodate your family’s routine. Why is this important? It means that during the times when no one is home, the system will turn off your air conditioning and allow the internal temp of your home to rise a bit while you conserve energy by not running the A/C. Just before you’re scheduled to get home, the automated thermostat will turn the A/C on so you return to a cool and comfortable environment.
What steps have you taken to decrease your electricity use this summer?
Jaywalking in California
All of us have heard the term jaywalking, but few of us can say exactly what it is. According to the Legal Dictionary, the exact definition of jaywalking is the act of crossing a roadway when it is unlawful to do so. This includes crossing between intersections, as well as crossing at a crosswalk equipped with a signal, without waiting for the proper indication that it is safe to do so.
While jaywalking might not seem like a big deal, you should know that it’s prohibited in California. You can learn more about jaywalking in California by checking out 21955 VC, which makes it very clear that jaywalking is illegal in the state.
The law states that you’re not allowed to walk, “between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk.”
Even though jaywalking is illegal, the good news is that it’s an infraction, not a misdemeanor or felony. Not only won’t it go on a permanent criminal record that can negatively impact your ability to find housing or secure a job, but it also means you don’t have to worry about going to jail. The jaywalking incident will be no worse than getting pulled over for a minor driving mistake.
The bad news is that there are some substantial fines connected to jaywalking in California. Right off the bat, your jaywalking ticket will cost you $196 but there will also be administrative fees, processing fees, and other charges added to the ticket until it’s a substantial amount.
It is also worth noting that if you’re caught jaywalking, the police officer who witnessed the incident will ruin your record. If you have any bench warrants, they’ll have no choice but to arrest you.
The big concern everyone has regarding jaywalking is that someone could get hurt. If you’re decision to jaywalk results in an accident, you’ll likely have to defend yourself in a civil case.
Consequences of Reckless Burning in California
Finally, it’s summertime! Between the increased daylight hours and warmer weather, you’re finally able to do all of your favorite outdoor activities, including having your friends over for a bonfire.
Before you strike a match, you need to make sure you’ve taken the proper steps so that you don’t find yourself dealing with a reckless burning charge.
California’s Penal Code 452 PC exists exclusively for people who either start an illegal fire or who are reckless with fire. The law prohibits you from randomly setting fire to:
- Structures
- Property
- Forest land
The way the law is written, even if you don’t deliberately set fire to something, but simply have a campfire, you can still be charged with being reckless with fire if you fail to follow basic protocols and the fire gets out of control.
Penal Code 452 PC states:
“A person is guilty of unlawfully causing a fire when he recklessly sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned, any structure, forest land or property.
(a) Unlawfully causing a fire that causes great bodily injury is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, four, or six years, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
(b) Unlawfully causing a fire that causes an inhabited structure or inhabited property to burn is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
(c) Unlawfully causing a fire of a structure or forest land is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months, two or three years, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by a fine, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
(d) Unlawfully causing a fire of property is a misdemeanor. For purposes of this paragraph, unlawfully causing a fire of property does not include one burning or causing to be burned his own personal property unless there is injury to another person or to another person’s structure, forest land or property.
(e) In the case of any person convicted of violating this section while confined in a state prison, prison road camp, prison forestry camp, or other prison camp or prison farm, or while confined in a county jail while serving a term of imprisonment for a felony or misdemeanor conviction, any sentence imposed shall be consecutive to the sentence for which the person was then confined.”
If you’re charged with basic reckless burning of personal property, you’re dealing with a misdemeanor crime. The maximum sentence is 6 months in a county jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
The situation goes from bad to worse if a building or forestland was impacted by your fire. When buildings and forest land are involved, reckless burning in California becomes a wobbler offense. At this point, it’s often referred to as reckless arson.
When you create a forest fire and are only charged with a misdemeanor, the maximum sentence you face is six months in a county jail and/or a $1,000 fine. However if the fire involved an inhabited structure or property, you face a felony charge which carries a sentence of 2, 3, or four years in a state prison.
If someone was injured as a result of your fire, the sentence can include up to six years in a state prison.
If you have any intention of lighting any type of fire this year, it’s in your best interest to be safety conscious and to have all of your safety equipment/tools on hand before you start burning.
Early Warning Signs of Heat Stroke
The longer, warmer days inspire all of us to spend more time outdoors. The problem is that the hotter it gets, the greater the risk of heatstroke.
The problem many people discover is that while there are warning signs that they’re starting to overheat, most either ignore these signs or fail to recognize them for what they are until it’s too late. Make this the year that you sit down and familiarize yourself with the early warning signs of heatstroke. You’ll find that knowing when you’re overheating improves your overall health and how much you enjoy the summer months.
Headaches are often the first sign that you’ve been out in the sun and heat too long. They can also be a sign of dehydration so going indoors and drinking a tall glass of cold water as soon as your head starts to throb can solve both issues before they become serious health concerns.
Keeping a mirror tucked into your pocket while you’re outside isn’t a bad idea. You can use it to keep an eye on your complexion. If you notice you’re becoming flushed, you should either get inside or at least to a nice shady patch so you can cool down a bit.
If your skin feels hot, tight, and dry, you immediately need to take steps to cool down. The fact that you feel hot but aren’t sweating isn’t a good sign. The longer you ignore the state of your skin, the greater the risk of you developing full-blown heat stroke.
Do you feel your pulse pounding in your throat or your heart hammering in your chest? This is often a sign that you’ve developed heatstroke. You need to immediately get out of the sun and start slowly cooling yourself down. If your heart rate doesn’t start to slow down after a few minutes, you’ll want to seek medical assistance.
The hotter you get, the more confused you’ll feel. Things like agitation, sudden irritation, delirium, and slurred speech are signs of advancing heat stroke. Seek medical attention.
Stay cool and healthy this summer!
Avoiding Road Rage in California
Road rage is a serious problem and it doesn’t show signs of getting better. According to the American Automobile Association, approximately 200 murders and 12,000 deaths over seven years were linked to road rage incidents. The NHTSA reported that 66% of traffic fatalities were the direct result of aggressive driving and road rage. The Zebra conducted a study in 2019 that revealed that 82% of drivers committed an act of road rage.
While you may not be able to avoid road rage altogether, there are some things you can do to reduce the number of road rage incidents you’re linked to.
Avoid driving when you’re already on edge.
The more irritated you are when you slide behind the wheel, the greater the odds are that you’ll experience road rage during your commute. Try to calm yourself down before driving. Once you’re on the road, take deep breaths and listen to soothing music or an uplifting podcast.
Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. The tighter you are on time, the more recklessly you’ll drive and the more irritated you’ll be at other drivers. Giving yourself a good amount of time to safely reach your destination is one of the best ways to avoid road rage incidents.
Carefully choose your route before you leave. If you know you’re already irritated, choose a route that has the least amount of traffic on it. The fewer cars you encounter on your drive, the more relaxed you’ll be.
Let things go while you’re driving. There will be days when things happen that irritate you. Rather than letting them get under your skin and prompt you into doing something you’ll regret. Take lots of deep breaths, practice defensive driving techniques, and focus on all the good things that are happening around you.
When you encounter an angry driver, don’t engage with them. Stay defensive and let them go ahead of you. Don’t match their aggressive behavior with aggressive moves of your own.
Providing False Credit Card Information
There are times when we could all use a little extra money. Adding an additional line of credit to our lives seems like a good way to get it. The problem is that if you’re already overstretched, the credit card companies will likely reject your application. This can prompt some of us to consider providing false credit card information.
Before you start to provide someone with false credit card information you should know about Penal Code 484f PC. This is the law that outlines the consequences of providing false credit card information in California.
The law states: “(a) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, designs, makes, alters, or embosses a counterfeit access card or utters or otherwise attempts to use a counterfeit access card is guilty of forgery.
(b) A person other than the cardholder or a person authorized by him or her who, with the intent to defraud, signs the name of another or of a fictitious person to an access card, sales slip, sales draft, or instrument for the payment of money which evidences an access card transaction, is guilty of forgery.”
If you think providing false credit card information is something that only happens when people lie on credit card applications, you’re wrong. While there are lots of people who do lie when they apply for credit cards, there are many different ways a person can violate the law.
Examples of providing false credit card information include:
- Creating fake debit/credit cards
- Using a friend/family member’s credit card without first getting their permission
- Providing a store with a fake credit card number
- Doing something to alter the numbers on a credit/debit card
Providing false credit card information is a wobbler offense. The circumstances surrounding the incident and the amount of money involved are used to determine if you’ll be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. If you’re convicted of misdemeanor falsifying credit card information, the maximum sentence is one year in jail and restitution. In felony cases, the maximum sentence is three years in prison.
In most cases, providing false credit card information is just one of the charges you’ll have hanging over your head. Additional charges usually connected to this type of crime usually include forgery, petty theft, stealing a credit card, etc.
Penalties for Illegal Street Racing in California
Yes, the Fast and the Furious movie franchise made street racing look like a great way of generating some excitement on a Friday night, but before you gather a group of your friend together to see who can drive the fastest, you should know that street racing, drag racing, and other vehicular speed contests aren’t legal on California’s public roads. They violate not one, but two of California’s laws: Vehicle Code 23103 VC (reckless driving) and Vehicle Code 23109 VC (speed contests).
You must understand violating either of these California laws by speed racing on one of California’s public roads won’t result in a simple ticket. In most cases, you’ll find yourself facing misdemeanor charges. If you’re convicted, you’ll go through life with a criminal record and have to pay some extremely hefty fines. You may even spend some time inside a county jail cell.
In order to secure a guilty conviction in a California street racing case, the prosecution must be able to prove that in addition to actually driving the car, you were also aware that you were street racing. You can’t be convicted of street racing if you simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and got swept up in a street racing sting.
You can be charged with street racing if you and another driver challenge one another to a race while sitting at a stoplight. In California, it only takes two people to create an illegal street racing situation.
The first time you’re convicted of participating in a speed contest in California, your sentence can include:
- A fine of up to $1,000
- Spending as much as 90 days in jail
If you’re convicted of speed racing a second time, you will lose your driving privileges. The second (and following times) you’re convicted of speed racing in California, you’re sentence could include:
- Mandatory six months of revoked driving privileges
- A fine that could be as much as $1,000
- A potential six months in jail
While you’re not legally allowed to engage in any type of speed contest while operating a vehicle on one of California’s public roads, you’re free to do what you like while on private property, including private roads. While the police won’t stop you from street racing on a private road, you still want to be careful. If someone is hurt because of your actions while you’re behind the wheel, it’s possible you’ll be named in a civil case.
Does Bail Need to be Posted Right Away?
You’ve just gotten a call from a loved one. They’ve been arrested. They’re scared. They know how much bail is needed but they don’t have the funds available. You’ve agreed to help but aren’t sure how much time you have to act.
The first thing you need to do is stop and take a deep breath. You’ve got this!
Yes, your loved one wants to be released from jail as quickly as possible but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a little time and think about the situation. The good news is that you’re loved one’s bail doesn’t have to be posted right away. Yes, they may have to spend a few more hours or days in jail, but they’ll be fine. Bail doesn’t have a time frame. It can be posted right away or six months after you’re loved one was arrested. You’re free to take as much time as you need to decide how you want to handle the situation. You deserve to take your time and approach this project with a clear head.
The first thing you want to do is decide how you want to cover your loved one’s bail. Do you have enough money to cover the bail yourself or do you need the help of a California bail bonds agency? If you decide you need an agency, you’ll want to give yourself enough time to research all the local ones so that you can choose the one that’s the most reputable.
Once you’ve selected a bail bonds agency you want to work with, you must learn what kind of things you need to secure a bail bond. Find out if you’ll need a co-signer if you have to use anything as collateral, what your responsibilities are as the signer of the bail bond, and if you qualify for any discounts or payment programs. Make sure you ask lots of questions during your initial consultation with the agency.
Before you sign with a bail bonds agency, you need to have a serious conversation with your loved one. This conversation is to make sure you’re both going into this process with your eyes wide open. Make sure you discuss who is paying the 10% fee the bail bond agency requires, what is at stake if they fail to attend their court dates, what rules they have to follow while their out on bail, and what you expect them to do after they’re released from jail.
This is one of those situations where everyone must be on the same page.
If you or a loved one finds themselves in need of a California bail bond, it’s in your best interest to contact Absolute Bail Bonds in San Bernardino. We have a long history of helping people just like you. We offer free consultation, flexible payment plans, easy-to-understand contracts, and 24/7 service.
Feel free to call or click the Chat Now link for a free consultation.
Unsure About Getting A Bail Bondsman? Here’s Why You Should
Our team here at Absolute Bail Bonds aims to get your loved one out of jail, and change people’s perceptions on bail bonds. Bail bonds are directly related to negative situations – someone is arrested and needs to be bailed out of jail. What good thing can be related to an arrest?
Have you thought of bail bonds in the way that because it gets someone out of jail, it reunites your family? That’s a positive thought. And more often than not, most family and friends strengthen their bonds with each other as a result of this bail bond release.
It often takes an outside perspective to change the view of something so dark to something that is relieving and much needed. Without this bail bond experience, relationships between friends and family may never experience that much needed tightening.
To get a free consultation on a bail bond, or to simply just get more information, please visit us online to chat with one of our representatives, or call us at 1-800-793-2245.
Down Powerline Safety tips
There are a variety of ways a power line can come down including severe winds, natural disasters, and even an auto accident. The reason the power line is down isn’t important. The important part is knowing how to stay safe when you find a downed power line.
Don’t assume that just because the downed power line isn’t sparking or because it’s coated with rubber that it’s safe. When it comes to power lines, always act like it’s a live wire and that touching it will result in a fatal shock. Power lines aren’t something you should ever take a chance on.
As soon as you spot the downed power line, you need to change the way you move. Instead of lifting your feet when you walk, start shuffling. Keeping your feet, especially if you’re wearing rubber-soled shoes, on the floor increases the odds of your remaining grounded and safe from the electricity.
Most people assume that the damaged power line is the only dangerous thing. It’s not. When a power line goes down, the electricity actually fans out, which means that anything in the area could potentially deliver a deadly shock. Stay at least 100 feet, the length of two semi-truck trailers, away from the line and don’t touch a single thing. The further you are from the line, the safer you are.
As long as you are safe, remain in the area. Your responsibility while you wait for the proper authorities to arrive is to warn anyone who approaches of the danger and prevent them from coming into contact with any stray voltage.