2008 FALL SEASON PREMIERSHave you gone all summer without new episodes of your favorite television shows? I know I have. Now that we are approaching fall, it’s time to grab your remote controls, set your TiVo’s and tune in to watch what your superstar characters have been up to. Whether you are an American Idol fanatic, a wannabe CSI detective or just simply think you’re smarter than a fifth grader, here is a complete schedule of the returning shows so you don’t miss a single moment!

The 2008-2009 school year will be here before we know it. In preparation, I am pleased to share with you a series of tips to get your child and home in tip-top shape.

As you may have heard, effective July 1, 2008, two new laws go into effect that will have an impact on cell phone talking motorists. The first law requires that drivers 18 and older use a hands-free device while driving. The second prohibits drivers 18 and under from using a hands-free device or cell phone while driving. Drivers who violate the law will face a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense.

I am sure you have many questions regarding the new laws and to help you better understand them, I have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions from the California Department of Motor Vehicle’s website, www.dmv.gov.ca, regarding the
new legislation.

Q: What if I need to use my telephone during an emergency and I do not have a “hands-free” device?
A: The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department or other emergency services agency.

Q: What are the fines(s) if I’m convicted?
A: The base fine for the first offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. With the addition of penalty assessments, the fines can be more than triple the base fine amount.

Q: Will there be a grace period when motorists will only get a warning?
A: No. The law becomes effective July 1, 2008. Whether a citation is issued is always at the discretion of the officer based upon his or her determination of the most appropriate remedy for the situation.

Q: Are passengers affected by this law?
A: No. This law only applies to the person driving a motor vehicle.

Q: Do these laws apply to out-of-state drivers whose home states do not have such laws?
A: Yes.

Q: Can I be pulled over by a law enforcement officer for using my handheld wireless telephone?
A: Yes. A law enforcement officer can pull you over just for this infraction.

Q: What if my phone has a push-to-talk feature; can I use that?
A: No. The law does provide an exception for those operating a commercial motor truck or truck tractor (excluding pickups), implements of husbandry, farm vehicle or tow truck, to use a two-way radio operated by a “push-to-talk” feature. However, a push-to-talk feature attached to a hands-free ear piece or other hands-free device is acceptable.

Q: What other exceptions are there?
A: Operators of an authorized emergency vehicle during the course of employment are exempt, as are those motorists operating a vehicle on private property.

Q: Does the new “hands-free” law prohibit you from dialing a wireless telephone while driving or just talking on it?
A: The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial
while driving.

Q: Will it be legal to use a Bluetooth or other earpiece?
A: Yes, however, you cannot have both ears covered.

Q: Does the new “hands-free” law allow you to use the speaker phone function of your wireless telephone while driving?
A: Yes.

Q: Does the new “hands-free” law allow drivers 18 and over to text message while driving?
A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer’s opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Sending text messages while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.

I hope you found this information useful.

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Here’s a quick to-do-list for before you leave on vacation.

3 days before…

•  Suspend your mail and newspaper delivery. No need to do this in person, go online at www.usps.com to hold your mail. Or you arrange for a trusted neighbor or family member collect your mail and newspapers. You don’t want them to collect outside your home or your mail box to overfill, both are sure signs that no one’s home.

1 day before…

•  Discard perishables. Avoid a smelly refrigerator when you return. Toss cold cuts, dairy products, and produce, or donate them to a local shelter.
• Adjust the refrigerator temerature. Make sure the thermostat isn’t on the supercool setting. This will keep your frig from blowing a circut while you’re away. A closed-up house can raise the temperature in the kitchen, thereby increasing a refrigerators energy use by up to 50 percent in the summer.
• Set timers. Make your house look like it’s lived in during the evenings. To keep your house from sitting dark install plug-in timers ($4-$10 each at Home Depot or Lowe’s) on lamps in several rooms. Set them to go on and off at different times. You can also set radios and TVs with the same type of timers.

3 hours before…

•  Adjust shades and blinds. Leave them partially open so your house looks lived in. This will also ensure passersby can see lights on at night.
• Leave a car in the driveway. If you’re taking yours you can ask a neighbor to park in your driveway while you’re away.
• Set the air-conditioner. If your home has central AC, raise your thermostat so that it’s set to about 10 degress below the average outside temperature. But don’t turn it off.

Here’s a few tips to help   gas mileage and help you save at the pump.

• Don’t race away from green lights. The more you press down on your gas pedal, the more gas you’re pumping, you don’t need all that gas to accelerate. Press lightly on the gas pedal, and you’ll still get to you where you’re going.
• Don’t stop quickly. Lay off the gas sooner rather then later as you approach red lights or stop signs. Let off the pedal to give your engine a rest as you coast to a stop while breaking gently. As a bonus your brake pads will last longer too!

These first 2 items alone can improve your fuel economy by as much as 35 percent according to edmunds.com.

• Don’t tailgate. This causes you to have to slow down very quickly, and then speed up again. Avoid this cat and mouse game that wastes your gas.
• Don’t idle. You burn a half-mile worth of gas every minute your car is idle according to the California Energy Commission. If you’re waiting for someone to run in and out again, turn off the engine. Don’t idle your engine to let it warm up before driving. It does your engine no good and it wastes gas.
• Save up your errands. A lot of short hops, where the engine cools down between the trips can use twice as muc gas as starting the car once and making a big sweep to all your stops, according to the U. S. Department of Energy. Go to your farthest destination first so your engine has a chance to reach its optimal operating temperature. Then make your other stops on the way back.

Press release, video and more on the new Cell Phone regulations while driving. Be prepared, have your hands free head set ready, and start getting in the habbit of not talking on the phone in the car or using the head set. The fine for the first offense is $20, and it’s $50 for any offenses after the first:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) earlier this month issued an important reminder to all motorists that two new restrictions on the use of cellular phones while driving go into effect on July 1.  The first law prohibits anyone from using a hand-held cell phone while operating a vehicle on California roadways.  Operators of vehicles requiring a Class “A” or Class “B” driver’s license, such as large trucks, can use a push-to-talk device such as a Nextel through 2010. 

“We know that cell phones are the number one cause of distracted-driving accidents.  Getting people’s hands off their phones and onto their steering wheels will save lives and make California’s roads safer,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. 

The second law going into effect July 1 prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using any type of cell phone while driving.  Cell phones can continue to be used by those 18 and older if they have either a wireless or hard-wired head set in one ear. 

“New, inexperienced drivers need to focus their full attention on operating a vehicle and not be distracted by phone calls,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.

Violations carry a minimum base fine of $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent offenses.  When court costs and other fees are added to the fines, they often double or even triple the amount of the base fine.  There will be no grace period to avoid penalties under these new laws and officers can begin issuing citations July 1.

According to CHP statistics, 1,091 crashes in 2007 were blamed on drivers using hand-held cell phones.  A total of 447 people were injured in those crashes.

For more information about the new cell phone laws, including a list of frequently asked questions in English and Spanish, please visit the CHP’s website at www.chp.ca.gov.