These drivers were allowed to smoke varied amounts of marijuana and than were put on a test course where they had to drive with a professional driving instructor to monitor their performance.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Stoned Drivers Put to the Test
These drivers were allowed to smoke varied amounts of marijuana and than were put on a test course where they had to drive with a professional driving instructor to monitor their performance.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
New Texas House Bill 3206 For Legalizing Illegal Immigrant Driving
To View HB 3206 Click Here
Current Texas law forbids the Department of Public Safety from issuing a driver’s license or a personal identification certificate to anyone incapable of proving their citizenship or legal immigrant status in the United States. Recently introduced House Bill 3206 would change that.
Current Texas law forbids the Department of Public Safety from issuing a driver’s license or a personal identification certificate to anyone incapable of proving their citizenship or legal immigrant status in the United States. Recently introduced House Bill 3206 would change that.
Sponsored by Representative Robert Alonzo (D-Dallas), the legislation strikes from the Texas Transportation Code portions of Section 521.142 demanding “an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must present to the department documentation issued by the appropriate United States agency that authorizes the applicant to be in the United States before the applicant may be issued a driver’s license.” It also adds a provision stating “no other citizenship evidentiary requirement should be imposed” in the licensing approval process. In plain terms, this means the state of Texas will no longer ask individuals applying for a driver’s license about their legal status.
Section 521.171 of the Texas Transportation Code is amended to strike out the portion which mandates license expiration for non-citizens as soon as there is “expiration of the license holder’s lawful presence in the United States.” Now if an illegal immigrant obtains a driver’s license in Texas it will remain current even when his or her permission to be in the United States doesn't.
There are reports that the bill creates special types of licensing for illegal immigrants, clearly distinguishable from regular licenses. However, the text of the legislation itself simply rolls back legal residency as condition of obtaining all types of licenses, including provisional and occupational. There is no new system or process created,
going by the text of HB 3206
Proponents of the measure argue that bans on licenses are not preventing illegal immigrants from driving, so current policy is flawed. Fear of apprehension and deportation gives illegals a greater incentive to flee from the scenes of accidents and a disincentive to offer roadside assistance. Allowing these people legal permission to drive would create more responsible motorists and safer roads, or so goes the argument.
This is an example of the messes the federal government’s negligence on immigration enforcement leaves states to clean up. There are a large number of people driving on Texas roads who do not have the right to be here. The federal government refuses to remove them; however, Texas cannot enforce immigration policy and has to find some way to deal with the fallout of its large illegal population, driving without insurance and without proper licensing.
The reasoning behind allowing illegal immigrants legal driving rights may have some merit, but these licenses must be clearly differentiated from regular ones. Those favoring HB 3206 keep saying this is the case, but the text of the law as its currently posted does not include these provisions. State issued driver’s licenses are critical documents, opening the door to voter registration and a host of public and private services. Until the distinction between driver’s licenses is made clear, this measure should be resisted.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
New Houston Ordinance to Protect Vulnerable Road Users
Are you a Houston City bicyclist? This news may interest you: Just this past week Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston City Council approved an ordinance to protect Houston's cyclists and other vulnerable road users by requiring cars and other motor vehicles to keep a separation of more than three feet while passing, and trucks or commercial vehicles to keep a separation of more than six feet. The ordinance is effective immediately.
Vulnerable road users are defined as a walkers or runners; the physically disabled, such as someone in a wheelchair; a stranded motorist or passengers; highway construction, utility or maintenance workers; tow truck operators; cyclists; moped, motor-driven cycle and scooter drivers; or horseback riders.
In addition to requiring safe passing and trailing distances from vulnerable road users, this ordinance prohibits any motor vehicle occupant from throwing or projecting any object or substance at or against them.
BikeHouston, several state and local leaders and other groups advocated and/or voiced support for this ordinance, including: Senator Rodney Ellis, BikeTexas, AARP, Better Houston, Bikin' Babes, Citizen Transportation Coalition, Houston Access to Urban Sustainability Project, Houston Tomorrow, Northwest Cycling Club and Richmond Rail.
Similar ordinances have already been enacted by Austin, Fort Worth and San Antonio.
The Safe Passing ordinance is another initiative, led and/or supported by Mayor Parker, to encourage more cycling in Houston. Others include the launch of Houston Bike Share last month, closing gaps in Houston's bike trail system; the voter-approved Bayou Greenways initiative; and approval of HB200, which will allow Houston's utility easements to be used for hike and bike trails.
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Zachary Quinto vs. Leonard Nimoy: "The Challenge" Audi Commercial
In preparation for the release of upcoming Star Trek Into Darkness, which opens in theaters on May 17th, Audi teamed up with the film franchise and produced a commercial featuring both the original Spock and the successor (Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto) in a battle of wits. This may be only entertaining to geeks like myself but surely everyone can appreciate the splendor of the Audi as Zachary Quinto so lavishly boards it as if it were the Enterprise itself! Well, I guess you would have to be a geek to identify with that as well huh...
Suffice it to say that the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, steals the show from the franchise's new Spock, Zachary Quinto. I particularly enjoyed the Bilbo Baggins chant he so candidly sang. Zachary Quinto has quite a task before him to fill such big shoes! So far he's doing grand :).
After we are led to believe Leonard Nimoy to be the winner of the Challenge, the final scene of the commercial serves as enlightenment as Audi manages to amaze both these Vulcan's and we all realize that the winner was Audi all along.
The video was ultimately clever and entertaining. I am excited to see how the movie pans out.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
KidsEmbrace New Child Safety Seats - Cool or Not?
If you're in the market for a new flashy way to transport your child about in the car safely, KidsEmbrace may have created the perfect product for you. The company makes specialty car seats fashioned after Spongebob, Dora the Explorer, Batman and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Junior.
Why? For the Kids of course! Well more for the money but that's corporate America. What's important is if your child would actually enjoy this new product. The Batman seat features a cape and arm rests styled after the Dark Knight's own arms, complete with hands for cup holders. It will catch the attention of many young boys, and will be an increase in visual stimulation in comparison to the dull standard safety seats. And don't worry, they didn't leave safety by the wayside while designing this kid friendly comfort. The Kids Embrace design team has over 60 years combined experience in manufacturing and engineering child safety equipment. Their chief engineer serves as a consultant to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal agency that sets standards for vehicle safety. Rest assured, this is not only a fun product, the KIDSEmbrace™ child safety seat is also one of the safest seats available today.
You can head over to the KidsEmbrace site to take a look for yourself. The seats can be had for around $149 or so. I would love to hear if your child loved it or hated it.
Why? For the Kids of course! Well more for the money but that's corporate America. What's important is if your child would actually enjoy this new product. The Batman seat features a cape and arm rests styled after the Dark Knight's own arms, complete with hands for cup holders. It will catch the attention of many young boys, and will be an increase in visual stimulation in comparison to the dull standard safety seats. And don't worry, they didn't leave safety by the wayside while designing this kid friendly comfort. The Kids Embrace design team has over 60 years combined experience in manufacturing and engineering child safety equipment. Their chief engineer serves as a consultant to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal agency that sets standards for vehicle safety. Rest assured, this is not only a fun product, the KIDSEmbrace™ child safety seat is also one of the safest seats available today.
You can head over to the KidsEmbrace site to take a look for yourself. The seats can be had for around $149 or so. I would love to hear if your child loved it or hated it.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Texas House Bill 1190
Currently there is a House bill in Texas that will affect all defensive driving courses in Texas .
The bill is the following:
| By: Flynn | H.B. No. 1190 |
| relating to statutory minimum fees for driving safety courses. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 1001.205, Education Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 1001.205. REQUIREMENTS FOR DRIVING SAFETY SCHOOL | ||
| LICENSE. The commissioner shall approve an application for a | ||
| driving safety school license if on investigation the agency | ||
| determines that the school: | ||
| (1) has driving safety courses, curricula, and | ||
| instruction of a quality, content, and length that reasonably and | ||
| adequately achieve the stated objective for which the course, | ||
| curricula, and instruction are developed by the course provider; | ||
| (2) has adequate space, equipment, instructional | ||
| material, and instructors to provide training of good quality; | ||
| (3) has instructors and administrators who have | ||
| adequate educational qualifications and experience; | ||
| (4) maintains adequate records as prescribed by the | ||
| commissioner to show attendance and progress or grades and enforces | ||
| satisfactory standards relating to attendance, progress, and | ||
| conduct; | ||
| (5) complies with all county, municipal, state, and | ||
| federal laws, including fire, building, and sanitation codes and | ||
| assumed name registration; | ||
| (6) has administrators, owners, and instructors who | ||
| are of good reputation and character; | ||
| (7) does not use erroneous or misleading advertising, | ||
| either by actual statement, omission, or intimation, as determined | ||
| by the commissioner; | ||
| (8) does not use a name similar to the name of another | ||
| existing school or tax-supported educational establishment in this | ||
| state, unless specifically approved in writing by the commissioner; | ||
| (9) maintains and uses the approved contract and | ||
| policies developed by the course provider; | ||
| (10) does not owe an administrative penalty under this | ||
| chapter; | ||
| [ | ||
| (11) [ | ||
| commissioner. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 1001.352, Education Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 1001.352. FEES FOR DRIVING SAFETY COURSE. A course | ||
| provider shall charge each student[ | ||
| [ | ||
| [ | ||
| materials and for supervising and administering the course. | ||
| SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act to Section | ||
| 1001.205, Education Code, applies only to an application for a | ||
| driving safety school license submitted on or after the effective | ||
| date of this Act. An application for a driving safety school | ||
| license submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed | ||
| by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this | ||
| Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
| SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act to Section | ||
| 1001.352, Education Code, applies only to a driving safety course | ||
| provided on or after the effective date of this Act. A course | ||
| provided before the effective date of this Act is governed by the | ||
| law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and | ||
| the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
| SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. | ||
We are petitioning to prevent the passing of Texas House Bill 1190.
In summary, five reasons to be opposed to HB 1190, although there are many, many more:
1. Reduces the opportunity for small businesses in the driving safety field to startup and compete on a level playing field with larger multistate operations.
2. Could create similar deceptive advertising techniques that other states have resorted to similar to Florida and California.
3. Will eventually result in a loss of jobs within the industry with lower skilled workforce of instructors due to lower pay.
4. Closing of currently operating small businesses in the driving safety field due to the inability to be price competitive with online courses with call centers in other states and abroad.
5. Reduced profitability in the industry as a whole therefore reducing the taxes collected hurting State and Federal Governments.
Small businesses within the driver safety and driver education industry in Texas, along with the families they are composed of, will hurt tremendously if the bill is passed.
In summary, five reasons to be opposed to HB 1190, although there are many, many more:
1. Reduces the opportunity for small businesses in the driving safety field to startup and compete on a level playing field with larger multistate operations.
2. Could create similar deceptive advertising techniques that other states have resorted to similar to Florida and California.
3. Will eventually result in a loss of jobs within the industry with lower skilled workforce of instructors due to lower pay.
4. Closing of currently operating small businesses in the driving safety field due to the inability to be price competitive with online courses with call centers in other states and abroad.
5. Reduced profitability in the industry as a whole therefore reducing the taxes collected hurting State and Federal Governments.
Small businesses within the driver safety and driver education industry in Texas, along with the families they are composed of, will hurt tremendously if the bill is passed.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Cost of owning a car is on the rise
Overall, the costs of car ownership have risen compared to last year, according to an annual study by AAA, which says it now costs 2% more to own a sedan than it did last year.
The costs vary a lot according to the type and size of vehicle, though. It costs about $7,000 a year to own a small car in the United States but about $11,600 to own a four-wheel-drive SUV, according to AAA.
The study factored in costs such as fuel, maintenance, insurance, tires and depreciation.
Maintenance costs have risen the most, according to AAA, going up 11.26% compared to last year. Maintenance costs almost 5 cents for every mile driven. Those costs have gone up because of increases in labor costs, replacement parts prices and extended warranty prices.
Insurance costs have gone up 2.76% for sedans, AAA said. The drivers' group based its annual estimate of $1,029 assuming that a driver has a clean record. Insurance companies in seven states showed small increases for sedans of all sizes.
Fuel costs rose only 1.93% compared to last year. While the price of gasoline rose 3.84%, that was partly offset by improvements in the fuel economy of new cars. The cost of tires was unchanged from last year.
Article from: http://money.cnn.com
Defensive Driving Texas
Article from: http://money.cnn.com
Defensive Driving Texas
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