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BUSTED - The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters

highriskdrivers — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:14:14 GMT

Created by Flex Your Rights and narrated by retired ACLU director Ira Glasser, BUSTED realistically depicts the pressure and confusion of common police encounters. In an entertaining and revealing manner, BUSTED illustrates the right and wrong ways to handle different police encounters and pays special attention to demonstrating how you, the viewer, can courteously and confidently refuse police searches.

Chill the Road Rage

highriskdrivers — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:42:38 GMT

Source: http://www.whatsdrivingyou.org/
Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State
This Article is adapted from "Keep Your Cool - CHILL the Road Rage!"

What causes aggressive driving behavior and "Road Rage"?
Aggressive driving behavior usually occurs as a result of heavy traffic, hectic schedules, pressure and daily stress. An angry or impatient driver may act out his/her frustrations by driving in a reckless, rude or intimidating manner - such as speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, making obscene gestures and using the horn excessively - endangering other motorists or pedestrians. In its extreme, aggressive driving behavior can escalate into "road rage," when an angry driver takes deliberate, violent action against another motorist.
Follow these guidelines to prevent aggressive driving and road rage:

Before driving, set aside your stress, anger and worries and make safe driving your priority
Plan ahead and allow enough time for your trip
Be courteous and obey the rules of the road
Do not speed, tailgate or block the passing lane
Keep your radio at a reasonable volume and avoid using your horn excessively
Always use your signal when changing lanes. Do not cut off other drivers
Make your car comfortable by adjusting the temperature or listening to soothing music
When possible, avoid driving in heavily congested areas and during rush-hour
Remember, drivers do make mistakes. Do not take driving violations personally, and NEVER RETALIATE

Remember these safety tips when confronted by an aggressive driver or a potential road rage incident:

Steer clear of the offender
Do not make eye contact or even look in the direction of the aggressor
Do not make obscene gestures or swear at other drivers
Stay calm, and focused and do not react if you are provoked
You cannot control traffic or the behavior of other drivers; you can only control your own responses
If you are a victim of violent road rage, drive to a safe place and notify the police immediately

Are you at a risk for committing "road rage"?

Do you often drive at an excessive speed?
Do you weave in and out of traffic or cut off other motorists?
Do you tailgate other vehicles to force them into another lane of traffic?
Do you yell at or make obscene gestures to other drivers?
Do you use your horn excessively or blare your radio?
Do you drive on the shoulders of the road to avoid traffic and pass other cars?
Do you block the passing lane or purposely try to prevent drivers from moving into your lane?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you have been an aggressive driver and are at risk for road rage. For your safety, please consider implementing some of the above suggestions.

What to Do When You Are Pulled Over by the Police

highriskdrivers — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:53:20 GMT

Source: http://www.nolo.com/

Learn what to say and what not to say and when vehicle searches are legal.
Your battle to beat a ticket begins the instant you realize you're being stopped by a police officer. You will be in a much better position to challenge your ticket in court if you take a few simple steps when you are pulled over. Here are some suggestions.

1. When You See the Police Car
If a police car is following you with its siren blaring or emergency lights flashing, pull over to the right safely and quickly. Pull over in a way that will be most likely to calm down an angry or annoyed traffic officer. Use your turn signal to indicate any lane changes from left to right, and slow down fairly quickly, but not so quickly that the officer will have to brake to avoid hitting you. Pull over as far to the right as possible so that, when the officer comes up to your widow, he won't have to worry about being clipped by vehicles in the right lane.
By stopping as soon as you can, you'll have a better chance of figuring out exactly where the officer says you committed a violation. You may want to return to that area later to make sure the officer was telling the truth about how he judged your speed, saw your turn, or witnessed any other violation.

2. Right After You Stop
After you've pulled over to a safe spot, you might want to show the officer a few other token courtesies. At this point, you have little to lose and perhaps something to gain.
First off, roll down your window all the way. You may also want to turn off the engine, place your hands on the steering wheel, and, if it's dark, turn on your interior light. This will tend to allay any fears the officer may have. (After all, police officers are killed every day in such "ordinary" traffic-stop situations, and the officer's approach to the vehicle is the potentially most dangerous.)

Don't start rummaging through your back pocket for your wallet and license, or in your glove compartment for your registration, until the officer asks you for them. For all he knows, you could be reaching for a gun.
If you are at all concerned that the person who stopped you is not actually a police officer (for example, if the car that pulled you over is unmarked), you should ask to see the officer's photo identification along with his badge. If you still have doubts, you can ask that the officer to call a supervisor to the scene or you can request that you be allowed to follow the officer to a police station.

3. Avoid Giving the Officer an Excuse to Search
A police officer is normally not allowed to search your vehicle. However, there are several exceptions to this. An officer who observes you trying to either hide something under the seat or throw something out the window may legally search your car. Once the cop is on your rear bumper with his spotlight silhouetting your every move, he's watching for any sort of furtive movement. A sudden lowering of one or both shoulders will tip him off that you're attempting to hide something under the seat.
If the officer has a reasonable suspicion you are armed and dangerous, she can frisk (pat down) you. Similarly, if the officer reasonably suspects that you are involved in criminal activity she can also perform a pat down. And if the police officer has probable cause -- a reasonable basis or justification to believe that you or your passengers are involved in criminal activity -- they can search your car and objects belonging to passengers.

Can I refuse to let a police officer search my car during a traffic stop?
Even if the officer doesn't have reasonable suspicion or probable cause, once you are stopped, a police officer may seize any illegal objects in your car that are in "plain view." Once they see the object, such as open beer or wine bottles or drug paraphernalia, they can open the car door to reach in and get it. After that, they may come across other objects that are in plain view and shouldn't be in your car, and they can seize these, too.
Lastly, your car may also be searched if you or any occupant is arrested. Also, if you're arrested and your car is towed, the police may make an "inventory search" afterward, even if they have no reason to suspect there is anything illegal inside.

4. Should You Get Out of Your Car?
An officer who stops you for an alleged traffic violation has the right to insist that you and your passengers get out of your car. You should do so if asked. Also, getting out of your car may make it easier for you to check road conditions, the weather, and the place the violation supposedly occurred.
However, many police officers prefer that you stay in your car and will tell you to stay there if you start to get out. If this happens, obviously you should cooperate. If you get out of the car against the officer's orders, don't be surprised to see a gun pointing at you. Cops are trained to expect the worst. When you get out of your car, they may assume you're about to pull a weapon or attempt to flee.

If an officer has any reason to believe that you might be dangerous, he has a right to conduct a quick "pat-down" search of your outer clothing while he is standing next to you, to make sure you don't have a concealed knife or gun. If the officer feels any weapon-sized object during the pat-down search, he can reach in and get it. Also, the officer's good faith belief that you may be dangerous justifies a search of the passenger compartment of your car for weapons.

5. Talking to the Officer
Many people stopped by an officer make the mistake of saying the wrong thing to him and failing to say the right things. And a case can be won or lost depending on what you say -- or don't say -- to the officer.
Don't speak first. Especially don't start off with a defensive or hostile "What's the problem?" or similar words. Let the officer start talking. He will probably ask to see your license and vehicle registration. Many people make the mistake of insisting the officer tell them why he stopped them before they'll comply. Don't make that mistake. Reply "okay" or "sure," then hand over the documents.

One of the first things traffic cops learn in the police academy is to decide, before leaving their vehicle, whether they're going to give a ticket or just a warning. They may act as though they still haven't made up their minds and are going to let you off only if you'll cooperate. Don't fall for this. The hesitating officer may be trying to appear open-minded in order to extract admissions out of you, to use them against you in court if necessary. The strategy is to try to get you to admit either that you committed a violation or that you were so careless, inattentive, or negligent that you don't know whether you did or not.

The officer might start by asking you the sort of question whose lack of a definite answer would imply guilt, like, "Do you know why I stopped you?" Or, he might ask, "Do you know how fast you were going?" Your answers, if any, should be non-committal and brief, like a simple "No" to the first question or a very confident, "Yes, I do," to the second. If he then tells you how fast he thinks you were going or what he thinks you did, don't argue. Give a noncommittal answer, like, "I see," or no answer at all. Silence is not an admission of guilt and cannot be used against you in court.

I'm Not A Bad Driver...Am I?

highriskdrivers — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:43:08 GMT

Source: http://www.insurance-compare-save.com

Being a good driver and having no moving violations or citations on your record can save you a significant amount of money on your auto insurance. And most drivers think that they are good drivers, but it just cannot be true. The sheer number of car accident per year prove that most drivers are not good drivers. If you consistently have bad driving habits, an accident is bound to happen eventually.

Most people know that they should fasten their seatbelts before they drive (it is the law, and heavily enforced, in most states). They also know not to watch DVDs, read the paper, or put on make-up in the car. But glaring errors while driving do not cause all those accident claims to be filed to auto insurance providers each year.

Every person out there has done something where they took their eyes off the road for a little longer than they should have, kept another driver from changing lanes, or even had to slow down when we saw a police car up ahead. So what else can we do to improve our driving to make sure we don't end up seeing our insurance rates go up due to an accident?

First, a new epidemic of these fast paced times has reached into our driving routine, and has been found to be almost as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. This pervasive behavior is talking on the cell phone while driving a car. And no, using a hands-free setup will not make any difference. It is not necessarily holding onto the phone that is dangerous, but the division of attention that leads to problems. Therefore, it is not the phone, but the conversation that makes drivers more dangerous on the road.

Another way to remain a safer driver is to take in the entire driving scene, especially if you are in fast moving traffic. Many drivers make the mistake of focusing on the driver right ahead of them or even just a few hundred feed down the road. however, it is important that you know what is going on all around you so that you are prepared for whatever may come your way.

Staying focused all around means looking at least a few hundred years in front of you and looking through things to see it. That means use the windows of the cars in front of you to see what is going on up ahead. It also means to not get zoned on one thing, but to continuously look around you and use your mirrors. You should be checking those mirrors about every 5 to 8 seconds.

The distance between you and the car in front of you is often debated between drivers. Most people don't have the reflexes they think they have. In most states, if you rear-end someone it is automatically your fault, which could result in your auto insurance premiums increasing, so make sure you keep at least a 2 second following distance between you and the car in front of you in 45 mile per hour traffic. If it is rainy, snowy, or slippery in any way, you should leave even more distance.

Also, you should always be aware of your escape routes. Driving situations should be running through your head as you drive. This way you are prepared for what you will do when that car zooms up and tries cutting you off. Being prepared mentally may also help you if you find yourself sliding on ice or hydroplaning in rainy weather.

Time makes a difference in another debated driving matter - where you put your hands on the steering wheel. Driver's Ed classes are now encouraging students to place their hands at 4 and 8 o'clock in order to keep their arms out of the way of the airbag. However, the standard "10 and 2" position still allows the driver the best control. If you are concerned about your arms being in the way of the airbag, you can drop your hands to "9 and 3" and still retain a lot of control. Plus, experts are now recommending a shuffle turn rather than a hand over hand turn that many people learned in Driver's Ed.

Much of this information seems basic, but think back to the last time you followed all of the steps listed above when you were behind the wheel. Learning to be a better driver can help you save money on your auto insurance be reducing your risk for an accident. There, of course, is no guarantee, but being safe is a safe bet for saving money on your auto insurance.

Swimming in the assigned-risk pool

highriskdrivers — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 11:48:30 GMT

By Insure.com

It's the last resort, but for some drivers, it's your only option. Here's how auto insurance works if your record isn't so clean.

You've just had your fourth accident in the past 12 months and you've received notice that your insurance company is canceling your auto insurance. After checking with other insurance companies, you find that none will insure you. Where do you go now?

Unfortunately, the news is not good. You can continue trying to buy a policy with other auto insurers, of course. But if that fails, in most cases you'll need to get insurance from your state's insurer of last resort, which is also known as the assigned-risk pool.

Three strikes and you're in

Every auto insurer that does business in a particular state must participate in the state's assigned-risk pool -- it's a way for a state to make sure there's always an avenue for buying auto insurance in order to reduce the number of uninsured drivers. The amount of business a company does in the state determines how many drivers from the pool it must insure. Drivers who fall into the assigned-risk pool are assigned randomly to a company, says John Verruso, spokesman for the Automobile Insurance Plans Service Office (AIPSO).

If you contact your insurance agent and say you were turned down three times, he or she will have you fill out a form to apply for insurance from the assigned-risk pool. Generally, you don't need to supply photocopies of your three denials of coverage, but you usually need to certify in writing that three companies have turned you down.

Rates will not vary among companies insuring assigned-risk drivers but, rather, rates will be determined by the extent of your on-road mistakes. Just as in the voluntary insurance market, information such as where you live and your driving record will affect your premium, according to Verruso. This factor alone makes it worth it to keep your driving record as clean as possible, since someone with six speeding tickets will pay less than someone with six speeding tickets who also has caused three accidents.

Read the rest of the article: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/SwimmingInTheAssignedRiskPool.aspx

What To Do When You Encounter Aggressive Drivers

highriskdrivers — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 15:23:45 GMT

Aggressive Drivers: Who Are They?

Here's what we know of them, so far:

· These high risk drivers climb into the anonymity of an automobile and take out their frustrations on anybody at any time.

· For them, frustration levels are high, and level of concern for fellow motorists is low.

· They run stop signs and red lights, speed, tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the right, make improper and unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial gestures, scream, honk, and flash their lights.

· They drive at speeds far in excess of the norm which causes them to: follow too closely, change lanes frequently and abruptly without notice (signals), pass on the shoulder or unpaved portions of the roadway, and leer at and/or threaten - verbally or through gestures - motorists who are thoughtless enough to be in front of them.

When Confronted By Aggressive Drivers:

· First and foremost, make every attempt to get out of their way.

· Put your pride in the back seat. Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in your travel lane.

· Wear your seat belt. It will it hold you in your seat and behind the wheel in case you need to make an abrupt driving maneuver and it will protect you in a crash.

· Avoid eye contact.

· Ignore gestures and refuse to return them.

· Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description, license number, location, and if possible, direction of travel.

· If you have a "Cell" phone, and can do it safely, call the police -- many have special numbers (e.g. 9-1-1 or #77).

If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash farther down the road, stop a safe distance from the crash scene, wait for the police to arrive and report the driving behavior that you witnessed

72% of online consumers use the Web for Auto Insurance Quotes

highriskdrivers — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:47:26 GMT

Source: Keynote Systems Inc.

June 21, 2006 - San Mateo, Calif.

Keynote's customer experience study shows that consumers are turning away from obtaining auto insurance quotes over the phone and increasingly turning to the Web for those same quotes. This study uncovered that in the highly competitive $158 billion auto insurance industry, price competitiveness and the online quote process are the leading indicators of success in landing new customers online.

The Keynote Customer Experience Rankings for Auto Insurance Web Sites examines the online experience of 1,500 prospective auto insurance customers as they interacted with leading auto insurance sites.

The study measured 250+ metrics for each site including ease of use, satisfaction, brand appeal and customer acquisition impact during April 2006. A companion study, the Keynote WebExcellence Insurance Carrier Scorecard, measured and ranked insurance sites for online excellence according to their use and execution of 240+ industry best practices in online policy sales and servicing. That study was conducted in May 2006 and was based on the collection of nearly 4,000 pieces of competitive data for each of 16 sites included in the study.

Close to three-quarters of online consumers (72%) report they use the Web to obtain quotes when evaluating auto insurance coverage options; a 5% increase since last year's study. By comparison, the number of people reporting they obtain a phone quote decreased by six percentage points, dropping from 55% to 49%.

"We have seen a steady trend upward in the number of consumers using the Web to obtain quotes and a corresponding steady drop in those using the phone for quotes," says Lance Jones, associate director of Internet research for Keynote. "The online channel continues to grow in importance and will be the key driver of sales growth in the auto insurance industry. The companies that provide a strong online customer experience, such as GEICO and Progressive, will ultimately benefit from this trend."

The single most influential driver of a consumer's decision to purchase auto insurance is price, with more than three-quarters of consumers (77%) saying that price is "extremely important" in their decision.

However, with the Web becoming the primary source for obtaining quotes, Web site features and ease of use are gaining in importance. Almost two-thirds of consumers (64%) say that the ease of use of a company's Web site is extremely or very important in their selection of an auto insurance policy--and 74% report that the actual online quote request process is extremely or very important in their selection process.

"Price satisfaction was clearly the leading driver of customer acquisition success. In fact, price was more important in the auto insurance industry than in any of the other dozens of industries we study, including the online travel industry, where price is of paramount importance," says Jones. "Despite this, auto insurance companies need to pay much closer attention to their site effectiveness with consumers. We saw some sites gain a significant advantage over competitors based on their online experience - and we saw some very competitively priced competitors fall flat because of their poor online experience. Price and online experience are the dual engines for driving quote and sales growth in the auto insurance industry."

Being High Risk Is A Costly Game With Your Auto Insurance

highriskdrivers — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:40:59 GMT

Source: http://www.insurance-compare-save.com

Risk is not a game, and it could cost you a lot of money. Being a high risk can alter how much you pay in auto insurance premiums and it can also prevent you from getting auto insurance at all. There are several ways you become a high risk driver, and many other ways to decrease your risk. Knowledge can be the best prevention to lower your auto insurance costs.

How do you become a high risk driver for auto insurance companies? You could have a number of at fault accidents or even a DUI. There are different grades of high risk clients, and some companies consider certain risk factors less serious than others. However, if you fit into more than one high-risk category, you can put yourself in jeopardy of not qualifying for auto insurance.

Other factors that auto insurance companies consider high risk include numerous moving violations, unpaid tickets, not having continuous coverage, and even driving a high-performance sports car. A surprising risk factor for most people is their credit history. Many auto insurance providers consider a poor credit history a high risk. Also, if you are a male or a teenager, you could fall into a high risk category for most auto insurance companies.

If you find yourself in a high risk category, you need to prepare yourself for an uphill battle in your auto insurance shopping experience, especially if you fall into a number of high risk categories. The first thing you should do is shop around for auto insurance. Don't settle for one companies quote just because you don't think any other auto insurance company will insure you. Just because you are high risk for auto insurance companies doesn't mean you can't find the best rate possible for your situation.

If you do find yourself paying a bundle due to your high risk auto insurance category, then you should start focusing on how you can lower your risk. Begin most simply by assessing what is putting you in the high risk category. If it is a static factor, like sex, then there is little you can do about reducing your risk in that category. Other areas that auto insurance companies see as high risk will eventually iron themselves out, like age or a ticket. You grow older and end up in a different auto insurance risk category, and auto insurance companies don't hold tickets against you forever.

However, the auto insurance risk factors that you do have some control over, you want to make sure you address. Is your auto insurance is higher because your roommate has a DUI, you may want to move. Also, do not buy a high risk automobile or sell the one you have. Remember that certain cars are in a high risk category and automatically will cause you to pay a higher auto insurance premium.

One area that you have an increasing amount of control over and that, with some auto insurance companies, will significantly decrease your auto insurance premium is your credit score. Obtain a copy of your credit report and do what you can to pay off your debt and pay your bills on time. Also, refrain from driving drunk and use safe driving techniques to avoid accidents.

If you do shop around for auto insurance and still cannot find a company to insure you, don't lose hope. In states where auto insurance is mandatory, you need to call the Department of Insurance to be placed in a high-risk pool. Each auto insurance company is required to take a percentage of the high risk pool to insure. You may pay more for the least amount of auto insurance, but at least you will be insured.

11 car-care tips that save gas

highriskdrivers — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:30:00 GMT

Source bankrate.com By Lucy Lazarony

Fill up with a lower-octane gasoline. Buy the lowest grade or octane of gasoline that is appropriate for your car. Unless your car requires premium gasoline, filling up your car with high-octane fuel is a waste of money. That pricey premium fuel won't boost your car's fuel economy or performance in the least, so skip it.

If you're not sure what grade of fuel works best for your car, open up your owner's manual and take a look. As long as your engine doesn't knock or ping when you fuel up with regular unleaded, you're good to drive on this much cheaper gas. Passing on pricey premium gasoline could save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Don't top off. Don't bother topping off when filling your car's gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out. Why waste your money paying for gas your car won't use? Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off.

Tighten up that gas cap. Gas will evaporate from your car's gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year, according to the Car Care Council. So be sure to tighten up that gas cap each time you fuel up your car.

Go for the shade. The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also zaps fuel from your gas tank.

"If you let your car bake in the sun there's going to be a greater amount of evaporative emissions that take place than if you park in the shade," says Jim Kliesch, research associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and vehicle analyst for GreenerCars.com.

So park your car in the shade of a building or tree whenever possible. And buy a good windshield shade. A windshield shade blocks sunlight and helps to keep heat out of the inside of your car.

Use your garage for your car. Got a garage? Clear it out and make room for your car. Parking in your garage will help your car stay warm in winter and cool in summer, and you won't have to depend as much on your gas-guzzling air-conditioning or defroster when you drive.

Pump up your tires. Don't get caught driving on underinflated tires. Underinflated tires wear down more quickly and they also lower your car's gas mileage.

"Tires that have low pressure offer more resistance so the engine is going to work harder to keep the car at 60," says Brian Moody, road test editor at Edmunds.com.

Your car's gas mileage may plummet by as much as 15 percent. Driving on underinflated tires may also reduce the life of your tires by 15 percent or more.

Check your tire pressure once a month. Buy a digital gauge and keep it in your glove box. Compare the pressure in your tires with the recommended pressure listed in your owner's manual and on the placard in your car door. Then inflate your tires as needed. Be sure to check tire pressure when your tires are cold. A good time is early in the morning after your car's been idle overnight.

Keep your engine in tune. Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent. So be sure to give your car regular tune-ups. You'll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

Replace air filters. Keep a close eye on your engine's air filter. When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent and save you 15 cents a gallon. It's a good idea to have your engine air filter checked at each oil change. The Car Care Council recommends changing your car's air and oil filters every three months or 3,000 miles or as specified in your owner's manual.

Use the right oil. You can improve your car's gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Opt for motor oil with the words "energy conserving" on the API performance label. This oil contains friction-reducing additives.

Don't skimp on maintenance. Be serious about auto care. Your car's performance depends on it.

"Always follow the manufacturer-recommended maintenance," Moody says. "The car's designed to run a certain way. If you neglect it, it won't be as efficient."

Obey the car-care guidelines outlined in your owner's manual. For more auto-care guidelines check out this free maintenance schedule from the Car Care Council.

Gas-Saving Devices Mostly a Scam

highriskdrivers — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 21:19:49 GMT

From magnets to additives, there are no off-the-shelf miracles for increasing fuel efficiency. There is no conspiracy. Really.

Source : Bankrate.com

Over the years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tested myriad gas-saving devices that burst onto the consumer scene: devices that bleed air into the carburetor or bubble air through a container of water and antifreeze mixture, fuel-line gadgets that heat the gas before it enters the carburetor, magnets that clamp to the inside or outside of the fuel line to change the gasoline's molecular structure and metallic fuel-line additives with dissimilar metals that claim to ionize the fuel.

Experts say they all have one thing in common. "They don't work," says John Millett, spokesman for the EPA. "Believe me, if it were that easy, cars would be built that way, especially the magnets and whirligig devices. It's smart to be skeptical about any claims like that."

The EPA to date has tested in the neighborhood of 100 gas-saving devices, the most recent at the request of the Federal Trade Commission, and only six "indicated a very small improvement in fuel economy without an increase in exhaust emissions."

Another four also made the itty-bitty improvement cut, but per federal regulations, the exhaust emission trade-offs mean consumers who slap these on their cars could face charges of illegal tampering.

Gopal Duleep, managing director of Energy and Environmental Analysis Inc., a technical consulting firm in Washington, D.C., estimates that 95% of the aftermarket products don't really change fuel economy.

How to Stop a Friend From Driving Impaired

highriskdrivers — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 21:42:55 GMT

Source: friendsdrivesober.org

If a friend or someone you know has been drinking while at a party or "out on the town," they shouldn't drive, so please prevent them from doing so. Many people believe that coffee, a cold shower, or fresh air is all that's needed to overcome the effects of alcohol. In truth, time is the only way to get alcohol out of the system. If a friend of yours has been drinking, he or she shouldn't drive. There are steps you can take to keep a friend alive. 1

Be proactive. Talk with your friends before they go out. Pick a designated driver, arrange for a sober driver to pick you up, or bring enough money for a cab or public transportation.
Politely, but firmly, tell them you cannot let them drive home because you care. The first time you do this will be the toughest, but your actions could save your friend's life or that of an innocent victim. 1
Drive your friend home. You're having a party and one of your friends has had too much to drink and should not drive. To be sure your friend arrives home safely, you can drive him or her yourself, if you haven't also been drinking. 2
Call a cab. If you can't drive your friend home, you can call a cab. You may want to pay the fare in advance. That's one way to show you really care. 2
Have your friend sleep over. Asking a guest to sleep over is another good way to keep a friend from driving. You won't have to drive and your friend won't have to return the next day for the car. 2
Take the keys away. Here are some hints on how to get the keys from a drunken person before he or she can drive: 3
Be calm. Joke about it. Make light of it.
Make it clear that you're doing him a favor by taking their keys.
Find the keys while he is distracted and take them away. They'll probably think they've lost them and will be forced to let someone else drive.
If it is a close friend, be soft and calm. Speak to him or her privately and suggest that they let someone else drive, or take a cab or a bus.
If it is a good friend, spouse, or loved one, refuse to get in the car with them. Tell him or her you will ride with someone else, take public transportation, or walk.
If you don't know the person well, speak to their friends and ask them to help get the keys.
If possible, do not embarrass the person or be confrontational.
Whatever you do, don't give in. 4 About one-third (32%) of persons of driving age have been with a friend who may have had too much to drink to drive safely, including half of those under age 30. Most of these (80%) tried to stop the friend from driving and were successful in preventing the impaired person from driving about 75% of the time. Friends don't let friends drink and then drive. In the morning, you'll have a safer, and maybe an even closer, friend. 5References:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Prevent a Friend from Driving Drunk. Retrieved on January 20, 2004 from http://www.maddpikespeak.org/prevent.html
Minnesota Safety Council. December is Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month: What can you do. Retrieved on January 20, 2004 from the World Wide Web: http://www.mnsafetycouncil.org/nets/Winter01.pdf
How Do You Stop Someone From Driving Drunk. Retrieved on January 20, 2004 from http://www.nchpdp.med.va.gov/NationalHealthObservances/2003December/%20HowDoYouStopSomeoneFromDrivingDrunk.doc
Public Broadcasting System. Just One Night. Retrieved on January 20, 2004 from http://www.pbs.org/justone/justo3.htm
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behaviors, 2001. Retrieved on January 20, 2004 from http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol/traffic-tech2003/TT280.pdf

Avoiding A DUI Arrest

highriskdrivers — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 21:15:05 GMT

Source: http://www.drunkdriverinfo.com/

We constantly are exposed to the message: "don't drink and drive" but people routinely drive to and from places where alcoholic beverages are served. The accepted strategy is to limit the drinking and drive normally afterward. We don't know if we are in compliance with the very complex DUI legislation. All we know is that if we don't have the misfortune of being stopped by the police or getting into an accident, we don't expect anyone to challenge whether we are complying with the law. We know that the odds are greatly in our favor. However, the penalties for DUI are severe enough that we need to take serious heed.



In the past, the DUI laws were written for drivers who were really drunk, and drivers who had a glass of wine with dinner were effectively exempt. Now, the DUI laws have been expanded so that we could be charged with DUI even though we are all careful about how much we drink before we drive. In particular, the "presumed" BAC has been reduced from 0.12 to 0.10 and now to 0.08, which does not really represent drunkenness for very many people. Even if you are below the "presumed" BAC level, you can be arrested and convicted of DUI, and you could be arrested even if you had not consumed any alcoholic beverages, but the officer thinks you have.

If your BAC is below the minimum for presumed DUI (0.08), you are, putting things in perspective, based on average statistics, driving less dangerously than a sober person driving while talking on a cell phone. I am not saying that either activity is safe, just comparing the risk. Talking on the cell phone is legal (although some areas require use of a hands-free device) and the penalties for getting into an accident while talking on a cell phone are no more severe than when not talking on a cell phone. However, you do not need to exceed the presumed DUI BAC to be convicted of DUI, and the penalties for a DUI conviction are severe, especially if you get into a serious accident and test positive for some alcohol in your blood.
With that lead in, I would like to present my advice. Since I have never been stopped for suspicion of DUI, the information for how to behave at a traffic stop is based on what I have read. However, the cell phone idea, described later, is my own, resulting from seeing drivers talking on cell phones and weaving like a drunk drivers.

Overview:
The general strategy is to "blend in" as best you can with other traffic and strictly obey the traffic laws, so that traffic cops find nothing specific that would result in picking you out for a traffic stop.
Furthermore, the strategy includes being more careful about following safe driving techniques, to reduce the chance of being involved in an accident.

To accomplish these goals, be aware of the effects of alcohol and take countermeasures.

A) Alcohol increases reaction time and reduces coordination. To counter, drive more conservatively than you do when sober, leaving a "driver's ed" distance between you and the car ahead, for example.

B ) Alcohol affects judgment: Counter by planning your route and driving maneuvers ahead of time, while you are sober, and sticking to your plan.

C) Alcohol leaves you vulnerable to arrest and conviction: Counter by blending in as well as possible with other traffic and avoiding breaking the traffic laws, to reduce the chance of a traffic stop.

Detailed Advice:
1) The advice is for when you have consumed alcohol but restricted your drinking so your BAC is under the limit you have set for yourself and, to your best estimate, below the "presumed" legal limit. This advice is not intended to help you conceal drunk driving, although it can be used that way.

2) To avoid a traffic stop for a minor item, such as a burned out license plate light, do the following: On a regular basis, make sure that all lights on your car are working. Be sure all lights are "factory stock" and that no lenses are broken. Make sure registration and other stickers are current. Remove any bumper stickers that might call attention to your car. Your car should "blend in" with other cars as best it can.

3) If you have a choice of cars, drive the one that is easiest to drive and most conservative. For example, choose a sedan with automatic transmission over a sports car with a shift. Slightly uneven shifting may bring a police officer out of hiding.

4) Make sure that your car is in good mechanical condition, to minimize the risk of a stall or breakdown. The brakes should work well, the tires should be in good shape and be inflated properly, windshield wipers work well, and the engine should run smoothly. The exterior should be clean, and the windows offer a clear view. The driver's door window should roll up and down smoothly, to prepare for a possible traffic stop. The interior should be clean and neat as well.

5) When you have been drinking, avoid driving well after midnight, especially on Fridays or Saturdays. Traffic is very light at those hours, and a much higher percentage of drivers have been drinking. Police know that doing a random stop at that hour may very likely yield them a drunk driving conviction.

6) Have your route planned in advance, choosing a route that is easy to drive. This may mean sticking to major paved highways and avoiding short cuts. Also, if you must cross a busy highway, choose a crossing street with a traffic light, rather than a stop sign. Be sure your headlights are turned on if it is night time, especially if you have the type of "daytime running lights" which can leave the tail lights off while the headlights are on. If you drive through an area where police conduct DUI checkpoints, choose a route with good visibility and side streets. Be prepared to smoothly take a detour if you see flashing lights ahead.

7) Drive your route conservatively, obeying speed limits but not driving too slow. Do not try to race through yellow traffic lights before they turn red, and do not make unnecessary lane changes. Make full stops at stop signs, close to but not over the stop line. It is a good idea to practice driving your route conservatively while you are stone sober.

8) When stopping at traffic lights or stop signs, slow down gently and leave a normal distance between you and the car ahead, or the stop line. Do not leave extra distance. However, at normal highway speed, leave the distance taught in driver education between you and the car ahead.

9) Minimize distractions by turning off the radio and the mobile phone. If you have passengers, keep the conversation light. Avoid arguing or discussing heated topics like politics.

10) Don't roll down windows on a cool evening. Open the dashboard vents or turn on the air conditioner to provide cool, fresh air. Police look for open windows on cool evenings.

11) If you see a police car, don't do anything differently than you would with any other car. If you must pull alongside a police car* at a traffic light, look straight ahead so the officer can't observe your facial expressions. (It is also good to look ahead no matter who is driving the car alongside.)
*Don't make a last minute lane change to avoid pulling along side; that might be noticed and result in a traffic stop.

12) Traffic stops can happen anyway, so do your best to be prepared. Have peanuts with you. Chew the peanuts before driving, to reduce the smell of alcohol in case you are stopped. Also, have your driver's license, registration and insurance card handy. Fumbling for them could be taken as sign of drunkenness. Where it is legal to talk on a cell phone while driving, have your cell phone handy, but turned off.

13) If you are stopped by a police officer, behave normally. Assume that the cop has stopped you for something other than DUI. Before the cop gets to your car, turn off the air conditioner if the outside air is cool.
Behaving normally is especially important if you must pass through a DUI checkpoint. In that case, you haven't been singled out for anything, so just act normal and they should let you proceed.
For other traffic stops, as best you can so the cop doesn't notice you do it, place the cell phone to your ear and pretend to carry on a conversation. Roll down the window only part way before the cop walks up to it. When the cop is at the window, pretend to "hang up" the phone, and hand him your registration, driver's license and insurance card. Hopefully, the peanuts have masked the alcohol breath and the cop will attribute some erratic move or violation you made to talking on the cell phone and driving, not alcohol.

14) Don't ask, but wait for the cop to inform you why he or she has stopped you. If the stop is for a traffic violation, you shouldn't be asked to leave your car. Don't get out voluntarily. Hopefully, the cop will just write up the ticket and leave.

15) The cop may not suspect you of DUI but may ask, anyway, if you have consumed alcoholic beverages. I won't suggest that you lie to the cop. According to DUI attorneys, admitting to having one drink is safe, but admitting to more than one drink is asking for trouble.

16) If you are asked to perform a field sobriety test (FST), be sure to decline, no matter how confident you feel that you will pass the test. You are not required by law to perform the FST, only to submit to the BAC test if asked. The naïve approach is to think that you will pass and the cop will let you go. However, some officers use the FST as an opportunity to find fault with whatever you do. Many people will fail the FST even when sober. Also, decline any request for a breath screening test at the traffic stop, saying that you will consent to a BAC test by a trained person only at a police station or medical facility. Again, you may think the reading will be low and the cop will let you go, but the cop may be planning to haul you in if the test shows any alcohol. Any postponement on the BAC test also helps; each hour delay allows your body to metabolize about 0.02. Also, Furthermore, once it becomes apparent that you are under suspicion of DUI, don't answer any questions about how much you have had to drink or where you were, and close your eyes or look away if the cop shines a light into them. Only answer questions that you are required by law to answer.

17) The implied consent law requires that you submit to a BAC test if requested. You can select which test. Here, it is best to do research ahead of time. Usually, a blood, breath or urine test are allowed. In many states, the percentage of alcohol in the blood is what matters. The breath and urine tests measure percentage of alcohol in breath or urine, not blood, and the measurements need to be correlated. The correlation varies from person to person and reduces the measurement accuracy. Remember that .10 +/- .03 means that the actual BAC could have been as low as 0.07 or as high as 0.13. The fact that the actual BAC could have been 0.07 should leave a "reasonable doubt" for the jury. However, it takes a good lawyer to explain that to a jury.
Texas law specifies a maximum for each of the allowed tests. You might have an actual BAC below 0.08 but choose the breath test, read high, and be convicted.
For social drinkers, the choice of test is Russian Roulette. If all 3 tests were given, you may pass one and fail the others. Someone else might pass a different test, but fail the one you chose. So, choosing the test is like spinning the chamber in the gun. For drunks, they are going to fail no matter which test they choose.

18) Before the test is administered, they may be required to explain the choices to you and have you sign an "implied consent" form. Here is where some advance research may be invaluable. It is in your best interests to delay the test as long as possible. It would be a good idea to obtain copies of the forms for your state and have a bunch of difficult questions prepared in advance. Also, you may be entitled to have the procedure explained to you in your primary language, claiming that English is your second language. It might take several hours to locate a person who speaks that language, especially if the language isn't a common one. In the meantime, your body may have metabolized the alcohol fully.
If you tell the cops that Dutch is your primary language, and they take several hours to locate someone who can speak Dutch who finds out that you don't speak Dutch, then your BAC may be down to 0.0 and you face a lesser charge about lying about the language.

19) Choice of test: The blood test is most accurate. If you are confident that you are below 0.08, and I sure hope you aren't driving if you aren't below 0.08, choose the blood test. Be sure to demand a second sample of blood to be drawn for your attorney to send to an independent lab if necessary. If you knew you were over 0.08, you might choose the breath or urine test, which are less accurate and gives you a chance of reading low, but also a risk of reading high.
The cops may try to coerce you into a breath test, which is faster. You may think that you will pass and be allowed to leave sooner. Again, turn them down.

This site does not provide legal opinion or advice and none should be inferred. For legal information always consult a qualified attorney.

Avoiding Tickets

highriskdrivers — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:28:53 GMT

Source: www.speedtrap.org

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. The information presented here is based upon best available information at time of posting. Readers are advised to verify information they intend to rely upon.

Before going out on the road

Make sure your car at least looks good. The idea to remember is if the car looks good, it appears that the owner is a responsible person. If an officer has to choose between a white 1988 Olds Cutlass going 75 that's in good condition and a white 1988 Olds Cutlass going 75 that is missing a rear bumper, has blown-out lights, and maybe several dents, guess who is getting the ticket? We don't mean showroom condition, just one that shows reasonable care has been given to it.
The point here is: Don't give the police any more reasons to look at and/or stop you.

Check your lights. Perhaps the most overlooked yet cheapest items are your lights….

Take a walk around your car at night. Make sure all of the lights work, even the $2 license plate lights. In most cases, the only tool needed is a screwdriver. Don't rely on colored tape to act as a permanent replacement for a brake light or turn signal lens. Spend the money and get the real thing. At least the money you pay the parts store is going to some worthy entity, not a government charity as it would if it was spent on a ticket.

Clean the car. Wash it occasionally and vacuum the inside. Papers, maps, fast-food wrappers, and whatnot scattered around do not impress the officer at your side.

Remove all stickers. If it says "Mafia staff car - keepa you hands off," you'll get stopped by the only Italian officer in the county. The officer will not be impressed, nor will he be if it says "Insured by Smith & Wesson."

Stickers for the Police Benevolant Association or similar organizations aren't likely to get you out of a ticket. Why? About the only reason people have them is to get out of speeding tickets! Everyone knows that. Plus, the officer that stopped you may have a grievance against the union (These organizations are also unions in some areas). And, the agency you paid for the sticker may not represent the officer at your side.

When you're on the road

Don't stand out. If you are moving faster than the surrounding traffic, weaving, cutting across three lanes at once or do anything to cause another motorist to use his or her horn, you are a prime candidate for a ticket.

Stay in the right lane. This is related to the previous comment about not being obvious. Not only is this good driving practice, it is good ticket-avoidance practice too. There's a psychological element here; if you're in the left lane, you must be speeding. Note that the left lane is sometimes called the "fast" lane.

Radar can't tell which vehicle is speeding. But if an officer sees you passing another vehicle, the radar gun's readout will be written on your ticket. By passing that vehicle, you provided a visual frame of reference.

Use your eyes. Don't place blind faith in a radar detector; doing so is a good way to get a pacing or vascar ticket, and detectors are less effective in light traffic due to instant-on radar.

Scan the road as far ahead as possible. This is not only good accident-avoidance practice, it will alert you to the presence of unusual items. You'll see cars parked in medians or on entrance/exit ramps, brake lights going on as you approach a turn, or another motorist flashing his headlights at the oncoming traffic. You'll have time to slow down and avoid the speed trap.

Use your mirrors. This is similar to what we just described. Is a car rapidly approaching? It could be an officer on an "silent" emergency call - or an officer trying to catch up to you. Did the trooper you just saw leaving the Interstate get back on again? Stay in the right lane and turn on your car's halo until the suspicious car is no longer a problem.

Watch the trucks. Remember, truckers are professional drivers and many get paid on a per-mile basis. Therefore, the more miles a trucker can cover in a shorter period of time, the more money he or she will make. If they are maintaining Boy Scout-like compliance with the speed limit, something is amiss and you should be wary.

The weather makes a difference in police activity. Would you rather get out of your warm, dry car when it's raining or would you rather do it on a sunny day? Radar works in all kinds of weather, but radar operators would rather not. If it's 10 degrees outside, most officers would rather stay in their warm car than chase one person who's driving safely but illegally at 75 mph.

Sometimes though, even the best avoidance maneuvers don't work.

If you know the officer is after you. Unless otherwise directed, pull over to the right shoulder as soon as you can. Going to the left shoulder is asking for one unhappy officer since the left shoulder exposes both you and him to the path of passing vehicles. His job is dangerous enough as it is, don't make it worse. Pull as far off as possible. (If you're on the right shoulder, traffic can easily move to the left. If you're on the left shoulder, traffic cannot safely move to the right. Plus, re-entering traffic is much easier done from the right side, for the same reasons.)

If it's at night and the police car is unmarked, you may want to continue on to a lighted area. Most officers won't have a problem with that. Also, turn on the dome light.

Put both hands on the steering wheel and wait for the officer to arrive next to your door. He has no idea if you're armed, an escaped ex-convict, or just an average person.

Keep movement in the car to a minimum; he can see your movements but doesn't know what you're doing. Are you hiding a gun? Putting away a radar detector? Make his job easier and you can only benefit.

When speaking to the officer, don't insert "Sir" or "Ma'am" after every word. Cops call that "bootlicking." Conversely, calling the officer by his rank or title, like "Sergeant" or "Deputy" is not disrespectful if used sparingly. But, only refer to them this way if you're absolutely sure of their rank or title.

Although most people want to be honest, don't volunteer self-incriminating information. When the officer asks "Do you know how fast you were going?" or something similar, just say "yes" or "I was driving at the speed of traffic" (if true) and leave it at that. But if there's a valid reason for your conduct, such as a medical emergency, say so.

When the officer asks for your license and registration, tell him it's in the glove box (if it is), then ask if it's okay to open it. Leave it open so he can see in. Again, reduce his apprehension about the situation. However, if it's in a console between the seats, ask before opening, but close it when you're done. It's too easy for you to reach back inside and get a weapon.

Do not argue or plead your case. The roadside is never the place to conduct a hearing. To do so is a guaranteed losing situation, and all you'll do is get your story added to the cop's list of "Ten Best Excuses." Cops enforce, courts decide.

Remember that officers are usually not required to show you the readout on the radar gun (for their safety and yours.)

Be inconspicuous. If you make a fuss, the officer is more likely to remember you when you go to trial. That's bad, you want to be as forgettable as possible.

Keep your copy of the ticket!

If your speed was recorded on radar or some other speed measurement device, you should request the make, model and serial number of the device and the serial number of the calibration instrument (for radar, the tuning forks). Some of this information may already be on the ticket. However, only ask for this information after the officer has given you the ticket.

Note the make and license plate of the officer's car. Also look for ID numbers on the sides.

Do not voluntarily agree to a search of your car. If the officer has to ask for permission, it is very likely that he does not have probable cause or reasonable suspicion to believe you have something illegal. If he had probable cause or reasonable suspicion, he would not need to ask you.

When you've parted company, go back to your car and make notes of the situation. Amount of traffic, weather, time, officer's demeanor, etc. No detail or event is unimportant, you will forget them later when you need to know. It is a good idea to draw a map of the area, including trees, signs, buildings, etc. You may need that later.

Hybrid Car Incentives—Full-Dollar Tax Credits

highriskdrivers — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 21:18:18 GMT

Source: http://www.hybridcars.com

New Tax Credit for 2006
New and improved hybrid car incentives—full-dollar tax credits—took effect on Jan. 1, 2006. For most hybrid car buyers, the new credits are more valuable than the prior federal tax incentives, which were only offered as reductions of taxable income.

As of June 5, 2006, the I.R.S. has ruled on credit amounts for all hybrids and has posted a summary of the hybrid tax credits, and the appropriate forms. The exact amount of your credit may vary. Please consult a tax professional.

Current Models
Make	Model	Tax Credit
Ford	Escape Hybrid (2wd)	$2,600
Ford	Escape Hybrid (4wd)	$1,950
Honda	2006 Accord Hybrid*	$1,300
Honda	2005 Accord Hybrid	$650
Honda	2006 Civic Hybrid (auto)	$2,100
Honda	2005 Civic Hybrid (auto)	$1,700
Honda	2005 Civic Hybrid (manual)	$1,700
Honda	Insight (auto)	$1,450
Lexus	GS 450h	$1,550
Lexus	RX 400h	$2,200
Mercury	Mariner Hybrid	$1,950
Toyota	Camry Hybrid	$2,600
Toyota	Highlander Hybrid	$2,600
Toyota	Prius	$3,150
	*2006 Honda Accord Hybrid AT without updated control calibration qualifies for a credit amount of $650.
Upcoming Models (based on estimated specs)
Chevrolet/GMC	Silverado/Sierra	$250
Chevrolet/GMC	Silverado/Sierra	$250
Nissan	Altima	$1,300
Saturn	VUE Greenline	No info available
Toyota	Camry	$1,300

The basic rules:

The vehicle must be placed in service after 12/31/05 and purchased on or before 12/31/10.
The original use of the vehicle must begin with the taxpayer claiming the credit. The credit may only be claimed by the original owner of a new, qualifying, hybrid vehicle and does not apply to a used hybrid vehicle.
The vehicle must be acquired for use or lease by the taxpayer claiming the credit. The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a qualifying hybrid vehicle. If a qualifying vehicle is leased to a consumer, the leasing company may claim the credit. For qualifying vehicles used by a tax-exempt entity, the person who sold the qualifying vehicle to the person or entity using the vehicle is eligible to claim the credit, but only if the seller clearly discloses in a document to the tax-exempt entity the amount of credit.
The vehicle must be used predominantly within the United States.

These rules are relatively straight-forward. But there's more— and these are more foggy:

The new tax credit sets a limit of 60,000 hybrids per carmaker. Toyota hit the 60,000 mark in June, 2006. (Honda and Ford are unlikely to reach 60,000 hybrids in 2006.) Buyers have until Sept. 30 to purchase one of the five gasoline-electric hybrid models sold by Toyota and Lexus to qualify for 100 percent of the credit. On Oct. 1, the credit amount listed above will be reduced by half.
The credit for Toyota hybrids will stay at 50 percent for two quarters, fall to 25 percent in the subsequent two quarters, then expire on Oct. 1, 2007.
The credit amount is based on the purchase date of the vehicle.
The new law for the hybrid tax credit might require taxpayers to recapture their hybrid tax credit if they re-sell their hybrid car or truck.

Surprisingly, for taxpayers who take a lot of deductions or use the Alternative Minimum Tax, the previous tax deduction (which bit the dust in 2005) was more valuable. Details:

The credit will not reduce your alternative minimum tax, if that applies to you. As stated in Toyota's statement about the new tax credits: "The benefit of the hybrid vehicle tax credit will also be substantially reduced or eliminated if the individual purchaser is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax."
The credit will reduce your regular income tax liability, but not below zero.
If you are eligible for multiple tax credits, the hybrid tax credit is taken last after all the other credits (e.g., child care tax credit, mortgage credit, retirement savings credit) have been taken. Any tax liability left over by these reductions will be the maximum dollar limit of your hybrid tax credit. If your hybrid tax credit exceeds your maximum dollar limit, the excess is not refundable, and is lost forever.
The excess cannot be carried over to another year, or given away to another person.

As you might guess, it's a good idea to get advice from a tax professional before filing.

By the way: Based on info currently available, the Honda Insight manual, as well as the upcoming Saturn VUE and Chevy Malibu hybrids, may not meet the necessary emissions levels required for the tax credit.

Prior Incentives
Hybrid car buyers in 2004 or 2005 could claim a $2,000 one-time deduction on 2004 or 2005 tax returns. Because the tax break was a deduction, its value varied, depending on your tax bracket. If you're in the 33% tax bracket, a $2,000 deduction reduced your tax bill by as much as $600. If you're in the 15% tax bracket, it might have been worth $300.

> See the I.R.S. website regarding "Clean-Fuel Vehicle Deductions Available for Certain Models."

How it worked:

Under the prior rules, the I.R.S. certified all hybrids available to consumers.
The deduction was limited to new cars, but you could go back as far as 2000, if you haven't already taken the deduction.
The deduction was a one-time deal.

Traffic Tickets: Deciding Whether to Fight or Pay Up

highriskdrivers — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:29:09 GMT

Source: http://www.nolo.com/

Evaluate your chances of winning before you go to traffic court.
There are two kinds of traffic tickets: Ones you can beat and ones you can't. The problem is determining which kind you got. If it's your first ticket in ten years and you expect it will be another decade before you get another one, you may want to avoid this whole question, pay the fine, and move on. Or you may want to consider going to traffic school, which takes a day of your time but keeps you record clear. If you can't attend traffic school -- or choose not to -- you need to evaluate whether you have a winner or a loser, so you can develop the proper strategy to fight it in court.

Study the Law You Are Charged Under
Believe it or not, cops sometimes don't know the exact wording of the law, and it is the exact wording of the law that is most important to you if you are going to fight your ticket. And many laws are often so convoluted that it's not uncommon to find, upon careful reading, that what you did was not, technically speaking, a violation of the exact words of the statute.
When trying to fight a ticket, ask yourself the question: "What are the elements (parts) of the offense I am charged with committing?"

For example, in most states, the law making U-turns illegal reads like this:
No person in a residential district shall make a U-turn when any other vehicle is approaching from either direction within 200 feet, except at an intersection when the approaching vehicle is controlled by an official traffic control device.
You should break this law down into its legal elements by drawing a line between each clause, like this:
No person in a residential district / shall make a U-turn / when any other vehicle is approaching from either direction within 200 feet / except at an intersection / when the approaching vehicle / is controlled / by an official traffic control device.
Focusing on each element of a law is often the key to unlocking an effective defense. That's because, to be found guilty of having made this illegal U-turn, the state must prove you violated each "element" or clause of the offense. In this case, the state would have to prove each of the following facts:
You were driving in a residential district.
You drove your vehicle in a 180-degree turn, or "U-turn."
Another vehicle was approaching within 200 feet or less, in front of or behind you.
An "official traffic control device" at an "intersection" was not controlling the vehicle approaching you.
If you can show that your conduct didn't violate even one element of a traffic law, you are home free. For example, if the area where you were ticketed was not a residential district, or the vehicle the officer claims was approaching was over 200 feet away, or you were at an intersection controlled by an "official traffic control device," you should quickly be found not guilty.
Will a judge really follow such a technical reading of the law? You bet. This type of hyper-technical, word-by-word reading of statutes is the key skill all lawyers and judges learn in law school. In fact, they know of no other approach. This makes sense when you realize that the American legal system is built on the concept that you are innocent unless the government can prove you violated a law that prohibits clearly defined conduct.

Consider Other Viable Defenses
Even if you can't challenge the law you are charged with violating, all is not lost. You should ask yourself some other questions that might open up a defense:
Was the officer's view of what occurred obstructed by other moving vehicles or stationary objects like trees, fences, or buildings? If so, this allows you to argue the officer could not have clearly seen the alleged offense and gives you an opening to sell your version of events to the judge.
Did the officer stop the right car? It is quite possible in heavy traffic for an officer to see a violation committed by one white minivan (a 1995 Plymouth Voyager, for example) and to stop another (an almost identical white 1994 Dodge Caravan) further down the road. Your ability to claim this happened goes way up if you can show that, because of a curve in the road, construction project, or just heavy traffic, the officer lost sight of the offending vehicle between the violation and pulling you over.

Were you charged with speeding when you were driving safely, even though you were driving over the speed limit? In about 20 states, the law says it's legal to drive slightly over the posted speed limit as long as you can prove conditions made it safe to do so. For more information, see When Speeding Isn't Speeding.
Was there an actual, provable error in the officer's approach or methodology? In citing you for speeding, did the officer correctly pace your vehicle or properly use radar, laser, or VASCAR to establish your speed? (But realize that generalized statements about the possible inadequacies of radar or laser techniques almost never result in your beating a speeding ticket.)
Do any other legal defenses exist to the law you're charged with violating? For example, if you were charged with driving too slowly in the left lane of a multi-lane highway, in most states it is a legal defense that you were planning to turn left.

Defenses That Almost Never Fly
The defenses listed here don't usually work, so if this is all you've got, it's probably a waste of time to go to court (unless you're counting on the officer's not showing up, and you get lucky).
You claim you were honestly mistaken about the law (as opposed to a particular fact, as would be the case with a hidden stop sign). For example, if you tell the judge that you honestly thought it was okay to just slow down instead stopping at a blinking red light, his reply may be, "Sorry, ignorance of a law is no excuse."
You argue your violation didn't harm anybody. Sorry, you are still legally required to stop at a red light even if it's 3:00 a.m. and no other vehicle is moving within two miles. The fact that your illegal conduct was not dangerous is not a winning defense, except when you are cited for speeding in states where it can be legal to exceed the posted speed.
You complain, "The officer was picking on me." This is called "selective enforcement" and is often raised by a motorist who claims the ticketing officer ignored others who were also violating the law. It is almost impossible to win this one, since the law makes it plain that it does you no good to simply show that other drivers also violated the law and that the officer singled you out. To win with a "selective enforcement" defense, you have to take a huge additional step and show that the officer had a specific and improper motive to pick on you. If you had just won a libel case against him or had complained against him for an earlier incident, you might have a chance -- otherwise, forget it.
You tell a sympathetic story. The fact that your child, your mother, or your parakeet was ill will not get you off. At best, the judge may reduce your fine a little (especially if you throw in the fact that you have a low income and nine hungry mouths to feed).
You say, "The officer's lying." This is highly unlikely to result in your being found not guilty, at least without presenting any specifics to back up your contention.

Five Strategies for Fighting a Traffic Ticket

highriskdrivers — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:29:24 GMT

Source: http://www.nolo.com/

So you want to fight your speeding or traffic ticket? Here are five strategies that may help you win your case.

1. Challenge the Officer's Subjective Conclusion
In many states, with many tickets, it's possible -- and sometimes even fairly easy -- to challenge the police officer's view of what happened. This is particularly likely in situations where a cop must make a subjective judgment as to whether you violated the law. For example, when an officer gives you a ticket for making an unsafe left, you may argue that your actions were "safe and responsible" considering the prevailing traffic conditions. It will always help your case if you can point to facts that tend to show that the cop was not in a good location to accurately view what happened or was busy doing other tasks -- for example, driving 50 mph in heavy traffic.

In about 20 states, deciding whether it is safe to exceed the speed limit is a circumstance where a subjective judgment must be made. That's because in these states the posted speed limit is not an absolute limit but only creates a legal presumption as to the safe speed for that road. This raises the possibility of challenging the officer's judgment by proving it was safe to slightly exceed the posted limit. For more information, see When Speeding Isn't Speeding.

2. Challenge the Officer's Observations
In cases where your state law requires an objective observation by the officer (not a judgment call about whether your action was safe), it often boils down to an argument about whose version of the facts is correct.. For instance, if you were cited for failing to come to a stop at a red light or for making a prohibited turn, who wins the case will depend on who the judge believes. Unfortunately, the guy wearing the badge usually wins, unless you can cast real doubt on his ability to accurately perceive what happened. However, there are a number of techniques that may work to raise at least a reasonable doubt as to your guilt.
Here are the types of evidence most likely to help you convince the judge that you -- not the officer -- are in the right:
Statements of witnesses, such as passengers or bystanders, who testify to your version of events.
A clear, easy-to-understand diagram showing where your vehicle and the officer's vehicle were in relation to key locations and objects, such as an intersection, traffic signal, or other vehicle. Diagrams are especially important for tickets given at intersections, such as right-of-way, traffic light, or stop sign violations.
Photographs of intersections, stop signs, and road conditions. These can be used to show conditions like obscured stop signs or other physical evidence that backs up your case.

Any other evidence that would cast doubt on the officer's ability to accurately observe your alleged violation. A classic way to do this is to prove his view was obscured -- or that his angle of observation made it impossible to accurately see what happened.

3. Prove Your Conduct Was a "Mistake of Fact"
Judges are allowed some leeway in considering circumstances beyond your control. If you can show that you made an honest and reasonable error, a judge might find you made a "mistake of fact," meaning your ticket should be dismissed.
Here are several examples:
You failed to stop before coming to the pedestrian crosswalk markers because they were old and faded and could not be clearly seen.
You failed to stop at a stop sign after a major storm because the sign was hidden by a broken branch. If possible, you should take pictures of the obscured sign and show them to the judge to support your argument.

Often this argument comes down to your claim that you weren't given fair notice as to the conduct that was expected of you. For example, a judge might dismiss a ticket for running a stop sign if it was brand new. However, the judge would probably not buy this defense if:
the sign had been up for more than a few weeks
you had never stopped at that intersection before (and therefore shouldn't have been fooled by its sudden presence), or you were speeding.

4. Prove Your Conduct Was "Legally Justified"
Must I pay a ticket for not answering the officer's racially motivated questions?
You may also successfully argue that your actions were "legally justified" considering the circumstances of your alleged violation. For example, if you were charged with driving too slowly in the left lane, it is a legal defense in all states that you had to slow down to make a lawful left turn. In this situation you do not have to deny that you were driving significantly below the speed limit and causing vehicles behind you to slow down, but you can offer the additional fact that legally justifies your otherwise unlawful action. Such defenses can be very successful because they raise an additional fact or legal point, rather than simply contradicting the officer's testimony.

Here are a couple of examples of situations in which this defense might work:
You are forced to stop on a freeway because your car has begun to make a loud and dangerous-sounding noise and you fear you would put other drivers in danger if you continued to drive without checking it out.

You swerved into the right lane without signaling a lane change to pull over because a hornet flew into your car through your open window.

You had sudden and severe chest pain and safely exceeded the posted speed limit to get to the doctor, whose office was only one half-mile away.

5. Prove Your Conduct Was Necessary to Avoid Harm
Emergencies not of your own making are often another legal "necessity" defense, recognized in all 50 states. To take an extreme example, you should be able to beat a charge of speeding if you can prove you sped up to avoid an out-of-control truck. The key here is to convincingly argue that you were forced to violate the exact wording of a traffic law in order to avoid a serious and immediate danger to yourself or others. Here are some examples:
Driving in the right, or slow, lane, you are boxed in from the back and the left side by speeding cars. To avoid colliding with a car entering the highway from the right, you accelerate well beyond the posted limit.

Because there is a car just to your right, you briefly speed up to avoid being rear-ended by a super-aggressive big rig that is tailgating you. Once you are in the clear, you move to the right and resume a legal speed.
You swerve across a double yellow line to avoid hitting another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or other unexpected obstacle. If you had failed to take an evasive action, you would have been at high risk of being involved in an accident.

But it's important to realize that there is a big difference between presenting a necessity defense based on road conditions and coming up with an excuse for breaking the law based on your own inattention or personal need.

Excuses that are born to lose include:
My mind wandered and I didn't realize I was speeding.
I was arguing on my cell phone and I didn't see the stop sign.
I couldn't fasten my seatbelt because my stomach was uncomfortably full from lunch.