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14 • May 1-14, 2020 Perspective thetrucker.com A little bit of patience can go a long way as COVID-19 disrupts the court system Brad Klepper exclusive to the trucker Ask the Attorney I am writing this article on March 23, less than a week after I wrote my prior article. I know that by the time this goes to publication things may have changed — though I doubt it. So, I am writing this article on what, in my opinion, is the front end of the wave of the impact COVID-19 is having on the courts. For the most part, my job has something of a natural rhythm. I come to work, drink way too much coffee, complain about whatever body part hurts that day and then talk with clients, prosecutors, officers and judges. Next, I attend some hearings on various matters and go home. After that, it’s like it says on the shampoo bottle — lather, rinse, repeat. In recent days, when I come to the office, after I caffeinate and complain, I look at my docket and the courts and try to get a handle on what is going on. Have my hearings been postponed? What can I tell my clients about when they can expect resolution of their case? How do I reach out to prosecutors working from home? Are the court clerks working? If you can’t tell, everything (except the caffeine and complaining) has changed since COVID-19. Quite simply, the new norm is something along the lines of chaos. Everyone, from judges to defendants, prosecutors, enforcement and court personnel, faces a new reality. Courts across the DRIVE WITH PRIDE country are suspending jury trials, pushing back court dates and prohibiting “in-person” hearings. All of this is taking place at a time when the courts already had a substantial backlog. Of course, these additional delays will only increase the backlog of cases in the court system. Some courts are pushing court dates out eight weeks. Some are pushing court dates out indefinitely. All the while, enforcement is still writing tickets and making arrests — though their focus is shifting. The immigration courts, whose backlog is legendary, are basically at a standstill. Accordingly, it may now take years to get a hearing. In the juvenile court system, some juveniles may time out (turn 18) before their case is processed, meaning the matter will never be heard. In times of crisis, turn to the ‘mechanic’ in prayer to discover the best route to take Rev. Marilou Coins Chaplain’s Corner Schools are closed. Churches are closed. Banks have been restricted to drive-thru service and restaurants are limited to either drive-thru or curb service. COVID-19 has been a disruption to normal aspects of life. People are shut in and getting cabin fever. We are all trying to cope with a mess that has not been “normal” for our lives. People are starting to see who is important and who is most needed. So, what do we do? First, we need God to open our eyes, so we see that we all need him now. Then we see that the truckers, the paramedics, the firemen, the doctors and the nurses are more important than the movie stars, football stars, baseball stars or any of the other figures we used to idolize. Where do you find yourself in all of this? Are you afraid of what is going on? Are you taking every measure to be sure you don’t get sick? Do you miss all the things you used to do daily? Are you getting cabin fever? Well, now is the time to do some soulsearching to see just where you are in life and where you are headed in the next life. Are you prepared to stand before God and say, “I did it all for you, God,” or is there something you need to get straight first? Now is the time to do a “pre-trip check” on our lives and make sure all is in order. If we find anything that is not right; then take it to the mechanic (God) in prayer and get it corrected. Invest as much time in prayer as needed and you will see the results of a well-tuned engine (you), with all parts working well and in good order. Prayer is the tool you need, and the mechanic will do the work These delays and disruptions to the court system will add to the backlogs, and it will be difficult for us to dig our way out. However, pushing back court dates and postponing trials is the right thing to do right now. As a society, we need to do all we can to protect each other during this time. We must also understand that when this is all over and life returns to something that vaguely resembles “normal,” we will have to make some concessions. That “right to a speedy trial” you enjoy may not be so speedy in the future. In addition, the enforcement officers working the highways now have a new reality. They are working with CDL drivers to make sure essential goods and services are delivered. Sure, they may still write a citation and make an arrest, but their goal is See Attorney on p15 m to get your life running smoothly like a welltuned engine. He will give you headlights to see where you are going and where you have been. The “windows” of your life will be wiped clean so you can see the road ahead, and the “mirrors” of the past will fade in the distance as you journey on in your life. Did you ever notice how things change as you go down the highway of life? What you see in the mirrors are the past, but when you look through the windshield, you see where you are headed. You can’t change the past, but you can change the road ahead you are traveling on. Yes, we all hit bumps in the road along the way, but we can all keep traveling and heading in the right direction. Jesus said, “I am the way.” He did not say to keep looking back on the past. He did not say to stop going forward. He just said that following him was the right way. You may think you are in a ditch, but Jesus is the “wrecker” that has come to pull you out of the ditch and get you going again. Get out your cell phone (prayer) and call on the wrecker (Jesus) to get you out of the ditch so you can look through the windshield of life, see the road ahead and know you are going in the right direction. Do not let COVID-19 (the devil) get you down and make you ill. Do not think all is lost, because it’s not over yet. This may be a bump in the road, but once we get past it, life will be brighter again. Prayer is what will change your life and how you will overcome the ills along the way. Do not give up on yourself. Jesus did not give up on you. COVID-19 (the devil) will try to tell you that you are not worthy of anything, but Jesus says you are worthy, and he paid the price of your repair bill. He is the needed medicine to conquer COVID-19 (the devil). Best of the roads, and all gears forward in Jesus. Rev. Marilou Coins 8
THETRUCKER.COM b Attorney from page 11 b also to help make sure necessary goods get delivered and distributed as needed. And remember that enforcement officers, just like the CDL drivers, are doing this while trying to stay healthy. So, at the end of the day, I think everyone needs to exhibit a little patience — patience with the courts, patience with each other, patience with the drivers and patience with enforcement. We are in new territory here. Hopefully, we will all come out the other side with a little more understanding and appreciation for each other. Brad Klepper is president of Interstate Trucker Ltd., a law firm entirely dedicated to legal defense of the nation’s commercial drivers. Interstate Trucker represents truck drivers throughout the 48 states on both moving and non-moving violations. Brad is also president of Drivers Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to his firm’s services at greatly discounted rates. He is a lawyer that has focused on transportation law and the trucking industry in particular. He works to answer your legal questions about trucking and life over the road. For more information contact Klepper at (800) 333-DRIVE (3748) or interstatetrucker.com and drivers legalplan.com. 8 Perspective May 1-14, 2020 • 15 A simple rule for a healthy diet: If you can’t read it, don’t eat it Bob Perry The Trucker Trainer In these uncertain times I know your food/ drink sections are limited, but try to take time to look at what you’re eating and/or drinking. If the list of ingredients looks like a chemistry experiment, find a more natural substitute. In particular, avoid any foods that have hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats. Choosing a more natural alternative will translate to a healthier you. We like to know — or we should want know — what is in the food we eat. You may wish to avoid certain ingredients for a variety of reasons. However, the ingredient-labeling terminology may not always be clear to us, and for some consumers, interpretation of the labeled ingredients is a problem. Here are explanations of a few common but mystifying ingredients: • Carob is made from the edible seed pods of the carob tree. The sweet pulp is used to make an alternative to chocolate and sweetener. • Hydrogenated vegetable oil is a generic class name referring to vegetable oil that has been converted to a solid or semi-solid state through a process called hydrogenation. All hydrogenated vegetable oils (e.g. sunflower, soy, canola) are covered by this term. Hydrogenation produces a more desirable texture (e.g. in baked products) but can result in the formation of trans fatty acids, which have been implicated as a risk factor in heart disease. Consumers are typically advised to look for the words “hydrogenated” and “partially hydrogenated” in the ingredients list to find out if a product contains trans fat. • Glucose syrups are sweet aqueous solutions of saccharides, made by the partial hydrolysis of starch by food-grade acids and/or enzymes. Depending on the degree of hydrolysis, these solutions contain various amounts of glucose. Glucose syrup is often used as a sweetener for confectionery products and soft drinks and is also a natural substrate to obtain alcohol. • Modified food starches are products derived from native starches (e.g. from maize, wheat and potato) that have been treated by chemical, physical or biological means (e.g. by precooking) to produce desirable properties. They are used in the food industry as thickeners, stabilizers, gelling agents, binders or emulsifiers in sauces, gravies, soups, deepfrozen dishes and confectionery items. Another form of modification is “pre-gelatinization” of starch, which allows it to form a gel with cold water, as in many “instant” desserts. Make sure to include your fruits, such as apples; they offer vitamins and minerals vital to a healthy vascular system. An apple a day keeps the coroner away. Dip apple slices in peanut or almond butter to give your system a shot of protein. Here are some fun apple facts: • Apples are a rich source of nutrients and a powerful antioxidant. • Studies show that eating 100g of apple can give an antioxidant effect that is equal to taking about 1,500mg of Vitamin C. • Apples contain a large amount of minerals and vitamins that can strengthen the blood. • Apples contain malic acid, which can help prevent disturbances of the liver and digestion. • Apple-cider vinegar, when used as beverage, can help to prevent the formation of kidney stones. • The skin of an apple can help remove toxic substances from your system. • Eating an apple daily can help reduce skin diseases. • Eating an apple daily can help lower cholesterol levels. Be careful, and thanks for all you do. CDL drivers are America’s most valuable resource! Known as The Trucker Trainer by professional drivers nationwide, Bob Perry brings a unique perspective to the transportation industry for bus drivers to OTR truck drivers. Bob comes from a family of professional drivers and has played a critical role in the paradigm shift of regulatory agencies, private and public sector entities, and consumers to understand the driver health challenge. For over-the-road workout programs reach out to Perry at truckertrainer@icloud.com. 8 Better equipment, better pay, better for you! 4Make up to $78K your first year 460¢ per mile 4No HAZMAT needed 4Medical (Anthem), Eye & Dental Insurance 4401K with company match and Profit Sharing 4Paid Holidays, Vacations & Services 4Paid Breakdowns & Layovers 4Class A CDL, 2 years experience and clean driving record Call Today! 888-423-5744 www.agtrucking.com
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