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8 • OCTOBER 2023 PERSPECTIVE THETRUCKER.COM Rising cost of traffic tickets hits where it hurts — your wallet the country. I have also seen the cost of simple traffic citations continually increase. And not ASK THE just a little. However, when you look closely, it is not ATTORNEY necessarily the fine associated with the alleged (see what I did there?) violation. The fees BRAD KLEPPER added to the citation greatly increase your out-of-pocket expense. To be honest, all these additional fees would make the phone company proud. Columnist and trucking attorney Brad Klepper is busy helping drivers this month. We hope you asked. What am I talking about? Well, I’m glad you enjoy this “rerun,” which originally appeared By way of example, let’s look at California. in the March 1, 2022, edition of The Trucker. For the sake of argument — because I know Everyone — all two or three of you — that none of you would ever do this — let’s assume regularly read my columns in The Trucker are you roll a stop sign or signal in California ( first probably aware of what I do for a living. For of all, you shouldn’t do that). The actual fine those of you that don’t know, I am a lawyer. I amount associated with the violation is only defend CDL drivers (and occasionally myself) $35. No one wants to pay $35, but as far as in traffic citation cases. fines go, it’s not that bad. As a result, I see a lot of tickets from around However, at the end of the day, you would TICKETS TICKETS NO MEMBERSHIP FEES NO MEMBERSHIP FEES NO MEMBERSHIP FEES MOVING & NON-MOVING MOVING & NON-MOVING MOVING & NON-MOVING NO MONTHLY DUES NO MONTHLY DUES NO MONTHLY DUES 1-800-333-DRIVE 1-800-333-DRIVE 1-800-333-DRIVE www.interstatetrucker.com INTERSTATE TRUCKER, LTD. INTERSTATE TRUCKER, LTD. www.interstatetrucker.com INTERSTATE www.interstatetrucker.com TRUCKER, LTD. www.interstatetrucker.com end up paying much more than just the fine amount. A state penalty assessment adds $10 for every $10 of the base fine and rounds up. So, in this case, that would be an additional $40. In addition, there’s a county assessment of $7 for every $10 of fine (again, rounded up), which adds another $28. A court construction assessment will cost you another $20. Then, the Proposition 69 DNA assessment adds $4, and the DNA Identification fund adds another $16. At the end of the day, 11 separate fees have been added to the original fine amount — bringing the grand total for your citation to $238; the original fine amount of $35 plus additional assessments of $203. Think of how many times this happens in California. According to Martin Hoshino, administrative director for the Judicial Council of California, what’s happened is that the state’s government has become accustomed to using these fines and assessments to help generate revenue for various government services. Now, we could talk about where this additional money goes and how it is used — but let’s save that for another time. Let’s also wait to discuss how these additional financial assessments may impact the policing of drivers. Instead, let’s take a look at how all this impacts a person’s ability to pay the fine. Of course, most folks could scrape together $35; however, getting $238 together may be a different thing entirely. Not everyone can afford to pay that amount, and the additional MIND OVER MATTER HOPE ZVARA The open road, marked by miles of ever-changing landscapes and interjecting horizons, represents freedom to some. For long-haul truck drivers, however, this same road can bring feelings of isolation, stress and anxiety. According to a study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, truck drivers are significantly more likely to experience mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, compared to the general population. The factors that cause long-haul drivers anxiety are unique to their job and the stressors of daily trucker living: • Long hours of solitary driving; • Limited physical activity; • Irregular sleep patterns; • Health concerns; • Unhealthy meals and poor nutrition; and • Dehydration and too much caffeine and sugar. Road to a healthier mindset assessment can create a hardship for the person receiving the citation. But what can be done to address this situation? The Judicial Council, along with California’s State Superior Courts may have a solution. Their answer allows people to fill out a survey and request a reduction in the amount owed based on their ability to pay. This program started in 2019; by the end of 2021, it was available in seven California counties. There are 12 more counties slated to offer the program this year. This seems like a fair way to address the financial burden on those who have a lesser ability to pay. Of course, this reduction in the amount paid would have an impact on some municipalities and government functions. How could this be addressed? I’m not sure. However, the good folks in Switzerland have an interesting take on fines associated with speeding violations. While the Judicial Council’s solution serves to reduce the fine, the Swiss program works both ways. It can lower or increase the fine amount based on the personal ability to pay. In Switzerland, the level of fines associated with speeding is determined by both the wealth of the driver and the speed recorded. To that end, a 37-year-old millionaire was recently caught driving 170 kilometers per hour (105 mph) over the speed limit. The fine, if it stands, would be roughly SEE ATTORNEY ON PAGE 9 Check out these 6 tips to combat anxiety on the road With challenges right and left, it can become difficult for truck drivers to adopt strategies to keep anxiety at bay. Many drivers have simply normalized anxiety as a hazard of the job and may not even realize that it’s an issue. Here’s what you can do today to help reduce anxiety: • Healthy eating habits: We all know what the basics of healthy eating are, despite fad diets. At the end of the day, it’s fairly simple: Eat real food. Over the road, that goal can feel daunting, but start small and simple. Think of one fruit, one vegetable a day, and focus on eating lean protein. When you’re not feeding your brain, your actions, feelings and ability to cope will suffer. • Regular physical activity: Stop thinking exercise is the only way to move more. Break it down a bit. Each day, make sure you: squat, reach, bend and twist to check each box of the four essential movements everyone needs to do to age healthily. • Maintain contact: Regular phone calls or video chats with loved ones can help reduce feelings of isolation. Social media can also help, but be mindful of who you follow or engage with on social media, as that can be a big source of stress and anxiety for many not knowing it. • Prioritize sleep: Though sometimes challeng- SEE MATTER ON PAGE 32
THETRUCKER.COM PERSPECTIVE OCTOBER 2023 • 9 Biblical teachings guide us through life CHAPLAIN’S CORNER REV. MARILOU COINS Welcome to fall! The cooldown has begun. Do you feel the difference in the weather? It’s something that happens several times a year as the seasons change. Our lives are just like the weather, or the changing seasons. We all change as we grow older, and we grow to understand that life is to be treasured in each season we go through. As small children we had a very different outlook on life than when we were teenagers. Then we finally reached adulthood and realized that we were headed into a whole different direction in life. In many cases, we let go of our childhood and teenage ideas. We settled down and adjusted to the everyday routine of work and home life. Now, let’s talk about how this also happens in our lives as Christians. As new believers, we start out like children, learning about God and how he relates to us. Then, during our development as “teenage” Christians, we accept these things as part of our lives. We begin to understand how Biblical teachings can be followed in our lives, such has the 10 Commandments and how they show us how to relate with others. As an “adult” Christian, you’ll see that these 10 rules actually are the keys to happiness, and they can help us reduce stress. God gave us these commandments not to control us, but to guide us through life and show us how to deal with others along our journey. If we live by them then we will have a happy life and less stress in our life. I find that Biblical teachings can give us a way to understand humanity and can lead to a much better way of life for all of us. Even someone who hasn’t had a Christian upbringing can follow these rules without even knowing it. Many of us are taught as children to treat others the way they want to be treated. As we enter a season of many celebrations, let’s follow these teachings, and celebrate each other. In addition to Halloween at the end of October, Thanksgiving, Christmas and a number of other special days are coming up. Let’s use these times to celebrate with family gatherings, and to show love for each other with all the special things we do together. If we share love and caring as a family, why not do the same for others we meet along the way? God gave us each just one life to live. You can’t rewind it like a cassette or VHS tape and start over, so let’s just do the best we can with the life we have. It’s important to treat each other with kindness. What we do will be remembered long after we are gone, so do your best every day. Grow in God’s love, and share it with everyone you meet. Children share their toys and make friends. Teenagers share lots of memories with each other and they carry over into our adulthood. As adults we share so much with each other, both at work and in our home life. Life is short, so do your best to enjoy each and every day, both as a beginning and an ending. Never go to sleep angry with anyone; this takes away from your happiness and breaks the joy of life. Forgive people who have wronged you before it’s too late. Enjoy all the seasons of happiness we have ahead of us. Best of the roads, and all gears forward in Jesus. 8 ATTORNEY cont. from Page 8 $1,000,000. This would eclipse the current record of $290,000, a fine given to another Swiss millionaire. As you can see, fines of this size certainly make up for a lot of fine reductions. At the end of the day, I don’t know what the answer is on how best to address the steady increase in “fines” associated with traffic citations. I’m also not sure if the California or Swiss solutions are the best options; however, I think they’re something worth talking about. Brad Klepper is president of Interstate Trucker Ltd. and is also president of Driver’s Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to services at discounted rates. For more information, contact him at 800-333-DRIVE (3748) or interstatetrucker.com and driverslegalplan.com. 8 iStock Photo Receiving a traffic citation can cost truck drivers much more than just the cost of the ticket. TRUCKER TALK The Trucker is all about drivers, and we want to hear your thoughts. Follow us on Facebook and other social media platforms to take part in our reader polls. This month’s question showed us that whether you’re just surviving the day or helping others in distress, each driver is a hero. Here’s this month’s question, along with a few of your comments. What are some of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences you as truck drivers have encountered throughout your careers? “I participated in the ’96 Olympics in Atlanta hauling water and ice for the athletes. I had delivered about two hours before the bombing of the Olympic village. Hauled water and ice in 2005 for the Hurricane Katrina effort. Working with the National Guardsmen was something that I will never forget.” — Danny Headen “Hauling wreaths for Wreaths Across America, delivering to five cemeteries, and participating in their wreath placement ceremony. Awesome experience!” — Kris Young “I had a load of ice cream cancel at the receiver. I called the local homeless shelter. They took the whole load and had a party.” — Shane McCarty “Working with the military in Kandahar Afghanistan delivering ammo, food and supplies. Went over there a mercenary and came back a patriot.” — Doug Hill “Saving a woman and her two children in a blizzard in New Mexico, back in the mid ’80s. They stayed in my truck for two days, until the plows and wreckers came. I got Christmas card from them every year, until a couple years ago (when) the mom passed away.” — Michael LaChappelle “The most rewarding and fulfilling experience for me was to retire with sufficient retirement savings to live a good life post retirement.” — Charles Robert Burns “Summers with my daughters (riding along). Watching their eyes light up as we drove through the mountains. Watching karma in action as an aggressive driver passed and brake-checked me in the middle of an intersection get pulled over by a deputy sheriff. Oh, and my millionmile safe driving award!” — Nathaniel McComb “Delivering the US Capitol Christmas Tree in 2021.” — Jeremy Bellinger “Donating my equipment and delivering supplies to ground zero after 9/11.” — Terry Johnson “Helping a fellow driver get to the ER after he cut his wrist open after he tapped his headlamp to get it to come on. Found a team driver to drive his truck while I had him in mine laying down, because he passed out . Helping people in need all over the US — giving them money, food, clothing, just whatever I had available.” — Shon Sandlin “I helped out a driver out to safety who turned his truck over and put on a makeshift tourniquet until paramedics arrived. Best feeling ever after the rush of adrenaline wore off.” — A.G. Bexar “Taking part in the North Carolina Special Olympics Truck Convoy for the last 10 years.” — John Rooney “When my effort made a difference — in my trip, or somebody else’s.” — Tom Byrne
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