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Posts Tagged ‘Law’

5 Misconceptions About DWI & Breathalyzers

February 9th, 2010 No comments

There are many common myths with regards to DWI and DUI. Here are five that come up again and again:

1. Sucking on pennies or nickels will help you pass a breathalyzer test. This is an old wives tale that simply isn’t true. Sucking on coins has no effect on your breathalyzer test. Don’t be fooled by this one.

2. A breath test is taking a measurement of my blood alcohol level. This is false. What a breath test is doing is estimating the amount of alcohol in your breath. Many people confuse this as to what your blood alcohol level is. This can only be found by taking a blood sample, the breathalyzer is simply an approximation of the alcohol in your system.

3. Drinking coffee or splashing cold water on my face will sober me right up. Nope, another one bites the dust. The only thing that will help is time. You need to let the alcohol run it’s course through your body. Ingesting caffiene or splashing cold water will make you drunk and awake at best.

4. A breathalyzer is an exact reading. A breathalyzer test is more of an approximation than an exact reading. In fact, there are several different things that can reduce the accuracy of a breathalyzer reading. For example, diabetics with Hypoglycemia or eating fruit shortly before a breathalyzer can influence the results. It’s best to understand that this is a good indicator, but not a 100%, full proof measurement.

5. Any attorney can defend a DWI offense. Getting charged with a DWI is a very serious offense. It is important that you seek the guidance of an attorney that has had experience with handling DWI’s. The consequences for a DUI can include a suspended license, increased insurance rates, probation, community service, even jail time. It is important that you take the charge seriously and speak with a DWI attorney that can help you.

If you find yourself facing criminal charges for a DWI, you are trying to figure out what to do. Instead of guessing about what course of action you should take, talk to a DWI attorney San Antonio about what options you have. Speaking with a DWI lawyer San Antonio can help bring resolution to your issue.

The Top Ways To Protect Yourself And Your Family From Identity Theft

February 9th, 2010 No comments

Identity theft has been around for hundreds of years but, with the dawn of the internet and the information highway, it has become more prominent. More than 50,000 people each year have been affected by this invasive crime. The key to prevention is knowing what identity theft is and what you can do to prevent yourself from becoming victim.

Before you can even begin to protect yourself against someone stealing your identity you need to first be able to understand the basic definition. Identity theft is basically defined as a person taking someone else identity and using it as their own without the other person’s permission. They then can use your identity to open bank accounts, obtain credit cards and other forms of credit without your knowledge. Some people have even been able to get away with replacing government documents, such as birth certificates! With all the private information that is available to these thieves they can destroy someone’s credit in a matter of days.

There are many, many different things that you can do that will help you to protect yourself. The more you know the less chance that you will become another one of their victims. One of the most important tools that you can own to aide in the fight against identity theft would be a paper shredder. Identity thieves love to dig through your personal garbage looking to find anything that may contain your name, address, credit information, and social security number. In knowing this you need to be sure that you are shredding any and all documents that contain any of this information.

Also instead of having all of your personal information being sent through the mail you should set up automatic billing and billing right on your computer. This will prevent them from digging through your mail box for any or your personal papers as well. If you have noticed that you have not received any mail for a couple of days you may want to notify your post office because someone may of placed a change of address under your name and address.

Also you should take advantage of the Internet for all your personal transactions so that they do not appear in your mailbox. Another thing that you need to be sure that you are doing each month is to check all of your financial statements each month. Look for any transactions that you are not aware of and report these to the creditor immediately so that they have a chance to investigate.

Also you should definitely get used to checking your credit rating every 6 to 9 months. Here you will also need to be certain that you are reporting any reports on your credit that appear fraudulent in nature. This will allow the credit bureaus to conduct an investigation concerning possible identity theft.

Identity theft can destroy a persons credit in just days. The best key to defending yourself against it is knowing the basic definition and ways that you can prevent it. Be sure that you are shredding any documents that contain your personal information or even your address. Also be sure that you are checking all of your financial transactions each month and your credit report every six months. More than 50,000 people each year are affected by this horrific crime – do not make yourself one of them. Protect your identity and put a stop to this crime. There is no excuse for putting yourself at risk when there are so many ways to keep it from happening.

For more information see list of government agencies and national organization of Identity Theft Resources for victims and learn how to avoid, detect, defend and prevent identity theft. Also, watch and learn some tips from the different types of Identity Theft Video collection.

In Trying Financial Times Credit Solutions Must Be Considered Carefully

February 9th, 2010 No comments

Times are rough. Financial problems cause stress. The stress causes more problems. Problems pile on problems. A decision to make is what to pay or skip. What is happening to the credit rating? How to get back to normal? Where can you start to come up with a plan? There is a range of solutions, and a lawyer can help you to decide which end of the range is appropriate for you. In Milwaukee Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the most drastic. The other extreme is Milwaukee debt settlement. But what are the differences between these two extremes?

The first difference between the two solutions is in the effect on your rating. At this point, your credit rating is damagedhurt, and your main goal is to repair and improve it. The plan that will have the smallest effect on your credit rating is the debt settlement. Under this solution, you begin taking classes so that you can avoid a similar situation in the future. The purpose of the debt settlement plan is to turn a chaotic debt situation into a well-thought-out plan to pay it off. In contrast, the Chapter 7 plan consists of wiping out as many of the debts as possible. Because creditors do not want to lend money that will not be paid back, they are understandably reluctant to someone who has a history of officially reneging on the agreement. The bankruptcy remains a stigma on your credit rating for many years.

The second difference would be your sense of self-esteem and pride. When you go with the debt settlement solution, you work with the attorney and the creditors to agree on how much of the total debt you will pay. Sometimes a large lump sum payment is required. When you have worked through the entire plan, you can take pride in having lived up to at least a part of your obligation. On the other hand, when you go for the Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the plan divides your assets and debts into the categories of assets you can keep, debts you must pay, and debts that disappear. While this plan has its advantages, that sense of accomplishment just will not be there. Even in these times, there can be a sense of humiliation and failure attached to declaring bankruptcy.

There is a reverse side to the previous point. There are times when debt settlement is not the best answer. If the gap between the level of debt and the ability to pay is too great, bankruptcy is often the the optimal way to go. When this is the case, filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy can give you a chance to draw a line in the sand and get a fresh start. While a bankruptcy causes long lasting damage to your credit and financial abilities, it can give you the breathing room to rebuild your personal and financial life. In spite of its drawbacks, it can end you up in a good place at a point in the future.

So before deciding which path to follow in improving your financial situation, consider the options carefully. And, as always, discuss the options with an attorney.

Connor R. Sullivan recently researched Milwaukee chapter 7 bankruptcy files for an article he is writing on the subject. His sister had a Milwaukee debt settlement that needed to be resolved. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.