All Narfed Up photography and words by Bryan Villarin

Awhile ago, my friend told me that my passenger side brake light was out. (I drive a 2003 Toyota Corolla.) This should be a simple do-it-yourself task, right?

So, I bought a set of stop light bulbs at Kragen Auto Parts. (Cost: About $6) I asked the employee how to change it, but he said he couldn’t help me because people have been suing them for instances where they messed up. (Harsh.)

Next stop: Stop Brake Shops. Fortunately, one of the mechanics was nice enough to change it out for me, and to show me how to do it. Did I need any tools? Nope.

• Pop the trunk.
• Look at the backside of the tail light area - it’s wide open. Turn the affected light bulb socket to the left. It’ll take some force, but you won’t break it.
• Once it unlocks, you can pull the light bulb out.
• Push the new bulb in.
• Put the socket back into its place by pushing it in, then turning to the right. It’ll lock back into place.
• Test the brake light to make sure it works.

Disclaimer: Don’t hold me responsible for any damages you cause to your car. I just documented this process to help you.

California drivers recently rushed to get Bluetooth and other hands-free phone equipment due to a circulating email announcing that new hands-free cell phone laws would be going into effect in the state as of today. Turns out that they have another year to worry about it; California is indeed enacting a ban on cell phone use while driving but the ban doesn’t go into effect until July 1^st … of 2008. When it does happen, it’ll make California the 4^th state (and 5^th area, counting D.C.) to implement the ban; 35 other states are also considering it.

Source: Broadband Reports

Also related, the Snopes.com 2007 California Traffic Laws debunked.

This morning, I was driving my usual route to work on Normandie Ave. Before Beverly Blvd, a maniac driver in a dark green Land Rover was speeding back and forth between slower cars. At one point, he almost changed lanes into a parked car! I did nothing, except to pray for everyone else’s safety in the wake of his path.

When he got a car ahead of me, he cut off a BMW in front of me and got honked at. The Land Rover stopped at the intersection of Normandie Ave and 2^nd St, while the light was still green. I had to stop right behind the BMW and watch the driver of the Land Rover got out of his SUV and proceed to yell profanities at the driver of the BMW, right at the driver’s side window. (My window was up, so I couldn’t hear what he yelled.)

He was a Caucasian with brown hair, wearing black sunglasses, in his mid-20s. It was probably 5-10 seconds of ferocity. Then, he got back into his SUV — but not before giving the finger — and sped away.

One witness was a pedestrian at the crosswalk and the rest were drivers. I couldn’t see the license plate of the Land Rover, especially because at the incident, the BMW was immediately behind him. At Normandie Ave and 3^rd St, he went into the small shopping plaza to turn right, instead of waiting at the red light.

I wished I had a telephoto lens on my camera. Maybe I could’ve gotten out of my car while he was stopped to take a picture. I know I could’ve taken a picture while he was yelling at the guy, but I just couldn’t believe what was happening.

I dialed “911″ and almost pressed “Send,” but I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have enough information. I’m not sure if the BMW got his license plate, or even called the police. I wonder if anybody did.

What do you do?

I made a note to myself to research about gas stations and the reasons why they charge for air and water. From the California Department of Food & Agriculture:

Gas stations are required to provide air and water free to customers who buy gasoline or diesel. You may have to ask the attendant for a token or to turn the equipment on for you. If the attendant does not give you a token or turn the equipment on, posted on the equipment is the 1-800-356-7057 number where you may call to file a complaint. You may also submit a complaint form online to the Division of Measurement Standards.

Related to that, here’s some tire pressure links:

• Check & Fill Tire Air Pressure (Gemini Automative Care)
• Air Pressure - Correct, Underinflated, Overinflated (Tire Tech)
• What’s The Right Tire Air Pressure? (VIA Online)
• Tire Air Pressure (TrustMyMechanic)

It stinks to be a driver in California. I’ve gotten pulled over a few times and have dealt with the legal system. My mom has had worse. Ultimately, it’s very time consuming and stressful. But, it doesn’t have to be!

I haven’t heard of Ticket Assassin until today, when someone I know got flashed by a red light camera. Now, I’m seraching and reading/skimming through as much information as I can to help out. Had I known about this website, maybe I wouldn’t have had to deal with all that garbage in the past.

I really like the site because it looks extremely thorough and honest. Here’s the statements from the website that stand out the most [to me]:

• The “courtesy notice” the court sends you after you are cited seems to suggest that you must appear in person twice for a single chance of winning at trial: the first time to plead not guilty, the second to stand trial. This is simply not true. The law allows you to contest your traffic infraction entirely by mail.
• A written not guilty plea takes 5 minutes or less to write and will save you the time and stress of a court appearance.
• Submitting a Written Not Guilty plea is your legal right (under 40519b), but there is no state approved form for this plea. It seems suspicious that the best and easiest way to contest a traffic ticket is not supported by a state approved pleading form. We at Ticket Assassin have created a Written Not Guilty Plea template since the state has neglected to do so. You can find this form in our shareware section. (requires [$25] registration)
• There are many advantages to contesting by written declaration. The most obvious advantage: the officer gets paid $200-300 to show up in person at a court trial but gets paid NOTHING to complete this declaration paperwork. In my experience, about 30% of police officers fail to submit a response to the court by the deadline. If the officer does not turn in his declaration on time, your case is DISMISSED and your bail is returned. By simply contesting by written declaration, you stand a decent chance of dismissal regardless of your argument.
• Why doesn’t the court clearly inform us that we can appear just once in court for two chances of contesting our traffic infractions? Money. Last year the traffic courts in California collected approximately one billion dollars in fines and forfeitures on uncontested traffic tickets. Ignorant of their legal rights, confused and intimidated by the courts and police, 99% of Californians ticketed simply pay up.
• A friend of mine submitted a written declaration for speeding on the freeway; he was driving 93 in a 65, clearly in violation of the law. On his written declaration he wrote,”I’m not Guilty” with an orange crayon, misspelling “guilty”. The officer who cited him did not respond; my friend received a dismissal notice and his $270 in bail back in the mail. If the officer does not respond, your case is dismissed and all your bail is returned, regardless of the merits of your argument.

Intrigued? You should be! What are you waiting for? Head over to Ticket Assassin and enlighten yourself! (I think I’m going to print a stack of “Why Fight?” flyers to help people. The PDF link is at the top of that page.)

*****

Update July 23, 2008: I’m hearing more bad than good from this website, especially with the possible lack of response from Patrick. Let me clear things up for myself.

• I’ve only used it once to help fight my mom’s ticket.
• I’m not affiliated with Ticket Assassin.

If you’re having trouble with the website and haven’t heard a response, complain to the Better Business Bureau. As for me, I will not promote this service until I hear a lot of better feedback.

Tips to Increase Your [Gas Milage] (Golf clap: Lifehacker)

I have an index card in my tickler file to clear any trash from my car every three days. (Read: the day after I do it, I reuse it three folders later.) Sometime, I’ll have more than a handful to carry to the dumpster. What I should be doing is using the excess plastic bags I get from the grocery store, tie them into small knots, and place a bunch in my glove compartment. That way, I can put whatever trash I want within the confines of a plastic bag (under the passenger’s seat), then simply toss the bag when it’s full. This is all only when I’m lazy not to throw something out right away. I’m usually half decent in keeping my car interior trash-free.

Cheap Gas: Powered by Google Maps and gasbuddy. Stunning. I live about a mile from a cheap gas station, too. Very nice! (Golf clap: Geek Ramblings)

I went to my godparents’ house yesterday to get my brakes replaced. (I call them aunt and uncle, Tita and Tito.) I did this with him a couple years ago, but I couldn’t remember the process and the names of some of the parts involved. It was so awesome yesterday, and I’m lucky to have spent that time with him. He helped me re-learn the process by basically doing one wheel, step-by-step, then letting me do the other one. In addition, we changed the oil and filter, and he looked at the other stuff under the hood, pointing out what I need to do when I get home. (more…)