Showing posts with label Drivers License. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drivers License. Show all posts

Monday, March 23, 2009

Legal Eaze #44 Daughter Drivers License/ Defamation

Title: April 19, 2006

Q. My 16-year old daughter just got her driver’s license. Can she drive her siblings to school?

A. Vehicle Code Section 12814.6 just took effect on Jan. 1, 2006. It reads as follows: A driver’s license issued to a person at least 16 years of age but under 18 years of age shall be issued a “provisional” driver’s license, and it is subject to all of the following restrictions: During the first 12 months after issuance of a provisional license, the licensee may not do any of the following under accompanied and supervised by a license driver who is the licensee’s parent or guardian, a licensed driver who is 25 years of age of older, or a licensed or certified driving instructor. (a) Drive between the hours of 11 pm and 5 am. (b) transport passengers who are under 20 years of age. This means that if her siblings are under the age of 20 years old, she cannot have them as passengers.

Q. An ex-girlfriend of mine has spread nasty rumors about why we split up. She said to others that I left her because she was pregnant and that she had to have an abortion because I would not help her after the birth. I am sterile and cannot make any woman pregnant. I left her because I did not love her anymore. What can I do about this?

A Defamation is a false statement that is told about another person that harms that person’s reputation in the social or business community. To be held legally liable for defamation requires specific elements to be proven in court. Practically speaking, if anyone could be successfully sued just because they had some false and embarrassing statements said about them then many forms of media and political campaigning would have been sued out of existence some time ago. Defamation describes both “libel” and “slander”. Slander usually refers to defamation that is only spoken between people and libel specifically refers to defamation that is printed or written. Slander is typically more difficult to prove because there is no recording. For you to sue, the following requirements must be met: (1) it needs to be “published” or communicated in some form to a third party. (2) The statement must identify the specific individual who is claiming the defamation. (3) The statement must be false. (4) A plaintiff must also prove an appropriate level of fault on the part of the defendant who made the defamatory statements. This depends on whether the plaintiff is a public figure or a private figure. (5) Lastly, the plaintiff must have suffered some damages which can be remedied by the courts.

Maxine de Villefranche is an attorney and civil general practitioner with 13 years of experience. She practices law from her Tehachapi office as well as her Lancaster satellite office. She will answer legal questions posed to her by the readers to the best of her abilities. Email your questions to maxinedev@msn.com or fax to (661)825-8880.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Legal Eaze #13 Road Rage

Originally Printed: January 12, 2005

Maxine de Villefranche is an attorney and civil general practitioner with 12 years of experience. She operates her law practice from her home office in Alpine Forest, as well her Lancaster satellite office. She will answer legal questions posed to her by the readers, to the best of her abilities. Please forward your questions to maxinedev@msn.com.

Q. This is about road rage. I was on my way home at 9 p.m. and came to a stop light at Tucker and Valley Boulevard. A big Ram 3500 truck was following me very closely and actually hit me in the back as I was waiting to make a right turn on Valley Boulevard. I moved the car into the first parking lot available while the truck was still behind me. I got out of the car to check and make sure there was no damage, but there was a lot of damage. There was a huge dent right in the middle of my trunk where his front grill imprinted itself. As I approached the driver of the truck who had not yet opened his window, I shouted I needed to see his driver’s license and his insurance card. He then opened his window and started screaming at me on the top of his lungs, calling me foul names and saying that I had no business driving so slowly on city streets. I was totally taken by surprise as I got off the 58 and was driving at a speed considered safe while driving in sleet and rain. I became scared because he appeared to be a big man totally out of control as he started to open his door. I thought he was going to attack me. As he was still screaming at me, I ran back to my car and drove away. Now I have a huge dent in the trunk of my car, and am angry about what happened. What do I do?
A. You failed to tell me whether you wrote down his license number. Tucker and Valley Blvd., is a pretty busy corner, wasn’t there anyone around? Do you have a cell phone? If you do, that was the time to use it and call the police immediately. This man was at fault. He apparently scared you out of getting the information you were entitled to. I am not sure why so many people feel invulnerable when they get into their big truck or SUV, and are literally ready to kill or drive over anyone who does not drive fast enough. First, you need to report this to the police, then report it to your insurance company. They will investigate the incident. If you did not write down the license plate number, you may be out of luck. If there is a next time, do not run away. Just sit in your car, call the police and write down the license plate number and take note of any characteristics the offending vehicle may have.