Archives 2021

4 FAQs About TABC Permits

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) deals with a lot of frequently asked questions. These most commonly involve alcoholic beverage permits. Here are some of these questions and their answers. 

1. Can a Permit Be Transferred to Another Owner?

You cannot transfer a permit to another person. If a business is sold, the new owner needs to apply for a permit. They cannot continue selling alcohol until they have received their permit. 

2. Can a Permit Be Moved to a New Location?

You can transfer your permit to a different location, but only after submitting a request for a change of address. Keep in mind that any permits that specifically deal with beer can only be transferred within the same county. Permits for liquor can be transferred to other counties. 

3. Can TABC Suspend a Permit?

Your TABC permit can be suspended if you violate the TABC Alcoholic Beverage Code. To avoid this situation, it is best to familiarize yourself with the code, so you don’t accidentally break it. 

4. How Long Will It Take to Get a Permit?

It typically takes anywhere from one to two months to get your permit after applying. The exact length of time it takes to get approval depends on which permit your business needs and your city and county requirements. Remember that some cases require more than two months for your permit to arrive, so you must apply well before you plan to start selling alcohol. The TABC office in your area can help this process go smoothly and quickly. Contact them to make sure you meet all of the prerequisites before applying to make the process shorter. 

These are some of the most commonly asked questions that TABC hears and their answers. While the list can be a lot longer, this should get you started understanding these permits’ basics. 

Tips to Help Reduce the Impact of Divorce

Most people would agree that divorce isn’t fun for pretty much anyone. A mix of emotions and practical arrangements can drive any sane person crazy. However, you are not alone. Although divorce rates have declined over the past couple of years, there are still plenty who feel your pain. Here are some ideas that can help.

Take Care of Your Body

Sometimes the best thing is the most obvious thing. Take a breath. A deep one. Then another. And another. Soon your heart rate will go down, and you will feel more peaceful. Other obvious methods are eating healthy foods and exercising. However, these aren’t quite as easy to do when you are feeling down and depressed. That is why it is important to remind yourself to take one simple step at a time during a devasting era such as divorce.

Take Care of Your Mental Health

Realize that your feelings are valid. Carve out time for yourself to recover. Divorce can mean that you lost your best friend, so it is ok to grieve. It is often beneficial to sign up for therapy. Direct your thoughts into positive energy. You can do so by meditating or using mindfulness.

Seek Out Your Family and Friends

Sometimes permanent separations from your spouse can also lead to permanent separations from your money. This can add a whole layer of stress that can wipe out any progress you made from taking care of your body and mind. Keep track of your durational alimony Tampa. If you are lucky enough to have a good support system, feel free to lean on them. Don’t forget to repay the favor in the future if you can.

As you can see, a divorce doesn’t have to signal the end of your life. There are plenty of resources to draw from that can help you recover.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident

You’re sitting at stop light, and suddenly your car lurches forward. You’ve been hit. Even if the accident is a small fender bender, there are certain steps you need to take to ensure that the recovery process goes smoothly.

1. Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

The first priority after an accident is getting everyone to safety. Try to pull over to the side of the road and get out of the flow of traffic. If this is not possible, exit the vehicle safely. Call for medical assistance even if you and your passengers seem okay, as many injuries may not be obvious at first glance.

2. Call the Police

Even if the damage to your car is minimal, it’s still a good idea to have a police report on file, especially if you need to file an insurance claim to be compensated for damages. The person who caused the accident may want to keep a report from being filed, but this is not in your best interest. 

3. Document Everything

A police report is a good start, but it’s smart not to rely on another person’s account of what happened. Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and get copies of the report as well as the contact and insurance information of the other driver.

4. Hire an Attorney

If there is significant damage to your car or if you or your passengers were injured, you need to hire an auto accident attorney in Columbia MD. The other driver’s insurance agent may offer you less than you deserve or try to convince you to have your insurance cover the damages. Having an advocate in your corner who is well-versed in these types of negotiations is definitely a plus.

Getting into a car wreck is already an inconvenience. Following these tips can help you prevent this interruption to your day from becoming a larger ordeal than it needs to be.

What are Bail Bonds?

In the US criminal system, bail is a set amount deposit that is made to a court to ensure that a defendant will show up for future court proceedings. 

The amount of bail that is required to release a defendant awaiting trial is set by a court judge and is dependent upon the severity of the crime and the potential risk of releasing the defendant into the community, as well as whether or not the accused poses a flight risk. A judge may also choose to refuse to offer bail, meaning the defendant must remain in jail while awaiting trial. For minor crimes, a judge may also release the defendant on his own recognizance. In this case, there is no bail, and the accused is released on condition he agrees to the court’s orders.

Because many defendants are unable to pay the high cost of bail in cash, bail bonds Scranton PA are often used in lieu of cash bail.

A bail bond is a type of surety bond that is issued by a bail bondsman in lieu of the full bail amount. Bail bondsmen charge a fee, generally 10% of the total bail amount, to issue the bond. The defendant pays the fee and then insures the rest of the bail with collateral, such as a home or piece of property.

When a defendant is out on bail, he or she is expected to show up for scheduled hearings. If the defendant does not appear as ordered, bail is revoked. The defendant’s total bail fee will be remanded to the court and a warrant issued for the defendant’s arrest.

In general, the bail bondsman retains the 10% of bail amount paid to him as his fee for services and for having incurred the risk of the bond. However, the property that was put up as collateral insurance (such as a home, vehicle or property) is returned to the defendant. 

Understanding Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is a program that provides insurance coverage for employees who are injured on the job. No one should feel unsafe at work, and if you are injured, you deserve to have your expenses paid for. Consider these facts about workers’ compensation to find out if you are eligible. It can be a huge help if you ever find yourself needing it.

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible for workers’ compensation, you must be an employee of a company that carries this type of insurance. Before you accept a job, you should ask if this is something that the company has. This is especially important if you work in an inherently dangerous field, although injuries can happen in any workplace at any time.

What Type of Injuries Are Covered?

Workers’ compensation only covers injuries that are sustained at your place of work. These injuries can occur as a result of ineffective safety regulations or improper training on equipment use. In some cases, chronic work injuries may be considered, although filing a claim for these may prove more challenging. The person filing the claim must be able to prove that the injury occurred as a direct result of work conditions.

How Do I File a Claim?

In most states, there is a timely filing stipulation on workers’ compensation claims, so you should file your claim as soon as you are able. After the incident occurs, you should inform your supervisor at work. You should ask that a written report is made. An Iowa workers compensation lawyer can help you determine what you need to file your claim.

Being injured on the job can be a scary thing, but there are tools in place that can help you get the compensation that you need. In this situation, remember that proper documentation is key.

Benefits of Becoming a Notary

Millions of Americans need notary services every year. Although becoming a notary requires more than submitting a notary application Florida, the time and effort are well worth the benefits.

Resume Benefits

Becoming a notary can add value to your resume. Every company requires the services of a notary from time to time. For example, notaries are needed in banking, medical, legal, insurance, technology and even government agencies and organizations. If you already have your commission, your current or any prospective company does not need to pay for training, bonding and the application process.

Extra Income

Notaries are state appointed, so they become public officials when they receive their commissions. Therefore, your notary commission belongs to you alone. Even if your company pays for your training and application, that company does not own you or your notary services.

You can offer notary services to anyone, whether they work in your company or not, allowing you to earn extra income outside of work. Notaries typically charge $10-15 per notarized document, and if you have to travel, you can include reasonable travel and other expenses.

You may also pursue additional responsibilities as a notary signing agent. These individuals witness mortgages or other real estate loan documents. These independent contractors are hired by title companies and may work outside normal business hours. The fees for this type of notary service are significantly higher than regular services.

Scheduling

If you choose to offer your notary services outside of a company, you can choose your own schedule. For example, if you are a stay-at-home parent, you may choose to offer your services when your spouse is home or on the weekends. Because many individuals, and sometimes companies, require these services outside business hours, you can choose a schedule that fits your lifestyle.

Once you have your notary commission, you can choose your hours, fees and who you work with. You may even offer discounted or free services to those in your community who cannot afford a notary. If you are interested in a lucrative, liberating career, consider becoming a notary.

How Are Bail Amounts Determined?

Bail is an amount set by police or criminal courts designed to guarantee the cooperation of the defendant. The defendant can choose to pay bail, which will be returned to them if they attend their hearings. They can also choose not to pay bail and be detained until their hearing.

Once bail is set, the defendant can pay with cash or Montgomery County bail bonds. Depending on the amount, some collateral may be required if bail bonds are used. Bail is usually decided in a hearing and is determined by several factors.

Type of Crime

The nature of the crime plays a large role in determining the amount of bail. More serious crimes have larger bails where minor crimes, such as misdemeanors, have smaller bails. One method of determining bail by crime committed is based on the maximum sentence length for said crime. 

Flight Risk

The purpose of bail is to grant the defendant freedom until their trial. Paying bail helps guarantee that the defendant will return for hearings. If the court feels that a person is a flight risk, meaning they will attempt to flee and not attend their trial, they may have a higher bail. A person can be considered a flight risk if they have a history of missing hearings, have ties to other countries or if there is a significant amount of evidence against them.

Risk to Community

If a criminal is likely to commit violent crimes or otherwise endanger others, their bail may be increased. A person can be considered a danger to the community if they committed a violent crime or have a history of violent behavior.

Bail amounts are determined based on the type of crime committed, if the person is a flight risk and whether they are a risk to the community. If a defendant’s bail is low, they are more likely to be able to pay it in exchange for freedom until their trial.

Human Error Cause Hong Kong Ferry Crash

According to maritime expert, human error caused the October ferry crash that killed 39 people.

The ferry, Sea Smooth, was a commuter ferry that was carrying passengers from Hong Kong Island to Lamma Island. On October 1, the Sea Smooth collided with Lamma IV. This collision was the city’s worst maritime disaster in the past 4 years. The collision coincided with Hong Kong’s celebration of the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The Lamma IV had families and employees of Hong Kong Electric Co. These passengers were on their way to view holiday fireworks in Hong Kong. There were also children on board the ferry.

According to maritime rules, two vessels that may collide must each turn starboard to avoid a crash. Starboard means right. The Lamma IV turned starboard. On the other hand, the Sea smooth captain did not. An expert witness stated that the captain’s maneuver was an attempt to cross ahead of the Lamma IV.

The maritime expert witness said that the Lamma IV could have done more to avoid a collision. This captain had approximately 30 seconds to turn right more. He also could have been more attentive to radar readings.

However, according to the expert, the Sea Smooth captain was definitely much more at fault. The Sea Smooth was traveling at a speed twice that of the Lamma IV. The captain was also alone in the wheelhouse, and his human error was probably fueled by the fact that he was alone. Lastly, he turned left, in the same direction that the Lamma IV was turning.

According to emergency calls, the Lamma IV quickly sank after the collision. Some witnesses claim that the Sea Smooth ran into the Lamma IV again when it started its engine. According to these witnesses, this second collision contributed to the Lamma IV sinking.

Many victims were trapped and drowned inside the boat cabin. There were 39 lives claimed in the crash. Eight of the victims were children. There will be more investigation into the collision. Survivors will be called to the stand to testify.

Everyone involved in this collision is suffering from physical and emotional trauma. The families of the victims have forever lost a loved one. If you or someone you love was involved in a human error accident like this, there are legal resources available. Such damages can result in significant medical bills, long lasting physical trauma, and emotional loss. An expert personal injury lawyer can help you seek damages for any trauma you experience.