Must-Know Tips to Help Prevent a DUI Conviction

Posted by MLBG on Oct 27th, 2011 | 0 comments home title

Many Americans, before talking with DUI accident attorneys, believe DUI convictions are pretty straightforward. Sure, everyone’s heard the story of a friend or coworker who has a few too many drinks, hops in the car, and gets arrested when they blow above a .08 on their Breathalyzer test.

But the truth is, DUI convictions aren’t always that simple. Many factors can play into the situation – and knowing these may make the difference between a conviction and the ability to walk away from the scene scott-free. Let’s dig right in:

8 Precautionary Steps YOU Can Take

Luckily, there are several things you can do on your own to help minimize the chances of being pulled over while driving:

Check your vehicle’s lights monthly – Many people who are arrested for a DUI are actually pulled over for another reason – like faulty lights on their car. Every month, turn on all the lights in your car – the headlights, taillights, and brake lights. Make sure they’re properly aimed and working correctly.
Check your license plates – Make sure you have the current stickers on the plates and that they’re properly affixed to your vehicle.
Watch your car’s appearance – Police officers are much more likely to pull you over if your windows are darkly tinted, your car has body damage that you’ve never gotten fixed, or you have a loud exhaust pipe.
Avoid “peak” times – You’re much more likely to be pulled over around bar close, after sporting events, large festivals, etc. Whenever you can, avoid driving at these peak times.
Blend in with traffic – Try to drive near other cars, while still keeping a safe distance. Recent studies have shown you’re much less likely to get pulled over if you’re in the flow of traffic with other vehicles.
Eliminate distractions – Avoid loud music, dashboard GPS units, and rowdy friends. Your focus should be on the road and not on what’s going on inside your car.
Take an alternate route – If the normal route you take home is lined with bars and restaurants, consider finding a different way. Areas like this are where you’ll find the most law enforcement officials, thus increasing your chance of getting pulled over. Even if your new route takes a bit longer, it could be well worth it in the end.
Throw your keys far, far away – This sounds silly, yes. But, if you ever decide you’ve had too much to drink and want to sleep it off in your car, you can still be considered in physical control of the vehicle and subject to questioning if an officer would find you this way. Instead, place the keys as far away from you as possible – perhaps in a cubby in the back seat.

The above tips are designed to help you get home safely and avoid being pulled over. However, if you’ve had too many drinks, it’s always best to have a designated driver or to call a taxicab for a safe ride home.

Article courtesy of accident lawyer experts at Accidents.com

9 Lawn Care Logo Design Tips for Branding Your Business

Posted by MLBG on Oct 12th, 2011 | 0 comments home title

Starting a lawn care business can be one of the most rewarding experiences for an individual who wants to be their own boss. Why? You can set your own hours, dedicate as much or as little time to the service as you’d like, and get fresh air and a great cardio workout everyday. In a nutshell, you’ll have the freedom to do what you want, when you want.

Luckily, the upfront costs of running a lawn care business are low. You’ll need to purchase the mowing and landscaping equipment and get the word out about the services you’re offering. From the beginning, you should build recognition and trust in your brand – and that starts with a great lawn care logo design.

4 Ways Lawn Care Logos Impact Your Business

Although a logo is small, it plays a big role in your business. It will influence how customers (both current and prospective) view your brand, will help you stand out from the competition, and much more. Below, you’ll find a few things you should know when creating a landscaping logo for your business:

A logo can increase your customers’ happiness – A well-designed, attractive logo will make your customers happy to be associated with you because it will give them a good feeling every time they see it.
A great logo can help spread the word – An attractive logo can actually help grow your business. Why? Because if current customers are happy to be associated with you and feel you run a professional and trustworthy business, they’ll be much more likely to recommend you to their friends.
It makes you unique – According to the Professional Landcare Network, there are more than 10,000 lawn care service providers and 12,000 landscapers in the nation. If you’re new to the business, you’ll need to stand out from these competitors, and a landscaping logo can help you do just that.
It tells your story – A great logo can help tell your story and, as mentioned above, help you stand out from the competition. You want your customers to know about you and why you’re the best choice for their lawn care needs, and every element of your logo can help do this – the color, font, graphics, and more.

5 Tips for Designing Landscaping Logos

Now comes the next big question – how do you know what your logo should look like and what feeling it should portray? If you have the budget for a graphic designer, that may be a good investment. A great designer has worked with clients in many industries and can help you visually communicate to your audience. When giving direction on a logo design, here are a few things to know:

Color matters – Certain colors can evoke a certain feeling from your audience. Cool colors tend to have a calming effect and symbolize peace, growth, and harmony, while warm colors (like red and orange) can mean everything from passion and happiness to energy and health.
Create it for all backgrounds – Your logo may start on signs around the neighborhood, but what if you eventually want to put it on your business card or even on the side of your car? Make sure the logo is suitable for all mediums.
Don’t use photos – Photos should be avoided when designing a logo because, although they may work for print materials, they’re not scalable and won’t be attractive when put in a larger sign or advertisement.
Make it scalable – On the same hand, make sure the logo you do create can be used on everything from business cards to large yard signs.
Create unity – Make sure all fonts, graphics, and colors used in your logo work well together. The last thing you want is for your logo to look like it was thrown together in a few minutes.

A lawn logo is one of the most important things you can do to get your lawn care business up and running – and to get your company’s name out there. Keep in mind the above tips that are an important first step in the success of your business.

More Logo Design Resources:

About the Author:

Pat Malloy wants you to try a free logo design from Free Logo Services. Logo design can build your business – and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Try free logos today for a more powerful brand impression.

Smart Meetings, Corporate Event Planning Guide

Posted by MLBG on Oct 7th, 2011 | 0 comments home title

Smart Meetings offers the following solutions for any corporation looking to plan a business meeting or corporate event for the next get together to discuss new business opportunities or even to build trust between employees and management and to build morale and do team building and even to develop strong internal relationships across an organization.

Meeting Planner Solutions

Popular Corporate Event Destinations

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