For our insured and for our agents who spend countless hours on their cellphones, take heed of the new cellphone law in effect July 1st of this year. At that time, it will be a ticketable offense to talk on your cell phone while driving. That means you can get pulled over and fined $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent offenses.

There are some exceptions, you can still:

• Use a hands free device such as a Bluetooth headset
• Use your cell phone’s speaker phone functionality
• Dial numbers
• Text message (WARNING: It is at the officers discretion to ticket.)
• Use push-to-talk if you are operating commercial vehicles
• Emergency vehicles such as ambulances and firetrucks

The law takes effect on July 1, 2008 and there is no grace period.

PMZ Insurance Services commented that, “while there is no point charged for a violation, we are unsure how this will be handled by insurance carriers. The seat belt laws that were put into place years ago do not charge points against your license, but Insurance companies do take these into consideration – especially if there are two or more or if the driver has other violations too.”

If you want more information, check out the attached CHP Cell Phone Law FAQ Sheet or contact PMZ Insurance Services at (209) 338-0385.

Freddie Mac has launched an anti-fraud video on YouTube^TM in an effort to warn troubled borrowers about the dangers of falling victim to con artists promising to help them avoid foreclosure through various fraudulent workout options.

Click here to view the video.

Click here to visit Freddie Mac’s Avoid Fraud website.

Real estate professionals and police on Long Island, N.Y., where there have been a string of burglaries at open houses, offer this advice for homeowners and practitioners concerned about security at their open house events.

• Before the open house, start at the front door and imagine you’re the criminal coming into an open house. What items of value could you quickly and easily put in a pocket? Remove these valuables from the home and put them in a safe deposit box or at a trusted friend or relative’s home.
• Examine locks and latches on all doors and windows in case a burglar uses the open house as an opportunity to check out the place in advance.
• If the property is large, have at least two practitioners in the home during the open house, each with cell phones with numbers set to speed-dial 911 or another emergency number.
• Ask visitors to provide identification when they sign in.
• Keep control of the number of people touring simultaneously. If there are more than one or two couples, ask the others to wait outside or in the garage. Or set up appointments in advance.
• Don’t allow yourself to be cornered in a room with only one exit.

Via Newsday