Ask Deb Blog

The Legality of Driving Barefoot

Ask Deb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:55:18 +0000

In a post the other day, AskDeb reported on the apparently controversial issue of the legality of driving without shoes.

In researching the post, our writer contacted various police and law enforcement agencies to provide our readers with the best information. This is typical for us — we don’t weigh in on an issue without doing our homework.

Our research indicated two facts –

1. There is no specific law restricting the operation of a motor vehicle without shoes in any of the fifty states or the District of Columbia

and

2. Every state’s department of public safety has a recommendation that drivers wear shoes, either to avoid reckless driving charges (a very real possibility) or injury during an accident.

If AskDeb.com provided bad or misinformation, we apologize and formally correct that error.

Still, we stand behind our writer’s original advice — driving barefoot can get you ticketed for reckless driving (or any number of other statutes) and can cause severe injury in the case of an accident.

While you will not be ticketed specifically for “driving barefoot”, your state’s DPS can ticket you for any number of driving offenses related to barefoot driving.

Thanks for your responses, and we hope that you will continue to come to AskDeb.com for all your questions . . . even ones which we sometimes have difficulty answering.

What Is Online Banking?

Ask Deb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:34:42 +0000

What Is Online Banking?

Online banking is a system by which a banking customer can conduct bank transactions using the Internet. The movement of banking into the online world was inevitable — as soon as the Internet became ubiquitous it was only a matter of time before we handled everything (even our personal finances) on the Internet.

Online banking means we have one less reason to leave the house. With online banking, you can do everything you would normally do at your bank from the comfort of your computer. Make deposits, transfer funds, and even pay bills using your Internet connection. About the only thing you can’t do with online banking is make a withdrawal — it’d be nice if our printers could spit out money, but the technology’s just not there yet.

Benefits of Online Banking

The main purpose of online banking is to create convenience for bank customers. Rather than waiting for a bank statement to come in the mail, you can access all of your bank statement information right in your web browser. You can check your account balances 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In general, your bank will provide you with login details (username and password) and the URL you should use to log on.

Another big convenience factor with online banking — security. You can catch any banking discrepancies on your various accounts right away and deal with them well before you could if you were relying on paper statements. You don’t even need to be at home on your own computer — safety features allow you to access your account from any computer in the world. If you have Internet access, you have access to your bank.

If you choose to pay your bills online through your bank, you will find yourself writing far fewer checks. Not just paper checks, but the cost of postage stamps and the pain of walking down to the mailbox are all gone. Online bill pay is one of the most convenient aspects of online banking — simply enter the amount of the bill to be paid and the funds will be automatically deducted from the bank account of your choice. Even better news — the cost to the bank for providing these online services is low, so that savings is passed on to the consumer. Sure, some banks charge a fee for online banking, but it is usually extremely low. When you figure in the cost in time spent standing in bank lines or dealing with crotchety tellers, the cost of online banking is justified.

Downsides of Online Banking

The most secure Internet connection in the world is still vulnerable to hacking or interference. Since online banking depends so heavily on the Internet, outages and security breeches can be a serious problem. Sure, your information is insured and encrypted, and the chance that your online bank account will be compromised is slim, it does happen. While hacking and irresponsible online behavior can be a problem, rest assured that reputable online banks have lots of security features and stopgap measures to prevent fraud.

Another downside is the lack of personalized service. Maybe you like going in and dealing with the same bank teller week after week — with online banking, you may never see a teller’s face again. On the upside, any time you need to make a cash withdrawal or if you have to deposit cash or checks, you will be spending some time at the bank or at the bank’s ATM. Don’t fear — you’ll probably still have plenty of face to face contact with bank representatives.

In most people’s eyes, the benefits of online banking outweight the few risks and downsides. Online banking is no longer the wave of the future — it is just the way most banking is done these days. Contact your bank to see what online banking options they offer and join the 21st century.

Is It Illegal to Drive Barefoot?

Ask Deb — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:23:28 +0000

Is It Illegal to Drive Barefoot?

There’s nothing like the feel of the open road — just you, your car, and miles of highway stretching off into the distance. Driving is the definition of freedom, a past time as American as baseball.

Sometimes you want to feel the gas pedal underneath your toes, you want to feel directly connected to your car’s engine. Sometimes you just want to drive barefoot.

What are the legal ramifications of driving without shoes?

State Laws

Depending on the state where you are choosing to drive with bare feet you could very well be breaking the law. While there is no federal restriction against driving without shoes (apparently the ability to accelerate with one’s toes is a state’s rights issue) there are more than a few states who feel that driving without footwear is punishable by the law.

States Where Driving Barefoot Is Illegal

Before you climb behind the wheel with no shoes on, make sure you aren’t in one of the following states which provide penalties for driving barefoot:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

That seems like most of the states, and for good reason. Driving barefoot has been shown to be dangerous, reducing road reaction times and causing plenty of potential accidents from foot slippage. Here, then, is a list of state where driving without shoes is not illegal, yet :

Alabama, Ohio, and California.

Why Not Drive Barefoot?

Since most states have laws against barefoot driving, the question must be asked — why can’t we drive barefoot? Why not just make a national law against driving without shoes if it is so dangerous?

If you believe tradition, when automobiles first appeared on the scene, they were not covered in upholstery, no floor mats and nothing to block the feet of the driver from the heat of the engine. During these times, a barefoot driver risked serious burns to their feet if not wearing proper footwear. For many people, this old tradition of covering the feet to protect them from the engine is the main reason they feel the need to wear shoes.

Still other people claim that driving without shoes causes one’s feet to get worn out quickly, and can contribute to careless driving or even cause an accident. This is the basis for most tickets people get for driving barefoot — their foot slips or gets tired in traffic causing an accident.

Driving barefoot is an unavoidable event sometimes. Maybe you lost your shoes after a day at the beach or are in a hurry to get to the emergency room or other emergency facility. Know your local laws and be extra careful when driving barefoot, and you should ‘get away’ with it just fine.

This article is part of a series we’re doing on “Is It Illegal?” The other post in this series is:

Is It Illegal to Sleep In Your Car?

Ask Deb — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:25:44 +0000

Is It Illegal to Sleep In Your Car?

We’ve all been on a long distance car trip and felt the need to pull over for a quick rest. In fact, most driver’s education programs advice just that for road weariness — pull safely to the side of the road and take a nap. “Sleeping it off” is much safer than pressing on to the next available motel or to your final destination. Road weariness leads to more accidents than anything besides drunken driving.

The question many people have is “Is it illegal to sleep in your car?”

Legalities of Sleeping In Your Car

Even though our car is our own private property, and even though we are all told to take a nap if we get tired while driving, there is some concern that sleeping in your car could get you in big trouble. Why should sleeping in the car be perceived as a danger?

1. Vagrancy

In most cases where police don’t want you to sleep in your car it is because they are looking to clear the streets of vagrants. Many times, people who are homeless will find any shelter from the elements, and this includes abandoned or unlocked cars. Police will often wake you up if you’re sleeping in your car in order to determine that you’re not a homeless person in an illegal sleeping situation.

2. Suicide

It is an unfortunate fact of our society that many people choose to end their lives in their cars. If a police officer sees a person asleep in a car, they may assume that person is in the process of committing suicide. Police will often perform a wellness check, look at your license and other documents, and suggest you move on down the road. There’s also a chance that they’ll allow you to remain sleeping, as long as it isn’t against city or county ordnances.

3. Suspicious Behavior

Even in areas where sleeping in the car is legal, police have the right to search you and your vehicle if they believe you are exhibiting suspicious behavior. Police are on the lookout for drug dealers, drug users, and other felonious activity.

4. Health and Safety

If you have parked your car in an unsafe area for sleeping (too close to the road or in an unlit spot) they may ask you to move to a safer spot for sleep. If this is the case, you can expect to be pretty thoroughly searched in the process.

How to Sleep In Your Car (Legally)

Some states, like Texas for example, want you to use their official rest stops for any necessary sleep while on the road. These rest stops are well-lit and well away from the danger of the highway. Other states do not allow this behavior anywhere, so it is best to plan for a sleep stop somewhere along the way. If all else fails, find a big box store (like Wal-Mart) where RVs and other vehicles are known to pull in for a night’s sleep.

If you have any question about whether or not a business will allow you to use their lot for sleep, simply ask the management.

There’s never a good reason to drive while tired. If you must pull over and sleep in your car, do so safely and in accordance with local laws and you should have no trouble getting forty winks.

This article is part of a series we’re doing on “Is It Illegal?” The other posts in this series are:

Is It Illegal to Be High?

Ask Deb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:54:20 +0000

Is It Illegal to Be High?

Here’s the situation — you and your buddies were sitting around listening to The Dark Side of the Moon and enjoying a joint or two. The night’s over and it is time to head home. On the way back to your house, you get pulled over for speeding. You know you don’t have anything illegal on you, and you haven’t been drinking, but still you gotta wonder — can the cop bust you simply for being high?

Let’s set aside the issue of driving under the influence of marijuana for just a moment and talk about the legality of being high.

Intoxication can be difficult to prove. When talking about alcohol intoxication, cops have several methods for determining your level of drunkenness, from field sobriety tests to breathalyzers to blood tests back at the police substation. With marijuana there is no really effective way to prove in a court of law that you were under the influence.

The short answer is Yes — it is illegal to be “under the influence of marijuana”, especially when you’re driving The problem lies with the officer’s ability to take stock of your level of intoxication.

Detecting Marijuana Intoxication

If the police really want to know if you’re under the influence of marijuana, the only true test is a blood test. There’s no “marijuana breathalyzer” (though one is being developed in California as I write this) so if a cop wants to bring you into the station, that officer will have to have good cause to do so.

A field sobriety test is fairly effective for detection of marijuana intoxication. Depending on the individual (and depending on how high they are) a typical field sobriety test could be tough. Walking a straight line, speaking clearly, etc — marijuana can make all those tasks difficult.

But for an officer to perform a field sobriety test on an individual who is high on marijuana there must be mititgating circumstances. Either you’ve been involved in an accident (which automatically triggers such a test) or you smell so much like marijuana that the officer can’t help but test. If you don’t appear too high and if you haven’t caused too much of a problem in your vehicle such as an accident or something, you probably won’t be tested.

Illegal High

Another sticking point for cops is that they usually have to see evidence on marijuana use in order to arrest for it. If a cop finds marijuana, paraphenalia, or sees you smoking marijuana, then you will most certainly be arrested and given any drug test they can think of to prove your guilt.

However, if you’re walking down the street, causing no trouble and in no possession of any drugs, you could technically walk right up to a cop and say “I’m high on marijuana” and they can’t do anything. If you aren’t driving, or behaving criminally, a simple statement to a cop that you are intoxicated is not enough to warrant an arrest.

No one at AskDeb.com is condoning the use of marijuana. The basic facts are as follows — while it is illegal to be high and operate a car, and while it is illegal to possess, smoke, or sell marijuana, it can be difficult to prove intoxication and therefore most of the time you can easily get away with.

Just be safe.

This article is part of a series we’re doing on “Is It Illegal?” The other posts in this series are:

What Is the Fastest Car in the World?

Ask Deb — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:11:19 +0000

What Is the Fastest Car in the World?

Once you get up to a certain speed, “fastest” is really relative. One driver may find that his style compliments the SSC Ultimate Aero better than a similarly fast Bugatti model.

Here is a list of the ten fastest cars in the world. All of these cars are fast and furious, and on any given day one model may easily beat another.

Ten Fastest Cars in the World

1. SSC Ultimate Aero: This monster can hit a top speed of 257 mph, and boasts a 0-60 time of just 2.7 secs. It has a twin-turbo V8 Engine and a ridiculous 1183 horse power. Sure, the base price is a mind-numbing $654,400, but there are other (slower) cars on this list for much more. When the Guinness Book of World Records declared the SSC Ultimate Aero the fastest car in the world, car fans were shocked. The old standby Bugatti Veyron has finally been unseated.

2. Bugatti Veyron: The world’s best drivers can reach 253 mph in no time in this vehicle, due to a super low 0-60 time of just 2.5 seconds. This car’s aluminum frame and Narrow Angle W16 Engine clocks in at 1001 horse power. Yes, the base price is an unheard of $1,700,000, but if you really want to turn heads, the Veyron is your chariot.

3. Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo: Top speed is 248 mph, and a nothing-to-sneeze-at 0-60 time of 3.2 secs. For being third on this list, the base price of $555,000 seems like a steal.

4. Koenigsegg CCX: Top speed? 245 mph. 0-60 time? 3.2 seconds. Under the hood, the Koenigsegg looks like nothing on the market. A V8 Engine with 806 horsepower sounds weak, but don’t be fooled. The engineers at Koenigsegg are working hard to make this outlandish vehicle the fastest in the world.

5. McLaren F1: It is ridiculous that a car that can hit top speeds of 240 mph (while running from 0-60 in under 3.2 secs) is this far down the list. Made with a BMW S70/2 60 degree V12 Engine (though a measly 627 horse power) the base price is $970,000.

6. Ferrari Enzo: Chances are you’ve never seen this car. With a top speed of 217 mph, and a still stunning but not perfect 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, only 300 of these vehicles were ever produced. Even though you only get 660 horse power, owning one of less than 400 Ferrari models should well be worth the base price of $670,000. Be careful — the price goes up over time, due to the disappearance or breakdown of other models.

7. Jaguar XJ220: It may seem strange to find a Jaguar on this list, but topping out at 217 mph and performing a 0-60 maneuver in less than 4 seconds immediately makes you a contender for world’s fastest car. Featuring a Twin Turbo V6 Engine with 542 hp, the base price was $650,000, but since these cars were only produced for a limited time in 1991, that price is much lower than you’d expect to pay now.

8. Pagani Zonda F: A disappointing entry for Pagani, who at one time were headed for the top of this list. This vehicle only pulls a top speed of 215 mph, though it does have good pickup, moving from 0-60 in 3.5 secs. Why do I say it is an underperformer? Any vehicle with a Mercedes Benz M180 V12 engine (and any vehicle that costs well over $500,000) should perform much better than this. This car is quickly falling off the list.
9. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640: The only Lamborghini on the list boasts a top speed of 211 mph, 0-60 in 3.3 secs. V12 Engine with 640 hp, base price is $430,000. Nice piece of art, the design is very round and smooth.

10. Porsche Carrera GT: Ah, Porsche. The car of doctors and dentists. Though this model only gets up to 205 mph (only!), the 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds is impressive enough to reel in people looking for serious speed. The bare bones model will run you $440,000.

LifeGuides.net offers a great section with all kinds of tips for cars and other vehicles. Check it out. (You might also be interested in learning how to play fantasy Nascar; this article tells you how to play.)

Some other posts on our site that might be of interest to car lovers include:

What Is the Average Cost of Living by State?

Ask Deb — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:55:43 +0000

What Is the Average Cost of Living by State?

Due to differences in taxes, rent and utility bills, food costs, and other geographical quirks the cost of living in America varies from state to state.

Economists assign a number to cost of living, as a specific dollar amount will depend on your lifestyle as well as other factors such as your employment and travel requirements.

Here is a list of all fifty US states and their average cost of living index. In this index, 100 is an “average” cost of living for the entire country — any number lower than that indicates a state that is below average in terms of living cost, while numbers above 100 indicate that state has a higher cost of living than the national average.
Alabama

Alaska

126

Arizona

104

Arkansas

California

135

Colorado

102

Connecticut

125

Delaware

100

District of Columbia

100

Florida

101

Georgia

Hawaii

165

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

115

Maryland

125

Massachusetts

113

Michigan

Minnesota

105

Mississippi

102

Missouri

Montana

102

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

108

New Jersey

101

New Mexico

100

New York

145

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

102

Oklahoma

Oregon

101

Pennsylvania

106

Rhode Island

115

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

113

Utah

112

Vermont

134

Virginia

Washington

119

West Virginia

This article about “what is the average cost of living by state?” is part of a series of blog posts we’re publishing about average costs for things. Other articles on similar subjects can be found below:

What Is the Average Cost of Raising a Child?

Ask Deb — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:13:37 +0000

What Is the Average Cost of Raising a Child?

Children are the greatest blessing to anyone’s life. Newborns especially are a true joy to have around. Unfortunately in this day and age, you pretty much need to be loaded to raise a child properly.

As with most “average cost” questions, there are multiple answers. Because of differences between cost of living in different states and differences between childrens’ need (medical problems, etc) the ‘average cost’ of raising a child can be different from one family to the next.

Average Cost of Raising a Child

The most recent data available on the subject, put out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, suggests that in 2004 (these kinds of polls take time to put together, so 2004 is the most recent number available) families who make at least $70,000 a year or more will spend an average of $269,520 to raise a single child from birth through to adulthood at age 18.

Naturally, families with incomes lower than this will spend smaller amounts. Wondering what the highest child rearing cost in the country is? Apparently, wealthy families in urban areas in California pay the most — on average about $284,000.

About those lower-income families — how much does it cost them to raise children? Apparently, a family’s income may not be as big a factor as it seems in the cost of child rearing — families who take in less than $70,000 are spending a whopping $184,00 to raise a child from infancy to adulthood.

Think of this number as about $15,000 a year from birth to age two. Once a child gets older, the expenses associated with your child will shoot through the roof. As your child ages, he or she gets even more expensive, topping out at $15,810 from ages 15 to 17. This survey is deadly accurate too, as it involves a wide sample (8,000 families from across the country) every four years or so.

Problems With This Study

While this study is the most accurate we have, there are some issues. For starters, the study doesn’t consider certain off the wall expenses incurred by families with special needs — hefty medical bills, private schooling, and other sundry items that just don’t fall within the scope of this study.

Don’t forget also that this study is made up of a composite average — this means your actual cost will be no where near the ‘average’ reported, and will come in way above the reported number. The final problem with this study is that it stops at 18, which means most college expenses (rising every year) are not taken into account. Parents could easily add tens of thousands of dollars to this cost just by putting a child through school.

This article answers the question “What Is the Average Cost of Raising a Child?”, and it’s part of a series of articles about average costs. The other articles in this series include:

What Is the Average Cost of Braces?

Ask Deb — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:05:42 +0000

What Is the Average Cost of Braces?

Getting braces has become something of a childhood tradition. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, anywhere from 3 to 4 million kids in America wear braces on their teeth, though the length of time they wear them varies greatly.

With so many kids requiring braces to fix issues with their teeth, it is important for parents of young children to understand the average cost of orthodontics. Since we’ve already said that the length of time required for braces can be anywhere from a matter of weeks to a matter of years, an ‘average’ cost is difficult to determine.

Average Braces Cost

BracesInfo.com (a great source of all things braces-related) says that the average cost of childhood orthdontics is $5,413. This amount can go up to as high as $8,000 depending on the individual orthodontist and the area of the country in which your child receives treatment.

Additional Costs Associated with Braces

There are lots of options for the child about to get braces — but these options will cost you. If your child is a bit ashamed of their braces or just wants a specific look, the cost goes up. “Tooth colored” ceramic brackets will add an average of $500 to an orthodontic bill, while special braces that are placed behind the teeth (called “lingual brackets”) are an even bigger expense, adding anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 to the final bill.

Braces Alternatives

Invisalign, a company that offers a braces alternative of the same name, reports that its products (which resemble clear plastic trays used for teeth whitening) start out at $3,500 but the average customer cost is about $5,000 across the nation. Be careful when selecting Invisalign as your orthodontic treatment of choice — these plans can cost way more than this ‘average’ depending on the retailer.

Orthodontics and Insurance

The good news is that most solid dental plans will cover orthodontics for children under age 18, but there are no dental plans that will automatically cover adult braces. Talk to your insurance company and find out if your kid’s braces will be covered.

For adults who want braces, there are very few options outside of making a payment plan with your orthodontist or purchasing a private amount of dental insurance that will help cover the costs.

Braces can be important. Your child’s smile can make or break his chance at certain jobs, success in love, and general self-esteem. Yes, braces can be expensive, but often they are medically necessary and there are insurance options to help pay.

This article answers the question “What Is the Average Cost of Braces?”. Other articles in this series include:

What Is the Average Cost of a College Education?

Ask Deb — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:43:49 +0000

What Is the Average Cost of a College Education?

The cost of higher education is on the rise. The scariest part of this trend is that costs are going up a noticeable amount from year to year rather than increasing a little bit at a time. According to the College Board (that’s the folks who administer the SAT exam) college students will pay an average of $400 more for room and board this year compared to last year. That number will be different from college to college, but seeing big increases in college costs over just twelve months should be enough to convince you — college costs are going up.

Average Cost of Four Year Colleges

Because colleges regularly report their costs it is easy to come up with an average cost for a college education. In 2010, a year of tuition and room and board at a private college is up to $26,273. That’s an increase of almost 5 percent from last year’s cost. The price at public institutions is up too — room and board and tuition will run you $7,000 and that number is up 6.5 percent from the last academic year.

When students want to attend a school outside of their home state the cost is even higher. This year, out of state room and board and tuition and fees will run students an average of $11,500.

Average Cost of Two Year Colleges

College doesn’t have to be this expensive — two-year colleges (which aren’t included in the above averages) are affordable and you can often finish a large portion of your course load at a two-year college before transferring to a larger school for graduation. The College Board says that 31% of college students attend one of these two-year schools, so not everyone is getting squeezed at the bursar’s office.

The average cost at a public two-year college is around $4,000 depending on what part of the country you are in. Costs at these colleges vary widely, so check at two-year colleges in your area before you decide to go to a two-year school to save money.

College Cost Statistics

There are some interesting figures related to college cost reported by the College Board. College students have found lots of ways to reduce cost (grants and scholarships) and it appears there are plenty of colleges still offering a great value. For instance, 19 percent of students who attend a private four-year college pay tuition and fees below $18,000. Sure that’s a low number, but it means that you can get a private school education somewhat closer to a public school cost. With costs at public schools rising even more rapidly than those at private school, you may as well choose a cheap private college.

Having said that, there are some great deals on public four-year schools. The College Board reports that 32 percent of full-time public college students pay less than $6,000.

The opposite end of that spectrum is the group of students who pay outlandishly high costs — apparently, only one fifth of all private school students pay anything higher than $36,000.

College costs aren’t going to start a downward trend anytime soon. The issue of cost adds one more wrinkle to the already difficult college decision process. Consider cost differences between public and private universities as well as the differences between two-year and four-year programs before committing to any college.

This article answers the question “what is the average cost of a college education?” Other articles in this series include: