Tuesday, October 21, 2014

How to Tell if a Cell Phone Is Being Monitored

How to Tell if a Cell Phone Is Being Monitored

 With all of the latest hullabaloo about cell phones being used as bugging devices, you may be feeling a bit creeped out at the prospect of being monitored without your knowing it. Although some cell phones can be remotely programmed, most modern cell phones would require physical access to your phone to tamper with it. Luckily, when cell phones are transmitting, certain tell-tale signs can be a dead giveaway that your phone is being monitored. Have a question? Get an answer from online tech support now!



Instructions

    • 1
      Determine if you have an unusually low call volume or if you are having sporadic troubles dialing out on your phone. Most phones, when operating as a bugging device, disrupt the transmission path by utilizing it in order to spy. Some newer "3G" phones bypass this problem by running super high-speed data, which can enable additional voice channels along with the primary call line.
    • 2
      Pay attention to your battery power and usage---does it seem to be running low more quickly than usual? This may indicate the phone is in use while you are unaware of it.
    • 3
      Check to see if the phone is warm even when you have not been using it. Cell phones heat up when in use, but should not be warm under normal resting conditions.
    • 4
      Test your GSM phone (most phones are GSM in the United States, including T-Mobile and Cingular) by positioning it next to speakers when you are not using it. A short-lived buzzing noise often occurs when phones are near speakers and sometimes even when they are not in use; however, a continuous buzzing noise that lasts longer than several seconds is abnormal.
    • 5
      Notice if your phone stays lit up after you have powered it down or if you have difficulty turning it off---this could indicate a bugging device. Other signs may be the phone periodically lighting up when not in use or odd clicking sounds or other unusual noises while the phone is in use.


Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_5683331_tell-cell-phone-being-monitored.html
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What Pops Up When the Police Run Your Plates?

What Pops Up When the Police Run Your Plates?

By Jack Powell, eHow Contributor

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_8702826_pops-up-police-run-plates.html
You may already be aware that police officers run the license plate on your vehicle before they pull you over. What you may not know is what information they can obtain before they turn on their flashing lights. Police officers run the plates on each car they want to pull over to see if the person driving the car could be a potential criminal. This allows them to proceed with caution.

Vehicle Information

The first set of information police databases return relates to the vehicle the plates are registered to. This includes the year your vehicle was made, the make and model and the vehicle identification number (VIN), along with the expiration date of the license plate and any suspensions placed on the plate. The name of the person the vehicle is registered to is also revealed during this search.

Driver Information

Although the driver may not be the person to whom the car is registered, it usually is. By accessing another database and searching driver's license information, officers can find out your driver's license number, address, date of birth and Social Security number. This database also provides descriptive information about the owner of the vehicle, including eye color and height. Police officers can also see your driving record, so they'll know if you've received tickets in the past and how many.

Warrants

Oftentimes, criminals who have warrants out for their arrest are found during routine traffic stops. When they run a red light or exceed the speed limit, the cop that notices them runs their license plate, then cross-references the name of the person the car is registered to in a database, which notifies the officer of any outstanding arrest warrants. In some cities and states, officers can access local and national records to determine whether the person being pulled over has warrants in other state.

License Plate Readers

A license plate reader is a piece of equipment capable of capturing license plate information and running it through the databases automatically. If anything pops up on the person's records, an alarm sounds alerting the officer to a potential problem. These scanners can scan and run hundreds of license plate numbers in minutes, making it much easier for officers to identify vehicles that were reported stolen or potential criminal vehicles.


Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_8702826_pops-up-police-run-plates.html
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How to Petition for a Street Name Change

How to Petition for a Street Name Change

Most cities, towns and villages have a method to petition to change a street name. It's easier to change the name of a small side street than a major thoroughfare. Consideration is given to businesses and residents who must endure a change of address. However, naming a street after someone is a great way to honor achievements and contributions. Have a question? Get an answer from a lawyer now!

Instructions

    • 1
      Locate the municipality of the street. Contact the administrative offices of the municipality to learn about the required forms and procedures.
    • 2
      Request a "Street Name Change Request" form from the municipality. Create a timeline and deadline schedule for the process as well as dates and times for related meetings of the approving council or board.
    • 3
      Prepare a concise statement of the desire to change the street name. State the suggested new name for the street with a brief explanation of why the name the change is significant. Offer a second and third choice for the name change.
    • 4
      Make sure that the current street name is not significant or sensitive to residents. Search the archive of street names for previous name change requests.
    • 5
      Visit with the residents of the street and ask that they sign the petition. Be sure to have several supportive arguments for the name change. Abide the rules of the petition. One signature per household, or all adult members of one residence may sign the petition.
    • 6
      Present the petition of sufficient signatures and the completed forms to the approving body. Get on the schedule for discussion. Advise supporters of the meeting date.
    • 7
      Attend the meeting and speak on behalf of the petitioners for the name change. Follow approval with notification to the residents. Expect to wait 90 days to 12 months for new street signs to be put in place.



Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_4485915_petition-street-name-change.html
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Saturday, October 18, 2014

How to Get a Law Passed in Your State and Federal Law

How to Get a Law Passed in Your State

Getting a law passed is in no way easy but if you have a cause and want to make that change, follow these steps.

Instructions

    • 1
      First you must know who your congressman is and you must know how to ou contact him; a few clicks of the mouse and you should be able to find him. Once you contact him make sure you have a solution to your problem, do not go to your congressman about a problem and not have a solution for it. Have a plan before contacting them.
    • 2
      Start up a group to rally behind your cause; you can make it a special interest group. That's how MADD got drinking laws changed.
    • Don't worry about your politicial preference; it is good to have both parties behind you. If the cause means that much to you, you will learn to set a side your difference.
    • 4
      Go to www.house.gov to learn about other legislation and see if you idea is like a bill that is already being proposed.


Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_5013688_law-passed-state.html

How to Pass a Federal Law

Passing a federal law in the US is no easy task. Miles of red tape and complex bureaucratic procedures make this a difficult objective to accomplish. With some expertise and knowledge of the maze of congress, you may be able to help pass a federal law, providing patience and lady luck are also on your side.

Instructions

    • 1
      Have a decent proposal of your own making, backed up by extensive research and make your law applicable to the greater majority, giving it wide appeal and a better chance of approval.
    • 2
      Get your bill introduced by having it sent to the clerk. Only a representative or senator can introduce a bill, so approach your local representative with your proposal.
    • 3
      Wait for the committee to review the bill. The debate could take a long time and the committee may call upon experts for informed opinions. Find experts who will support your proposal so that your bill can pass the "first reading."
    • 4
      Allow the bill to be given a "second reading" and accomplish a favorable verdict by getting as many representatives on your side as possible. This may be achieved by generating public support and pressure.
    • 5
      Let the bill be passed around to be given a third reading, then allow it to be passed to Congress, who will then decide whether it is worth pursuing or not. If so, it will then be passed to the President.
    • 6
      Hope that the President votes on the bill, and if he agrees, the bill becomes a law. When the President signs the bill, the federal law will have been passed. If he vetoes it, you may still be able to get the law passed, providing the majority of the house votes in favor.

Tips & Warnings

  • Having wealthy and influential allies will greatly help your cause.
  • There are many chances for your bill to die and few proposals pass the first reading.
  • The President can keep a bill for 10 days and if Congress has adjourned, the bill is automatically denied.




Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_2145547_pass-federal-law.html


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All You Need to Know About A Petitions

How to Get a Law Passed by Petition

Instructions






  1. Instructions

    • 1
      Find out if your state allows for the petition and initiative process by visiting the National Conference of State Legislatures website. This website offers an updated listing of states that allow the initiative process. The initiative process allows voters to use signed petitions to get measures passed.
    • 2
      Review your state's requirements for the preparation of ballot measures. To find the specific requirements for filing, visit your Secretary of State's website. It is important to make note of signature requirements as well.
    • 3
      Draft your petition. This preliminary file will be submitted to the designated state agency and reviewed for its conformance with specific requirements laid out by the state. This may not be the final draft, but it should be prepared completely and edited multiple times to ensure it is error free.
    • 4
      Meet with potential sponsors. Sponsors are not a requirement in the petition process, but they can make the process much easier. Many sponsors will cover marketing costs, fees and other campaign expenditures. Many also will provide volunteers. Consider companies, unions or private groups that stand to benefit from the measure you are proposing. When contacting an organization, reach out to its Legislative Committee or chairperson first.
    • 5
      File your preliminary petition with the proper state official. If your state has a filing fee, it will most likely be due upon receipt of your petition.
    • 6
      Follow your state's requirements to get a title and summary completed and reviewed. Depending on your state's process, the title and summary may assigned by a board or state official. In some states, sponsors are expected to write the title.
    • 7
      Circulate the petition to obtain the required number of signatures. Follow your individual state's requirements for petition circulators and signers.
    • 8
      Submit the required signatures to the specified election official. Designated state officials will verify the signatures and if enough signatures are found, the measure is added to the ballot, or in cases of indirect initiatives, sent to the legislature.

Tips & Warnings

  • Consider hiring professional petition writers and signature gatherers to ensure that all requirements are met. Working with people who have experience meeting your state's petition requirements can save valuable time. Many sponsoring organizations will have experienced writers and volunteers on-hand who can help with this step.
  • Have your petition reviewed by an attorney or legislator before you submit it
  • Always collect more signatures than are required to make room for those that may be deemed invalid. An additional 10 percent or more should provide enough of a buffer so that you won't fall below the required number once the review process is completed.
  • Review your state's requirements for the proper collection, management and use of political fundraising dollars. It is critical that all donations and expenditures be properly tracked and accounted for. Consider hiring an experienced political fundraiser to handle this portion of your campaign.
  • Always review your state's requirements before submitting your proposal.


Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_6457643_law-passed-petition.html

How to Start a Petition to Get Legislation on a Ballot

 Currently, less than half of the U.S. states permit the initiative process, and limitations on how to carry out the process vary from state to state. Knowing the laws in your state will help ensure a successful petition drive

Instructions





    • 1
      Contact the office of the Secretary of State in your state and request a copy of the initiative and referendum handbook. Read it thoroughly before you proceed with drafting a petition for your proposed initiative.
    • 2
      Get online and research the initiative process, starting at a major search engine like Google or Yahoo. You can pick up a lot of information, helpful hints and advice from Web sites that deal with this topic.
    • 3
      Draw up your proposed petition according to the law as expressed in the handbook you obtained in Step 1.
    • 4
      Submit the petition for review and pay a registration or processing fee if required. In some states, the review consists of simple approval of the title and format, while in other states a complete legal review is required.
    • 5
      Begin circulating the petition if it is approved. The state may provide the petitions, or you may have to take the approved form and copy it at your own expense. Again, this varies from state to state.
    • 6
      Gather as many signatures as are needed to get the initiative on the ballot. The number of signatures is usually determined by the percentage of votes cast in your state's last election for governor. For example, in California, a petition must contain the signatures of 8 percent of the total votes cast for the position of governor in the last election. This number goes as high as 15 percent in some states.
    • 7
      Return the signed petitions within the allotted time. All states that have the initiative process have deadlines relative to the election.
    • 8
      Wait while the signatures on the petitions are verified. (All signers must be registered voters within the state, and in some states signatures must be collected from specified geographical areas.)

Tips & Warnings

  • The following states currently have the initiative process: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Washington.
  • Currently, you cannot sign an initiative petition online. A petition for an initiative that would allow this in California is circulating and may appear on the ballot soon.
  • Professional signature gatherers can be hired in some states to circulate petitions.
  • If you fail to gather enough signatures on your petition, your initiative will generally be automatically rejected. It is suggested that you exceed the number of signatures required by a comfortable margin, as some are almost always discarded when they cannot be verified.



Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_16374_start-petition-legislation.html

How to Start a Petition Drive


If you want a new recreation park in your neighborhood or you oppose the mayor and want to remove him from office, a petition drive can show the decision makers that you mean business. Roll up your sleeves and prepare to make a difference in your world. Read on to learn more.

Instructions




    • 1
      Gather your strongest supporters. Petition drives need many people to canvas for signatures. The more participation, the greater your chance is of success. Run an ad in the local newspaper and on the radio informing everyone of a start-up meeting.
    • 2
      Word your petition carefully to reflect exactly what you want to accomplish. If you are planning to challenge a community law or regulation, be sure you state a concise goal. Include enough space for signers to include their names, addresses and phone numbers. Verification checking may be necessary later.
    • 3
      Decide on an opening statement for volunteers to use when approaching potential signers. Some people need a general script to help them get started.
    • 4
      Hit the pavement. Volunteers feel more comfortable in pairs when going door to door. Assign partners and specific neighborhoods for each team to canvas. Remember to send petition drive teams to the local shopping mall, grocery stores and public gatherings.
    • 5
      Plan to meet at a designated time and place to discuss everyone's success. Hold a couple of progress meetings along the way to check on volunteers and see if they need additional help with their assigned area.

How to Draw Up a Petition

Petitions are written and submitted to law- or decision-making bodies in an effort to change an existing situation or rule. They ask that a certain action be taken. Some bodies require petitions to be in a certain format or to be submitted a certain way. Others may be less formal. Follow a few steps and tips as you write your petition in order to create a document that will initiate change.




Instructions

    • 1
      Contact the law-making or decision-making body to which you intend to submit your petition. Find out if it has any specific format or procedures for the submission of petitions. You may have to use a certain signature form, have a minimum number of original signers, or turn in the petition to a particular office by a particular date before the committee you want to review your petition meets.
    • 2
      State the request you have at the top of the first page. Include the request at the top of each page of signatures. Briefly describe the situation and what action you want to be taken.
    • 3
      Include facts, incidents and statistics to bolster any claims you make. Cite your references as well. This will lend credence to the arguments you make in your petition and make it more likely that your petition will be seriously considered by those it is meant to influence.
    • 4
      Draw a line under your background and request statement. Design a chart that includes four columns and as many rows as will fit on a page. Label the columns from left to right: Full Name, Address, Signature and Date. You may also want to include a column for phone number and email address. As your signatures and other information will be handwritten, it is important that you make the rows and columns big enough for all of the information to fit in them easily.
    • 5
      Copy several pages of your petition so that you have plenty of room for all of the signatures you can get. Keep your statement at the top of the page short and to the point so that signers can review it in as short an amount of time as possible.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_7148573_draw-up-petition.html


How to Write a Petition by Hand

By Verity Jones, eHow Contributo



Instructions

    • 1
      Research the cause you are fighting for. The petition sets out to change something, so you first need to understand exactly what it aims to change. If the city council has authorized cutting down an area of woodlands to make space for a football field, find out the facts. Speak to the council about the exact plans, the impact on the local wildlife, how many people will use the field and the alternatives, such as using disused industrial area instead.
    • 2
      Write down the names of the individuals to whom you will be sending the petition. Find out their names, their positions and what their role is with regards to the cause you are petitioning for or against. As you collect signatures, you need to explain exactly who and what these people do, and how the petition might affect their decisions.
    • 3
      Identify the target of the petition. Write down two or three clear and concise sentences to explain what the person signing the petition is supporting. Include the key players, such as the council, school, sports club or political party: "This petition opposes the removal of woodlands because ...."
    • 4
      Start writing the petition. At the top of the lined paper, write out the target individuals and cause you have identified. Then, write down one sentence that the person signing the signature will clearly understand, for example: "This neighborhood rejects the plans for the chemical plant."
    • 5
      Draw a line underneath the title information. Now, make four columns on the page. The first is a narrow column --- it is simply a count of signatures. Write 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so forth down the column, one number per line. The next column is titled "Name." Write "Contact Details (Address/ Email/ Telephone)" in the third column, and add "Signature" in the fourth column. Space them accordingly.
    • 6
      Draft a letter to support the petition signatures. Address it to the individuals identified during Step 2. Focus on exactly why and who opposes the subject of the petition. Include any evidence you have discovered through your research to explain the ill effects of the change to be implemented --- on local people, wildlife, organizations, shops or sports clubs, for example.
    • 7
      Collect the signatures required. Staple the draft letter to the front of the page.


Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_8759486_write-petition-hand.html



How to Draft a Community Petition

By Andrea Helaine, eHow Contributor

As a committed resident or a member of a community council, you may want to see specific changes to how things are done in your community and wonder how to go about circulating your message. Drafting a petition can provide you with support for your cause, and may encourage officials to take notice of what the community wants. You should know how to draft a community petition before you begin to avoid making mistakes that will contradict the validity of your petition.



Instructions

    • 1
      Find out your government’s requirements for the number of signatures on a petition. You may do this by calling your local city hall or mayor’s office. Find out if they have any requirements for how the petition must be circulated to ensure that all signatures you request will remain valid.
    • 2
      Develop a timeline for when you want to have all the required signatures. Reserve enough time to verify that that there are no repeated names, and leave yourself ample time to turn the petition in.
    • 3
      Write out your petition message. Identify the problem and how you believe it should be solved, as well as a clear goal or a method to solve the problem. Write an explanation that discusses your concerns, and demand that the person, government or organization make specific changes to improve the problem. Lay out any arguments that you have, and conclude with your demands or what you want those responsible to do to address the problem. You should generally begin your arguments by being general and then become more specific. Close by asking the government or other group responsible to make the change. Make sure that each page of the petition has the petition message, and that you leave adequate space for signatures on the petition draft.
    • 4
      Review your petition message to make sure that it is free of spelling and grammatical errors before finalizing the draft of the petition.
    • 5
      Circulate your petitions within your community by going door-to-door, passing them around workplaces, taking it to groups and getting involved with local groups. You may also find that local stores or businesses have a sign at events to help you distribute your petition.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_5873786_draft-community-petition.html


What Makes a Petition Valid?

By Patricia O'Malley, eHow Contributor

Of the four general types of petitions, legal and political petitions must meet specific requirements to be considered valid. Public-purpose and online viral petitions can't be "valid" in the legal sense because they are not legal documents and there are no requirements for them. However, they can be valuable community organizing tools if they're well designed and delivered. Have a question? Get an answer from a lawyer now!


Legal petitions

  • A legal petition asks a court to issue a specific order in a pending case or lawsuit. Attorneys file the petitions according to the court's rules of civil or criminal procedure. The judge's decision whether to grant the petition depends on many factors, including legal precedents, arguments of the opposing party and the facts of the dispute.

Political Petitions

  • A valid political petition follows the rules set by the state or federal government. A political candidate files a nominating petition to indicate that she has enough public support to justify including her name on the ballot. Each signer must sign the form personally, be a U.S. citizen, a registered voter, live in the candidate's election district and include a home address. Petitions to recall elected officials follow similar rules. Ballot initiative petitions include the specific wording of the ballot question and follow the same signing conditions as other political petitions.

Public-Purpose Petitions

  • The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution ensures our right to "petition the government for a redress of grievances." It does not guarantee that our petitions are always granted. Public-purpose petitions ask officials to take, or not take, a particular action. Organizers can direct petitions to an individual, a government body or an administrative department. They can ask for mundane or sweeping public-policy actions, such as installing a stop sign or establishing a universal health-care system.

Internet Viral Petitions

  • Viral petitions appear in your email inbox. They are usually vague, altruistic and unfocused, and they often lack a specific purpose or target. Organizers who promote them often don't understand civics or the political process. Viral petitions are more effective in raising public awareness and money for an issue than in changing public policy.

Effectiveness of Viral or Public-Purpose Petitions

  • There are no legal requirements for public or viral petitions, but the most successful ones follow a traditional format. They include a brief, clear statement of purpose, supporting facts, a request for action and signatures of citizens. Organizers should deliver them to the person, group, or department with the power to make the change that the public wants. Community organizers often arrange media photo opportunities to present thousands of petition signatures to government officials.
    While public-purpose petitions are not as effective as personal meetings or individual letters, legislators know that those signatures represent people who care about that issue, probably enough to affect their votes.



Read more : http://www.ehow.com/about_6661409_petition-valid_.html

How to Make a Petition Legal

By Anna Green, eHow Contributor

A petition is a formal request that the court commence an action. These requests can include civil lawsuits, expunging of criminal records, bankruptcies, divorces, domestic protective orders, adoptions and child custody actions. The specific rules for petitions vary based on the court in which the hearing is held and the subject of the petition. Have a question? Get an answer from a lawyer now!

Instructions

    • 1
      Make sure you are in compliance with the rules of your jurisdiction. In order for a petition to be legal, the format and contents of the petition must meet the requirements set out in your state's rules for your type of petition.
    • 2
      Sign and date the petition. In addition to signing and dating the document, you need to include your contact information, including mailing address, phone number, fax number and email address.
    • 3
      File the petition with the court and pay the filing fee. For your petition to be considered by the court, you need to file it by mail or in person at the court clerk's office and pay a filing fee.
    • 4
      Serve the paper on all pertinent parties according to the formal rules. Before the court will consider your petition, you need to serve the other parties to your case through one of the methods outlined in your jurisdiction's rules. These methods generally include hand delivery by a process server or sheriff or delivery by certified mail.


Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_5150268_make-petition-legal.html



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