signal12's Blog

Running Your Car on Water

I recently visited a couple websites which tried to explain how to run a car on water. The sites are selling e-books or manuals on how to do the conversion yourself for a few hundred dollars. They even claim that you will qualify for Federal tax credits for converting to a “hybrid” car, as this one infers:

http://water-for-gas-reviews.com/RunYourCarOnWater
.html

(I do not even want to link to them on the fear that it will legitimize their scheme, but you can make your own decisions.)

I won’t even address the possible trouble with the IRS on this topic, since in effect you are designating your car as a a hybrid without any certification. Check the tax code yourself on the IRS.GOV website. You will have to stretch your, and your auditor’s imagination a bit to get that one.

After deciphering the poorly written explanations of how the technology is supposed to work, it appears that the proponents (shall we call them snake-oil salesmen?) are telling you to use your car’s electricity to create electrolysis, or the process of breaking water down into its component parts of hydrogen and oxygen. Hopefully, they have two paths of collection for the gases so they remain separated prior to injection into the fuel line, but they dont. That would be quite a modification to do by yourself.

Then, some of these site discuss the resultant gas, HHO as increasing the combustion rate of engines. I wonder why the automobile manufacturers couldn’t figure that one out? Oh, I forgot - these sites are implying that the automakers are knowingly creating inefficient cars! If that were the case, Toyota wouldn’t have had to sell its Prius to conquer the fuel-efficient car market - Toyota could have done this couple-hundred-dollar modification itself and saved the money on the hybrid drive system and the expensive batteries. Of course, that’s part of the conspiracy - Toyota wants to sell these expensive cars to us unsuspecting customers!

Another thing that concerns me, is that if this system does inject hydrogen into the combustion process, wouldn’t that create more moisture in the engine? Yes, moisture is created in gasoline and diesel combustion too, and can be a major problem if you don’t run your engine long enough to create the heat necessary to evaporate the moisture from the engine and exhaust systems. This is called wet stacking and will reduce the engine’s life. I suspect that if the gas-to-water system really works, then it would only aggravate that problem.

Another consideration is whether the hydrogen adds power to the fuel-air mix? Maybe it adds a little bit, but since energy is neither created nor destroyed, it had to come from somewhere. Did it come from the water? No - water is a stable molecule which does not burn, and thus, does not give any energy via combustion. Then, the extra energy had to come from the hydrogen, right? Yes, it did. But the hydrogen was separated from water by adding energy via the electrolysis process. That energy came from the car battery, which was charged by taking energy from the drive train, which derives it from the engine, which is powered by the gasoline or diesel fuel. Since a perpetual motion machine has never been developed due to frictional and heat losses, we have to assume there are losses in this system too. Reference the Wikepedia article on HHO, which clearly states: “The energy required to generate the oxyhydrogen always exceeds the energy released by combusting it. (See Electrolysis of water:Efficiency).”

This would be similar to a homeowner trying to generate his own electricity by buying an electric motor connected to his home utility grid, and connecting it to a generator into which he plugs his appliances. Sure he generates electricity, but the power ultimately comes from the utility grid, and he loses some of the power due to friction in the drive train between the motor and generator, and the resistive heat losses of the circuits. By the way, I have seen this proposed on the internet as a way of “generating free electricity.” The inventor of that system, like the inventor of the gas-to-water system, also mysteriously disappeared due to another conspiracy.

So far there is very little information availible on the scam part of this water 4 fuel device.  I'm guessing I wouldnt admit being duped into giving someone money for something that sounded too good to be true.... Would you?

Hybrids Selling in Hours, Used Prices Exceeding New Prices

Posted: Jun. 12, 2008 11:06 a.m.

If high gas prices have you thinking of buying a new hybrid, act fast.  They're vanishing from dealer lots faster than factories can make them.

USA Today reports, "While sales of conventional small cars soared last month, sales of the most popular gas-electric hybrids were flat or down because dealers had fewer left. There was plenty of demand, but hybrid assembly plants are running as fast as they can, and some are short of components, particularly batteries."

The Wall Street Journal adds, " At the end of May, a new Prius averaged just under 17 hours on a dealership lot before being sold, compared with an average 3.5 days at the end of April. For comparison, Toyota's average passenger car spends about 25 days at the dealership, according to the company." 

"So, how do you get one of these hot sellers?" asks Kicking Tires.  "Either get on a waiting list or buy used. Waiting lists for the Prius, we’re told, are roughly four to six months. The Civic Hybrid was less, at three to four months on average."

Oddly enough, the waiting list may be the cheaper option.  "Listings of used Priuses on Cars.com show models across the country -- with quite a bit of mileage -- going for more than their original asking price when brand new. This is almost unheard of in the automotive marketplace."

Research the most fuel-efficient small cars and hybrids with U.S. News' car rankings and reviews.

 

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Janice and Jim Violette, of Oakland, exemplify the trend. About two months ago, as gas prices spiked, they bought a two-door, 2008 Honda Civic, a model that gets about 28 city/35 highway gas miles per gallon.

"We traded in our 1997 Ford Explorer," said Janice Violette, 48, an account manager at TD Banknorth Insurance in Waterville.

"It was in great shape, but we were getting 15 miles per gallon," she said.

Her husband had used the old Explorer to commute to Bucksport, where he works as an electrician at Verso Paper.

"We had been paying around $700 a month; now it's down to $250," she said of their savings at the pump.

The price of gas has gone up 60 cents per gallon since her last calculations, she said.

Back in February, when gas was still around $3 per gallon, small and mid-sized cars represented only 34 percent of the market. By April, that figure rose to 47 percent, according to AutoObserver.com

The car sales trend is not escaping local dealers.

"People work on a weekly budget. Anything that gets 30 miles per gallon or better right now is very much in demand," said Steve Frend, sales manager at Charlie's Honda in Augusta.

Econo-cars like the Civic, Ford Focus, Honda Fit, Chevy Aveo and Toyota Yaris have been strong sellers for some time, Frend and other local dealers said.

But the current, dramatic shift hasn't been seen since the '70s, they noted.

National sales of the subcompact Yaris increased 46 percent in April, and the Honda Fit had a record month, according to a May 2 article in The New York Times.

That month, Ford Focus sales jumped 32 percent from a year earlier. About one in five vehicles sold in the United States in April was a compact or subcompact, a trend called a first by industry analysts, the article said.

Sales of four-cylinder engines also surpassed six-cylinder models; 42 percent of all vehicles sold that month were equipped with four-cylinder engines, according to the research firm J.D. Powers & Associates.

Car buyers are taking notice of hybrids, like the Toyota Prius. And, with that model, demand is not keeping up with supply, LeClair noted.

"There's none on the lot. We're selling them ahead. People are waiting a month or two for the Prius. We can't get the battery packs," he said.

"The Yaris and Prius have an extremely big backlog. There are only enough cars, in general, at the dealer's, to stock to two days worth of business. People are pre-selling before they get here," he said.

Yet, not everybody is buying small, he said. Some customers go from their full-sized pickup to a four-cylinder Toyota Camry that gets about 32 miles per gallon on the highway.

"A lot of people that had trucks for the family vehicle are going to the mid-sized car; those who had mid-sized are going smaller. They're not going from a big SUV to a four-seater," he said.

But the Ford Escape hybrid, a model that gets about 34 miles per gallon, usually needs to be ordered. And, so far, there is not a big demand for the Escape.

"A couple of people a month inquire. We sell 10 or 12 a year -- maybe one a month," he said. The Ford Edge, a crossover between a van and an SUV, is also moving, he said.

"Van sales are off. They don't make a van anymore," he said of models like the Windstar.

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co., which is closing plants and cutting jobs in an effort to improve results from its North American auto business, said yesterday that it will shutter assembly plants in Norfolk, Va., and St. Paul, Minn., in 2008. The two plants employ about 4,300 hourly and salaried workers.

''A decision to end production at a plant is not an easy one, and I'm deeply mindful of the impact this decision has on Ford employees, families, and communities," Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said in a statement. ''Unfortunately, these are necessary steps we must take to move the business forward."

The nation's second-biggest automaker said in January that it would close 14 plants by 2012, but identified only five. It said at the time that it would name two more plants later in the year.

Ford said the staff reductions in Virginia and Minnesota are part of the 25,000 to 30,000 job cuts disclosed in January.

Ford's bigger rival, General Motors Corp., also is in the midst of a major restructuring and plans to close 12 plants by 2008.

http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/
04/14/2_ford_factories_to_close_in_2008/

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Now the world's largest automaker by sales needs to figure out how it can sell enough cars to make money in a shrinking U.S. market and stay ahead of the bill collectors.

The automaker said it would idle pickup and SUV factories in Janesville, Wis.; Oshawa, Ontario; Moraine, Ohio; and Toluca, Mexico, as it tries to deal with a shift to smaller vehicles brought on by $4 per gallon gasoline. GM also took aim at the Hummer, one off the largest vehicles on U.S. highways, saying it would either be sold or get a remake.

The move cuts about 2,900 jobs in Oshawa, about 2,800 in Janesville, about 2,400 in Moraine and about 250 in Toluca, said GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson.

GM said the truck plant cuts, which will reduce capacity to produce pickups and large SUVs by about 35 percent, will save the company $1 billion per year, and when combined with earlier measures, by 2011 will save $15 billion over 2005 costs.

GM's moves, which come after a series of restructuring measures since 2005, are the result of a huge shift in U.S. consumer preferences for small cars and crossovers during the past two months.

"We at GM don't think this is a spike or temporary shift," Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said. "We believe that it is, by and large, permanent."

The automaker now will have to parlay its strong overseas sales and the lower North American costs into a profit by selling cars in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, half the price of its high-profit SUVs and pickup trucks.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/06/03/
gm_to_cease_production_at_4_pickup_suv_factories/p>

 

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Hybrid car sales jump 38% in U.S.

U.S. registrations of new hybrid vehicles rose to record levels last year, with Los Angeles being a major market for hybrids.

Sales were up 38 percent in 2007 to more than 350,000 vehicles, but that number translates to only 2.2 percent of all sales, according to R.L. Polk & Co.

Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City were the top three metro markets for hybrid cars last year. The Washington, D.C., area came in fourth, with 12,744 hybrid cars registered in the region.

The Toyota Prius remained the best-selling hybrid in 2007, according to R.L. Polk & Co., commanding 51 percent of the market. That's up from 43 percent in 2006 and in spite of an influx of new hybrid models.

California remained the top state for hybrid sales in 2007. Twenty-six percent of all hybrid registrations were in California. Florida, New York, Texas and Washington state followed.

More info on the prius,

 Dramatic Design, Midsize Roominess and Outstanding Utility
The Prius rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase that allows generous interior room and a smooth ride. The five-door liftback design not only looks like nothing else on the road, it is also one of the most aerodynamic production vehicles in America. Its super-low 0.26 coefficient of drag (Cd) helps to minimize interior noise and enhance fuel mileage.

With its "monoform" design, the Prius provides 96.2 cubic feet of passenger room, making it a midsize car. The rear seat in Prius provides a generous 38.6 inches of legroom. Rear cargo room measures 14.4 cubic feet. The liftback design, combined with the standard 60/40 split fold-down rear seatbacks, gives the Prius outstanding cargo capacity and flexibility.

I guess nows the time to buy that hummer or large pick up, raise it off the floor in storage and keep it as a collectors item. ;o)

 

 

April 2008 Best & worst in fuel economy Overall mpg is based on our real-world fuel-economy tests. All vehicles have an automatic transmission unless noted otherwise.


MOST MILES PER GALLON:

Small cars Overall mpg Toyota Prius 44 Honda Civic Hybrid 37 Honda Fit Sport (manual) 34 Toyota Yaris (hatchback, manual) 34 Toyota Yaris Sedan 33 Honda Fit 32 Honda Civic EX (manual) 31 Midsized & large sedans Overall mpg Toyota Camry Hybrid 34 Nissan Altima Hybrid 32 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec 29 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 25 Lexus IS250 24 Toyota Camry LE (4-cyl.) 24 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T 24 SUVs Overall mpg Toyota Highlander Hybrid 24 Lexus RX400h (hybrid) 23 Toyota RAV4 (4-cyl.) 23 Jeep Compass Sport 22 Nissan Rogue SL 22 Subaru Forester 2.5 X 22 Toyota RAV4 Limited (V6) 22 Honda CR-V 21 Honda Element 21


FEWEST MILES PER GALLON:

Small cars Overall mpg Chrysler PT Cruiser Limited (turbo) 20 Dodge Caliber R/T (AWD) 22 Suzuki SX4 Sport 22 Chevrolet Cobalt LS 23 Scion xB 23 Midsized & large sedans Overall mpg Chrysler 300C 16 Mercury Grand Marquis LSE 16 Audi A8 L 17 Buick Lucerne CXS (V8) 17 Cadillac DTS Luxury II 17 Dodge Charger R/T 17 Lincoln Town Car Signature 17 Mercedes-Benz S550 17 SUVs Overall mpg Dodge Durango Limited 13 Cadillac Escalade 13 Jeep Commander Limited 5.7 13 Land Rover LR3 SE 13 Nissan Armada LE 13 Ford Expedition EL Eddie Bauer 13 Lincoln Navigator Ultimate 13 Money per mile

You are considering buying a new car and you want to get the one with the best gas mileage. Maybe it's because you're socially aware and want to be kind to the environment. Or maybe it's just because you want to save yourself some money in the long run by paying for a car now that will cost you less in gas on a day-to-day basis. Whatever the reason, gas mileage is the number one thing that you have on your list as you're looking for a new car.

 

Here are the top ten cars to think about when looking for the best gas mileage for your ride:

 

Cars with automatic transmission:

 

1. Toyota Prius - The Prius gets just over forty-seven miles per gallon on the highway and does even better in the city.
2. Honda Civic Hybrid - This hybrid car gets somewhere between forty five and fifty miles to the gallon depending on where you're driving it.
3. Toyota Scion XA - This four speed automatic car gets over thirty miles to the gallon in the city and nearly forty miles to the highway gallon.
4. Toyota Celica - The Toyota Celica is a popular choice because it's a cute car that still gets almost thirty miles to the gallon in the city and over thirty five miles per gallon for highway driving.

 

Cars with manual transmission:

 

1. Honda Insight - This car gets nearly seventy miles to the gallon on the highway and about sixty miles to the gallon in the city making it the all-time best gas mileage car on this list.
2. Volkswagen - This brand isn't limited to any one style. The new diesel versions of the Volkswagen Golf, the Volkswagen Jetta and the Volkswagen Beetle all get approximately forty miles to the gallon.
3. Honda Civic Standard - Although not as good on the gas mileage as its hybrid counterpart, the standard Honda Civic gets over thirty five miles per gallon in the city and almost ten miles per gallon more than that on the highway.
4. Toyota Echo - The Echo is another cute car, like the Celica, which gets thirty five miles per city gallon and 43 miles per highway gallon.
5. Toyota Corolla - At forty miles per highway gallon, the Corolla is a sturdy car which holds its own in terms of good gas mileage.
6. Toyota Scion XB - This car doesn't quite hold up to the standard set by its automatic counterpart but it's not exactly bad on the gas mileage, getting just over thirty miles per gallon in the city and about thirty five miles per highway gallon.

 

As you can see, the top ten cars that you're looking at when you're looking at getting the best gas mileage are either Hondas or Toyotas (with the exception of the Volkswagen). If you aren't a Honda or Toyota kind of driver, there are certainly other brands which get good gas mileage. Look into the ones that most interest you with an eye towards both highway and city gas mileage.

Recently I had a co-worker try and trade in their 2007 tahoe for a more fuel efficent suv. The dealer ship offered them $8k as a trade-in.!!!!!! Its a $46k vehicle with 25 k miles on it..... So it may not be in your best intrest to tade -in and to just keep it......

This is pretty nifty. Just enter your zip code in the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) on gasoline in your zip code area. It's updated every evening.

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip<
/a>

Please note this is a lengthly read but very educational

The Truth about Gasoline 101.

Gasoline; is the bloodline that keeps America moving. Our personal vehicles alone guzzle 140 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel each year, up 3.2 percent from a year ago.

Tracking gas prices can feel like a roller coaster ride. They're down a little one month, up the next, before shooting up more than 50 percent in a year. Plus, they're different depending on where you look. Other countries, and even other states and cities, can have very different gas prices from your local Gas-N-Go. To the average person, it probably seems as though there's little rhyme or reason to how gas prices are determined. In this article, we will look at the forces that impact the price of gas at the pump, and we'll find out where your gas money actually goes.

Americans have an insatiable thirst for gasoline, and with sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) continually growing in popularity we are only getting thirstier. Just look at the roads and highways and you'll see that a severe gas shortage would practically cripple the country. Americans drive more than 2.5 trillion miles per year in automobiles, light trucks and SUVs, according to a MEMA report. That's equal to 14,000 round trips to the sun. Today, we drive almost twice as much as we did in 1980 (1.5 trillion miles).

The United States consumes an average of 20 million barrels of oil per day (bbl/d, according to the Department of Energy. Of that, about 45 percent is used for motor gasoline. The rest is used for distillate fuel oil, jet fuel, residual fuel and other oils. Each barrel of oil contains 42 gallons (159 L), which yields 19 to 20 gallons (75 L) of gasoline. So, in the United States, something like 178 million gallons of gasoline is consumed every day.

Typically, the demand for gas spikes during the summer, when lots of people go on vacation. Holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July create logjams of tourist traffic during the summer. This high demand usually translates into higher gasoline prices, although that's not always the case. For instance, while gas prices soared 31 cents in April and early May of 2001, reaching $1.71 per gallon (which now seems inexpensive compared to today's prices), prices actually declined during the 2001 summer.

In 2004, prices continued to rise past the end of the summer travel season for a variety of reasons, including several hurricanes and an increase in the price of crude oil. And in 2005, Hurricane Katrina (along with a sizeable increase in crude oil prices) pushed prices to $3.07 per gallon on September 5, 2005. Prices settled down somewhat in November and December of 2005. But now the numbers are climbing again, with an average price for regular unleaded gas at $3.56 right now (April 21, 2008), an all-time high.

Price increases generally occur when the world crude-oil market tightens and lowers inventories. We will discuss who controls the crude-oil market later. Also, growing demand can sometimes outpace refinery capacity. In the spring, refineries perform maintenance, which can place a pinch on the gasoline market. By the end of May, refineries are usually back to full capacity.

Breakdown of Gas Prices

Historical Gas Prices
(Adjusted for inflation)
Year Price Per Gallon 1950 $1.91 1955 $1.85 1960 $1.79 1965 $1.68 1970 $1.59 1975 $1.80 1980 $2.59 1985 $1.90 1990 $1.51 1995 $1.28 2001 $1.66 2002 $1.31 2003 $1.52 2004 $1.79 2005 $2.28 2006 $3.03 2008 (so far) $3.56 Source: U.S. DOE

When you pump $20 dollars into your tank, that money is broken up into little pieces that get distributed among several entities. Gas is just like any other consumer product: There's a supply chain and several groups who are responsible for setting the price of the product. The media can sometimes lead you to believe that the price of gas is based solely on the price of crude oil, but there are actually many factors that determine what you pay at the pump. No matter how expensive gas becomes, all of these entities have to get their slice of the pie.

 

 

Let's look at where your money goes when you pay for gas:

 

• Crude oil - The biggest portion of the cost of gas -- as of April 2008, that's about 50 percent -- goes to the crude-oil suppliers. This is determined by the world's oil-exporting nations, particularly the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which you will learn more about in the next section. The amount of crude oil these countries produce determines the price of a barrel of oil. Crude-oil prices averaged around $37 per barrel (1 barrel = 42 gallons or 159.6 L) in 2004 (Source: U.S. DOE). And, after Hurricane Katrina, some prices were  double that. In April 2008, crude-oil prices averaged around $100 per barrel (1 barrel = 45 gallons or 159.6 L).

 

 

Sometimes, gas prices go up even though there is plenty of crude oil on the market. It depends on what kind of oil it is. Oil can be classified as heavy or light, and as sweet or sour (no one actually tastes the oil, that's just what they call it). Light, sweet crude is easier and cheaper to refine, but supplies have been running low. There's plenty of heavy, sour crude available in the world, but refineries, particularly those in the U.S., have to undergo costly retooling to handle it.

 

• Refining costs - The refining of crude oil makes up about 28 percent of the price of gasoline. To learn more about oil refining, read How Oil Refining Works.

   

• Distribution and marketing - Crude oil is transported to refineries, and gasoline is shipped from the refineries to distribution points and then to gas stations. The price of transportation is passed along to the consumer. Marketing the brand of the oil company is also added into the cost of the gasoline you buy. Together, these two factors account for about 8 percent of the price of gasoline.

   

• Taxes - Taxes, including federal and local, account for about 14 percent of the total price of gas in the United States. Federal excise taxes are 18.4 cents per gallon, and state excise taxes average 18.2 cents per gallon. There may also be some additional taxes, such as applicable state sales taxes, gross receipts taxes, oil inspection fees, underground storage tank fees and other miscellaneous environmental fees. Add that to the state excise taxes, and it can average 27.4 cents. It could be worse. In Europe, gas prices are far higher than in America because taxes on gas are much higher. For example, gas prices in England have risen as high as $6.65 per liter, theres 4 liters to a gallon with 78 percent of that going to taxes.

   

• Station markup - While it isn't represented in the diagram above, of course some of the actual money you spend at the pump does go to the service station. Service stations add on a few cents per gallon. There's no set standard for how much gas stations add on to the price. Some may add just a couple of cents, while others may add as much as a dime or more. However, some states have markup laws prohibiting stations from charging less than a certain percentage over invoice from the wholesaler. These laws are designed to protect small, individually-owned gas stations from being driven out of business by large chains who can afford to slash prices at select locations.

Gas prices also vary from state to state for several reasons. Taxes are probably the biggest factor in the different prices around the country. Additionally, competition among local gas stations can drive prices down. Distance from the oil refineries can also affect prices -- stations closer to the Gulf of Mexico, where many oil refineries are located, have lower gas prices due to lower transportation costs. There are also some regional factors that can affect prices.

World events, wars and weather can also raise prices. Anything that affects any part of the process, from the moment the oil is drilled, through refining and distribution to your car will result in a change in price. Military conflicts in parts of the world with lots of oil supplies can make it difficult for oil companies to drill and ship crude oil. Hurricanes have damaged offshore drilling platforms, coastal refineries and shipping ports that receive oil tankers. If a tanker itself is lost or damaged, or leaks its oil into the ocean, that will put a dent in the market as well.

The most recent surge in gas prices is due to several factors, including all of those listed above. However, a new reason emerged during the spring of 2007: legislation out of Washington to incorporate more ethanol into transportation fuels. There has been a call for enough increase in ethanol production to reduce daily oil imports by 1.5 million barrels by 2017. As the ethanol production increased refineries couldn't keep up the demand and had to import more oil. This added to the increase in price.

Unfortunately, the rise in prices may not be over. Several things could happen to keep driving up the price of gasoline: continuing tensions over Iran's nuclear talks, worse conditions in Nigeria or another active and devastating hurricane season [Source: The Washington Times].

OPEC and Gas Prices Around the World

The single largest entity impacting the world's oil supplies is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a consortium of 12 countries: Algeria, Angola, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

Together, these 12 nations are responsible for 40 percent of the world's oil production and hold two-thirds of the world's oil reserves, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). When OPEC wants to raise the price of crude oil, it simply reduces production. This causes gasoline prices to jump because of the short supply, but also because of the possibility of future reductions. When oil production dips, gas companies get nervous. The mere threat of oil reductions can raise gas prices.

In April 2001, OPEC decided to reduce its collective production by one million barrels per day. This was at the same time that American consumers saw gas prices rise, hitting an average high of $1.71 per gallon on May 14, 2001.

OPEC last increased its production in June 2005, when it raised to 28 million barrels per day with an increase of 500,000 barrels per day "should oil prices remain at current levels or continue to rise further." In September 2005, it made all of its member countries' "spare output" available, an estimated 2 million barrels per day. However, in November 2006, OPEC again reduced its rate of production by 1.7 million barrels per day to keep the price from falling below $50 per barrel [Source: Joint Economic Committee ].

Beyond OPEC, there are several other countries that contribute to the world's crude-oil supplies, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Russia and China. In March 2007, the United States imported from Canada approximately 2.297 million barrels of crude oil per day [Energy Information Administration]. OPEC tracks the oil production of these nations and then adjusts its own production to maintain its desired barrel price.

Cause and Effect
Numerous forces can influence the price of gas at the pump, but fuel costs are only one part in the vast web of global economics. Gas prices have an impact on other parts of the economy as well. You're already aware of the immediate effects of rising prices - that feeling of stunned disbelief as the numbers climb and climb while you fill your tank. There are secondary effects as well. You might decide against a long road trip because the gas would cost too much. When it comes time to buy a car, you might decide against a gas-guzzling SUV and find something with better mileage instead.

Let's look at the big picture. Does a hike in gas prices lead to inflation in the overall economy? It could, as long as the increase is a steady, long-term rise in prices. Expensive gas means it's expensive to ship products by truck, expensive to drive long distances and expensive to fly in airplanes. All those costs mean the cost of virtually any product you can think of will go up if gas prices stay high.

Domestic Supplies

After seeing how much oil the United States imports, it may be surprising to know that the United States is the world's third largest producer of crude oil. The biggest production region is around the Gulf of Mexico, and the largest producing state is Texas. The Gulf Coast region is home to two important producing areas: the Permian Basin, located in west-central Texas and eastern New Mexico, and the federal offshore portion of the Gulf. Other big oil-producing states include Alaska, Louisiana, California, Oklahoma and Arizona.

Even with the United States producing so much oil, it is still heavily dependent on foreign sources. It's that dependence that crippled the country during the oil embargo of 1973 and 1974. To make sure that this situation never happens again, the federal government formed the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). While most domestic oil is sent directly to refineries and then to the consumer market, some of it is held back and sent to the SPR.

As of May 24, 2007, the SPR stores about 690 million barrels of oil in underground salt caverns along the Gulf of Mexico [Source: Department of Energy]. Given that the United States imports about half of its oil, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve holds about a 60-day supply of oil if all imports were suddenly and totally cut off.  We would look like a Mad Max Movie, hording fuel & food. Becoming nomads searching for that promised Utopia..

Dispite our own opinions of why gas is what it is, this should  fully explain the reasons.! 

Now you know.... the rest of the story.

 

What are Snipe Signs you ask?

Snipe signs are a typical classification of prohibited signs. 

Snipe sign,   Any sign of any size, made of any material, including paper, cardboard, wood and metal, when such sign is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, fences or other objects, and the
advertising matter appearing thereon is not applicable to the premises upon which the sign is located.

You know you've seen them.

And then you have the illegal use of right of way..... Did you know the owners & companies can recieve HUGE FINES or JAIL TIME for doing this?!.

337.406  Unlawful use of state transportation facility right-of-way; penalties.--

Except when leased as provided in s. 337.25(5) or otherwise authorized by the rules of the department,

it is unlawful to make any use of the right-of-way of any state transportation facility,

including appendages thereto, outside of an incorporated municipality in any manner that interferes with the safe and efficient movement of people and property from place to place on the transportation facility. Failure to prohibit the use of right-of-way in this manner will endanger the health, safety, and general welfare of the public by causing distractions to motorists, unsafe pedestrian movement within travel lanes, sudden stoppage or slowdown of traffic, rapid lane changing and other dangerous traffic movement, increased vehicular accidents, and motorist injuries and fatalities.

 Such prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, the free distribution or sale, or display or solicitation for free distribution or sale, of any merchandise, goods, property or services; the solicitation for charitable purposes; the servicing or repairing of any vehicle, except the rendering of emergency service; the storage of vehicles being serviced or repaired on abutting property or elsewhere; and the display of advertising of any sort, except that any portion of a state transportation facility may be used for an art festival, parade, fair, or other special event if permitted by the appropriate local governmental entity. Local government entities may issue permits of limited duration for the temporary use of the right-of-way of a state transportation facility for any of these prohibited uses if it is determined that the use will not interfere with the safe and efficient movement of traffic and the use will cause no danger to the public.

The permitting authority granted in this subsection shall be exercised by the municipality within incorporated municipalities and by the county outside an incorporated municipality. Before a road on the State Highway System may be temporarily closed for a special event, the local governmental entity which permits the special event to take place must determine that the temporary closure of the road is necessary and must obtain the prior written approval for the temporary road closure from the department. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize such activities on any limited access highway. Local governmental entities may, within their respective jurisdictions, initiate enforcement action by the appropriate code enforcement authority or law enforcement authority for a violation of this section.  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and other law enforcement agencies are authorized and directed to enforce this statute. The violation of any provision of this section or any rule promulgated by the department pursuant to this section constitutes a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, and each day a violation continues to exist constitutes a separate offense.

You've seen them before -- those plastic signs on street corners beckoning "WILL PAY $$$ FOR HOUSES," "LOSE 30 POUNDS FAST,"

"100% HOME FINANCING," and "$1000 A WEEK HOME BUSINESS," among other things.  Such signs, called "snipe signs",

"street spam," and "bandit signs," are illegal in almost every Florida municipality. The Zoning Code states ”any signs placed on public property, including rights-of-way,“ are prohibited. This includes snipe signs that frequently advertise questionable multi-level marketing or work-at-home schemes, dubious weight loss plans, credit repair and predatory lenders. Temporary directional signs, as in, Garage Sale signs and "Open House" real estate signs are usually tolerated. You can do a lot to stop street spam.  Snipe signs are no different than the any other litter you see strewn along the streets.

 Although a few misguided legitimate businesses use snipe signs, consider that most of the advertising you see nailed up on utility poles, resemble the irritating spam that fills your e-mail box.  Do you believe you can "get paid to lose 40 pounds?"  Do you think you can find a sound insurance policy or a competitive mortgage from someone who knowingly posts illegal signs? 

 Residents in Florida have every right to pick up trash from the road, or junk nailed to a utility pole -  including snipe signs. 

 To the street spammers considering empty utility poles and  median strips, realize that all your doing is contributing to the already high pile of Coroplast and cardboard in the Counties land fills (dump). Not to mention your own money, plus tax payers money..

Below is a small example of the yearly Snipe sign cleanup. 

 

 Concider this Police & code enforcement officers have to spend roughly two hours a day picking up these SNIPE SIGNS every day. isn't that a great way to spend your tax dollars?  Policing the streets for snipe signs.....

What was it Smokey the bear used to say? Only you can prevent forest fires? Well you can help prevent snipe signs..  ;o)

The only exceptions are if the signs are placed behind the line beween power poles, or garage sale signs that are picked up after the sale.

Why people want to drive hybrid cars? "We only have one planet," said actor Kevin Bacon to the question why he was driving the Toyota Prius hybrid. "We have to protect this one."

Besides being environmentally friendly, these cars are fun to drive too.

More and more people are buying hybrids instead of traditional cars, reducing the average costs of producing a hybrid car, making hybrids more affordable.

Dispite big oil trying to spread as much negative press on these gas sippers. Most have a top speed of 100+ mph

Moreover, as hybrids deliver the best miles-per-gallon, they are very friendly on your wallet once you've purchased a hybrid vehicle. Think about it 500 miles on 11 gallons of regular fuel, the entire electrical system having a 8yr / 100k warranty!

How Much Better is Hybrid Car Gas Mileage?

In certain driving modes, hybrid electric gas cars offer you no better fuel efficiency than standard cars. In city driving you can expect a 10-15% improvement in gasoline consumption. Does not sound like a lot off the top, but it's a start. In theory if we all drove hybrids, U.S. gas consumption would drop 10%. Also the fuel efficiency of Hybrid cars and SUVs works counter intuitive to what you would expect. Your gas mileage could be more volatile with a hybrid vehicle due to the way it operates in different driving modes, and how much time you spend in each driving mode. In some driving modes, your fuel efficiency can be better, and in some modes your fuel efficiency can offer you no benefit at all. We will give you enough information here to help you decide if a hybrid vehicle is right for you. But first, let's clear the air on the common myths and misconceptions of hybrid vehicles.

Stop blaming the President, stop blaming the oil companies and Congress about oil prices!

Everyone wants to blame everyone else for their problems. Don't blame the President or oil companies for ultra high gasoline prices. If you want to blame someone, go into the bathroom and point into the mirror, because it's your fault! It's my fault, it's everyone's fault. In 2007 China was in record growth mode, they are using 60% of the world's supply of construction cranes, and their appetite for oil has not waned. Oil is not alone, lumber and drywall and cement have shot up because of the Chinese demand. Bush haters like to blame President Bush. But remember, oil has risen in price under every single president. Our population growth has shot up over 50 million since 1980. That's a lot more houses built and cars being driven, so the demand is much more than 2 decades ago. Sure oil companies took advantage of us and charged a bit more in 2005, making record profits, that's called capitalism dudes, instead of complaining about their record profits, buy their stock and join in on the profit. You sell your camera on eBay and it bids way up because the demand is there to support it. Is that someone's fault? Does that mean you are a greedy camera seller? But think about this, oil companies would not have had a leg to stand on with pricing if the demand for fuel from you and I were not so great. We all drive around in gas guzzling SUVs. We are treading water, like salmon going upstream, with respect to our oil consumption versus production. We consume many multiples of oil now compared to 1976, yet that was the last year we built a refinery in the United States.

Every time someone tries to build a refinery, some special interest group blocks it in court and wins. OPEC countries have refineries and drilling rigs all over the place, and they are all rich and happy. We are not allowed to build any more refineries which would increase our own oil supply and lower the price, so, so we are not rich and happy, we are paying more for oil, and funding our own demise. OPEC has their boot on our throat, and gee, isn't Iran part of OPEC? Great, so that means that while we are pumping gas into our tanks, we are also funding future terrorist attacks. We need to not only reduce our oil consumption, but switch modes to power sources other than oil to eliminate our dependency on other countries. Hybrid cars are starting points, not as efficient as we'd like, but they will lead to future technologies like cellulose and prairie grass, and other as yet created technologies. I admire what UPS does with their trucks, they try not to make any left hand turns at red lights, because the idle time waiting at the light burns up gas. One last thing. What are YOU doing to reduce your carbon footprint, and reduce our dependency on foreign oil? If you have not converted all your home lighting over to energy efficient CFL light bulbs yet, then you have absolutely no justifiable reason to complain. CFLs draw 25% of the energy of a standard light bulb, a technology which is on its way out the door anyway. Switch all your Christmas lights to LEDs, which draw 20% of the current of standard light bulbs. All of us chipping in as much as we can will reduce the demand for oil. Have energy audits performed on your house and fix the areas where you are leaking heat or air conditioning.

The U.S. used 3 times as much oil in 2005 as it did in 1995
According to the U.S. government's Energy Information Administration, oil company refining costs and profits only account for about 20% of the price of your gallon of gas. But guess what folks, federal and state taxes are also 20% of your gas price, and counties add even more on top of that, my county adds 18 cents per gallon, so if you want to point fingers and get angry at the oil companies, then you better start screaming at your state and local county for over taxing you. But by far the largest component of the price you pay per gallon of gas is the raw crude oil, which makes up by the largest price component of your gallon of gas at 53% or more. So we have to reduce our demand for foreign oil period. No way around it. As long as demand is high, crude oil will be high, just like whena new Play Station or iPhone or iPod comes out, demand is high, and people pay $1000 for them on eBay until demand dies down.

Why Oil Prices Have Risen So High In Recent Years

• Plain and simple, more demand for oil than supply
• Many millions more new houses and gas guzzling SUVs on the road than there were ten years ago, all adds up
• China and Russia are huge developing countries with huge appetites for oil, cement, lumber, and drywall
• We are traveling more, taking more packed flights to more new hotels that need oil to operate
• People live farther from work these days thanks to lower housing affordability, and take 2 hour commutes
• There's always problems in Nigeria or Middle East affecting refinery outputs
• U.S. refineries are at full capacity, they go offline all the time, and they can't build any more refineries
• OPEC purposely limits production every year to keep supply below demand and prices up
• US has not built a single refinery since 1976, yet our demand for oil is 3 times what it was in 1995

Think about it, in 1994, there were very few SUVs on the market. Remember the 70's? Riding bikes to work, carpooling? Hardly anyone does that anymore. China's insatiable demand for oil, cement, and lumber had not kicked in yet. The population was a lot lower in the 1970s, and there were fewer houses requiring electricity and heating oil. So the fault here lies with you and I much more than the President or Congress oil companies. China alone was the root cause of the largest increases in lumber and cement the last 2 years. All of us need to do what we can to conserve oil, not just with our cars, but in conservation and recycling of other resources we use that depend on oil. We need to attack this from multiple angles. Hybrid vehicles are one of many steps that we should be implementing. Hybrid cars CLAIM a 40% to 60% improvement in fuel efficiency for city driving. Just think if all of us drove hybrid cars, what that would do to the demand for gasoline. It does not take much of a drop in demand for oil at all to tip the scales and cause prices to drop.

Hybrid Myths:

I have assembled here some common myths that you might hear from your drunk Monday morning quarterback neighbor about hybrid vehicles.

Hybrid Car Myth #1: Hybrid cars need to be plugged in to charge them. You'll hear this one a lot. It is an old wives tale repeated by people who have no idea what they are talking about. Maybe they are thinking of the GM EV1, an all electric car that GM offered for lease only in the late 1990s. I have not heard of any hybrid cars that need to be charged.

Hybrid Car Myth #2: Hybrid cars get over 70 MPG! Again, this is false, most hybrids have EPA mile per gallon city ESTIMATES in the 30's to 50's best case. The fuel economy ratings for hybrid cars on the highway is slightly worse than the standard fuel only counterparts. With my driving habits, I can easily wipe out all the gains a Hybrid car gives you.

Hybrid Car Myth #3: The Hybrid's rechargeable battery only lasts for 2 years! Thank you for playing! Unlike standard 12 V lead acid car batteries, the eco-friendly rechargeable NiMH hybrid batteries usually come with 8 year warranties, and are designed to last that long too.

Hybrid Car Myth #4: If I run out of gas, I can keep driving on the electric motor! Nice try. Hybrid cars rely on the gas engine most of the time, and their electric motors MIGHT function for a short time if you run out of gas, but unless the gas engine is on and charging your hybrid electric battery, it will totally discharge. This could result in a catastrophic loss of your hybrid battery. But on the flip side, if your electric motor quits working, your gas motor will run on its own and still allow you to drive the car as a normal car. If your hybrid runs out of gas, and you really want to be foolish enough to try driving it anyway, call me first so I can come shoot video to send into MTV's Jackass.

Hybrid Vehicle Technology: Theory Of Operation Through 5 Driving Modes

Welcome to Hybrid theory 101. Hybrid cars operate differently depending on your current driving modes. We can divide your typical driving into 5 different modes. Your hybrid car acts differently in each of these 5 driving modes, in some modes the electric motor is operating, and some modes the gasoline engine is operating, and sometimes both are operating. Knowing how your hybrid vehicle operates under each mode is crucial to getting the most gas mileage, and minimizing emissions output. Of course the car makers don't tell you this, they just make it sound like you always get super high gas mileage like a Bingo free spot, no matter how you drive, but that may not be the case. Here are the 5 hybrid vehicle driving modes and their theory of operation:

1) Full Stop: At a full stop, like at a red traffic light or stop sign, the gas engine usually shuts off to eliminate idling, and reduce emissions. The electric motor is now ready to propel the car when push on the gas pedal. This is usually pretty seamless, and you might not even notice without seeing it on the power monitor indicator. In crowded cities with lots of stop and go traffic like the opening scene of Office Space, this can save you a lot of fuel.

2) Low Speed/Initial acceleration from a stop: First of all, Starting from a stop, and driving in a normal sane, just-like-your-grandmother acceleration from the stop line, the electric motor usually propels your car, powered by the electric motor's battery pack. This type of downtown stop and go traffic is where you save the most fuel with hybrids, counter intuitive to normal gas engines, where you burn the most fuel. The electric motor works up until about 25 -35 MPH without any help from the gas engine. The gas engine turns on and off as needed while you drive. . If you have a life to live and a lead foot like me, your hybrid SUV will be less efficient in this mode, because flooring the accelerator will demand extra power, causing the gas engine to kick in. This eliminates the fuel savings potential offered to you by your electric motor during this driving mode. If you don't drive your hybrid car like you are supposed to, don't expect to get the advertised fuel economy.

3) Heavy Acceleration:   Here your power comes from both the gas engine, AND the high torque electric motor, typically through some type of power splitting device. During this mode, you probably will not be saving as much fuel as you expect from all the advertising.

4) Highway Driving: This is where the fuel efficiency of Hybrid cars and SUVs works counter intuitive to what you would expect. The reason is that in this driving mode, the car is typically powered only by the both engines, which may be charging your electric motor battery pack at the same time. . If you are a highway commuter that drives an hour to work each way on the open highway with no stop and go traffic, a hybrid vehicle will probably offer you better fuel savings than driving a simaler non-hybrid model.

Figure in rush hour traffic you will get between 60-100 miles per gallon.

On the highway your looking at 40-50 mpg's... Again it depends on your individual driving habbits..

5) Braking, Coasting and Deceleration: When you brake or coast, forward kinetic energy that in standard car normally gets dissipated as heat is instead converted to electric energy. This is accomplished by using the old reliable spinning electrical motor in it's other role, now as a generator to charge the battery pack. This is why hybrid cars never need to be plugged in, despite old wives tales you might hear. This process of charging the battery is known as regenerative braking.

6) Backing Up: Ok I lied, there's a sixth mode, but who really counts going in reverse as a driving mode? In reverse the gas engine does not operate, the electric motor does all the work. Not that this will add huge amounts of fuel savings for you.

Pros and Cons Of Owning Hybrid Cars Pros Of Owning Hybrid Cars:

• Hybrid vehicles run cleaner. Toyota claims their cars are UP TO 80% cleaner than conventional gas engines
• Hybrid cars are environmentally friendlier than conventional gas engine cars, and have lower emissions
• You typically get 8 year warranties on the hybrid vehicle system
• Tax deductions/credits for "Clean Fuel Property".
• If enough people drive hybrids responsibly, our oil consumption will drop, causing OPEC to lower prices, giving you more spending cash
• If most of your driving is stop and go city traffic at slow speeds, you'll see a big benefit to owning a hybrid
• In some states, driving a hybrid vehicle earns you the perk of being a single occupant vehicle in the HOV lane, no more tickets! Yeah, now we're talking!

Cons Of Owning Hybrid Cars:

• Some high demand hybrids have waiting lists and often sell for premiums over window sticker price.
• Hybrid cars and Hybrid SUVs can cost a few thousand more than their conventional gas engine counterparts
• Gas savings can take a year or two to recoup the additional cost of buying a hybrid vehicle

 

A security guard or security officer is usually a privately and formally employed person who is paid to protect property, assets, and/or people. Often, security officers are uniformed and act to protect property by maintaining a high visibility presence to deter illegal and/or inappropriate actions, observing (either directly, through patrols, or by watching alarm systems or video cameras) for signs of crime, fire or disorder; then taking action and/or reporting any incidents to their client, employer and emergency services as appropriate. Since at least the Middle Ages in Europe, the term watchman was more commonly applied to this function.

Many security firms and proprietary security departments practice the "detect, deter, observe and report" methodology. Security officers are not required to make arrests (but have the authority to make a citizen's arrest) or otherwise act as an agent of law enforcement at the request of a police officer, sheriff, and others.

In addition to the methodology mentioned above, a private security officer's primary duty is the prevention and deterrence of crime. Security personnel enforce company rules and can act to protect lives and property. In fact, they frequently have a contractual obligation to provide these actions. Security officers are often trained to perform arrest and control procedures (including handcuffing and restraints), operate emergency equipment, perform first aid, CPR, take accurate notes, write detailed reports, and perform other tasks as required by the contractee they are serving. Many security officers are required to go through additional training mandated by the state for the carrying of weapons such as batons, firearms, and pepper spray.

There is a marked difference between persons performing the duties historically associated with watchmen and persons who take a more active role in protecting persons and property. The former, often called "guards," are taught the mantra "observe and report," are minimally trained, and not expected to deal with the public or confront criminals. The latter are often highly trained, sometimes armed depending on contracts agreed upon with clientele, and are more likely to interact with the general public and to confront the criminal element. These employees tend to take pride in the title "Security Officer" or "Protection Officer" and disdain the label of "guard." Ironically enough, there may be no relationship between duties performed and compensation -- many mall "security officers" who are exposed to serious risks make less per hour than "industrial security guards" with less training and responsibility.[4] However, there are now more positions in the security role that separate not just the titles, but the job itself. The roles have progressed and so have the areas for which security people are needed. All security jobs vary in pay and duties at present.

In Florida;

 493.6305  Uniforms, required wear; exceptions.--

(1)  Class "D" licensees shall perform duties regulated under this chapter in a uniform which bears at least one patch or emblem visible at all times clearly identifying the employing agency. Upon resignation or termination of employment, a Class "D" licensee shall immediately return to the employer any uniform and any other equipment issued to her or him by the employer.

(2)  Class "D" licensees may perform duties regulated under this chapter in nonuniform status on a limited special assignment basis, and only when duty circumstances or special requirements of the client necessitate such dress.

(3)  Class "D" licensees who are also Class "G" licensees and who are performing limited, special assignment duties may carry their authorized firearm concealed in the conduct of such duties.

493.6124  Use of state seal; prohibited.--No person or licensee shall use any facsimile reproduction or pictorial portion of the Great Seal of the State of Florida on any badge, credentials, identification card, or other means of identification used in connection with any activities regulated under this chapter.

 493.6118  Grounds for disciplinary action.--

(1)  The following constitute grounds for which disciplinary action specified in subsection (2) may be taken by the department against any licensee, agency, or applicant regulated by this chapter, or any unlicensed person engaged in activities regulated under this chapter.

(a)  Fraud or willful misrepresentation in applying for or obtaining a license.

(b)  Use of any fictitious or assumed name by an agency unless the agency has department approval and qualifies under s. 865.09.

(c)  Being found guilty of or entering a plea of guilty or no-lo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, or being convicted of a crime that directly relates to the business for which the license is held or sought. A plea of nolo contendere shall create a rebuttable presumption of guilt to the underlying criminal charges, and the department shall allow the individual being disciplined or denied an application for a license to present any mitigating circumstances surrounding his or her plea.

(d)  A false statement by the licensee that any individual is or has been in his or her employ.

(e)  A finding that the licensee or any employee is guilty of willful betrayal of a professional secret or any unauthorized release of information acquired as a result of activities regulated under this chapter.

(f)  Proof that the applicant or licensee is guilty of fraud or deceit, or of negligence, incompetency, or misconduct, in the practice of the activities regulated under this chapter.

(g)  Conducting activities regulated under this chapter without a license or with a revoked or suspended license.

(h)  Failure of the licensee to maintain in full force and effect the commercial general liability insurance coverage required by s. 493.6110.

(i)  Impersonating, or permitting or aiding and abetting an employee to impersonate, a law enforcement officer or an employee of the state, the United States, or any political subdivision thereof by identifying himself or herself as a federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement officer or official representative, by wearing a uniform or presenting or displaying a badge or credentials that would cause a reasonable person to believe that he or she is a law enforcement officer or that he or she has official authority, by displaying any flashing or warning vehicular lights other than a  amber colored, or 50/50 amber/green by committing any act that is intended to falsely convey official status.

(j)  Commission of an act of violence or the use of force on any person except in the lawful protection of one's self or another from physical harm.

  Employing or contracting with any unlicensed or improperly licensed person or agency to conduct activities regulated under this chapter, or performing any act that assists, aids, or abets a person or business entity in engaging in unlicensed activity, when the licenser status was known or could have been ascertained by reasonable inquiry.

(o)  Failure or refusal to cooperate with or refusal of access to an authorized representative of the department engaged in an official investigation pursuant to this chapter.

(p)  Failure of any partner, principal corporate officer, or licensee to have his or her identification card in his or her possession while on duty.

(q)  Failure of any licensee to have his or her license in his or her possession while on duty, as specified in s. 493.6111(1).

 316.2397  Certain lights prohibited; exceptions.--

(1)  No person shall drive or move or cause to be moved any vehicle or equipment upon any highway within this state with any lamp or device thereon showing or displaying a red or blue light visible from directly in front thereof except for certain vehicles hereinafter provided.

 

(2)  It is expressly prohibited for any vehicle or equipment, except police vehicles, to show or display blue lights. However, vehicles owned, operated, or leased by the Department of Corrections may show or display blue lights when responding to emergencies.

Vehicles owned or leased by private security agencies may show or 50/50 display green and amber lights, with either color being no greater than 50 percent of the lights displayed, while the security personnel are engaged in security duties on private or public property.

IN FLORIDA armed or unarmed the security guards job is to "Observe and Report security officers can use force to protect themselves and others and can make a citizens arrest like every other citizen, the only restriction on force is it can be used it to protect property & life.

Security officers are not law enforcement officers and are not granted any police powers regarding arrest or use of force.

What exactly is a security officers citizen's arrest?

A citizen's arrest is when you, as someone who is not a duly sworn police officer, detains a person because you believe on reasonable grounds that the other person is committing or has just committed an offense (for example, theft, assault, criminal damage). If a subject is detained the security officer must immediately contact the police. Security officers can due a lite pat down of suspects to check for weapons how ever a through search must be done by a police officer.

 

Some cars are prime targets for auto thieves -- could yours be stolen next?

Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade tops the list for the fifth year in a row.

In fact, four different models rank as No. 1, 2, 3, and 5 for top vehicles stolen.

1) EXT 4dr 4WD 04-07 -- 1,639%
2) 4dr 04-07 -- 1,389%
3) ESV 4dr 4WD 04-07 -- 852%
5) 4dr 4WD 04-07 -- 822%

Ford F-Series Trucks

These two models in the Ford F-Series rank as No. 4 and 6 for top vehicles stolen.

4) F-250 Supercrew 4WD 06-07
-- 851%
6) F-350 Supercrew 4WD 06-07
-- 751%

Hummer H2

The Hummer H2 4dr 4WD 04-06 ranks No. 7 and is 534 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4WD 04-06 ranks No. 8 and is 509 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car.

Honda S2000 Convertible

The Honda S2000 convertible 04-06 ranks No. 9 and is 391 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car.

BMW 7 Series

The BMW 7 series 4dr long wheelbase model ranks No. 10 and is 333 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car.

Chevrolet Avalanche

The Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 4dr ranks No. 11 and is 311 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car.

Dodge Magnum

The Dodge Magnum HEMI station wagon 05-07 ranks No. 12 and is 297 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car. The regular Dodge Magnum station wagon 05-07 ranks No. 13 and is 375 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car.

GMC Yukon

The GMC Yukon 4dr 04-07 ranks No. 14 and is 372 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car. The GMC Yukon 4dr 4WD 04-06 ranks No. 15 and is 269 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car.

Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger HEMI 4dr sedan 06 ranks No. 16 and is 267 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car.

Land Rover Range Rover

The Land Rover Range Rover 4dr 4WD ranks No. 17 and is 249 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car.

Dodge Durango

The Dodge Durango 4dr 04-07 ranks No. 18 and is 247 percent more likely to be stolen than the average car

Buick Rainier

If you're wondering if there are cars that are rarely stolen, look no further than the next five cars on the list.

The Buick Rainier 4dr 4wd 04-07 is the least stolen car with only 4 percent chance of being stolen compared with the average car.

Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson 4dr 4WD 05-07 has only a 10 percent chance of being stolen compared with the average car.

Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 4dr 4WD 07 has only a 12 percent chance of being stolen compared with the average car.

Ford Focus Station Wagon

The Ford Focus station wagon 04-07 has only a 14 percent chance of being stolen compared with the average car.

Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius 4dr 04-07 has only a 16 percent chance of being stolen compared with the average car.

 

Sorry folks Long ariticle, but it explains alot. It's a good read. What Gas Stations Won't Tell You A great article by Mr. Jim Rendon
1. "Good luck finding the best deal." With gas prices hovering at around $3 a gallon since spring, consumers are getting desperate. Some have cut back on driving; others have swapped their gas guzzlers for economy cars. And everyone is shopping around for the cheapest gas. The problem is, drivers often don't know where to find the best deal from day to day.

Most stations are branded — meaning the name of a major oil company hangs out front — and must buy gas from their proprietary company. They can't shop around. With a lock on sales, the oil companies charge each station a different price depending on various factors, such as the station's competition and its location. That means a station can pay as much as 46 cents a gallon more than one down the street, and that cost gets passed along to you.

Faced with such instability, Gainesville, Fla., resident Steven King plans ahead: "If I know I'm going out of town, I try not to buy gas so I can fill up after I leave." King says he can save 10 cents a gallon by purchasing gas on the road. You'd be similarly wise to shop around — with prices constantly in motion, the cheapest gas may not be at the same station every time.

2. "I hate high gas prices too." Stations earn on average between 10 and 15 cents on a gallon of gas. Ironically, they earn the least when prices are highest. As fuel climbs, gas stations must shrink their profit margin to remain competitive, meaning they earn less per gallon than usual. But another big cost during tough times is something they can't do anything about — credit card fees, which add up to about 2.5% of all purchases. When gas is at, say, $2 a gallon, the station pays credit card companies 5 cents a gallon; when gas hits $3, that fee becomes 7.5 cents — more than half the station's entire average profit. Last year gas stations' revenue from fuel grew 25%, while the fees they paid to credit card issuers jumped 40%, to $5.3 billion. "Those credit card fees are miserable for the gas station business," How do station owners make up for lost revenue? "Prices go up like a rocket and come down like a feather," says Richard Gilbert, a professor of economics at UC Berkeley. For several weeks after wholesale prices drop, stations can earn as much as 20 cents a gallon before retail prices are lowered to reflect the change. 3. "My gas isn't better for your car; it's just more expensive." Oil companies spend lots of money explaining why their gas is better than the competition's. Chevron's gas, for example, is fortified with "Techron," and Amoco Ultimate is supposed to save the planet along with your engine. But today more than ever, one gallon of gas is as good as the next.

True, additives help to clean your engine, but what the companies don't tell you is that all gas does so. Since 1994 the government has required that detergents be added to all gasoline to help prevent fuel injectors from clogging. State and local regulators keep a close watch to make sure those standards are met; in Florida inspectors checked 45,000 samples last year to ensure the state's gas supply was up to snuff, and 99% of the time it was. "There's little difference between brand-name gas and any other," says AAA spokesperson Geoff Sundstrom.

What's more, your local Chevron station may sell gas refined by Shell or Exxon Mobil. Suppliers share pipelines, so they all use the same fuel. And the difference between the most expensive brand-name gas and the lowliest gallon of no-brand fuel? Often just a quart of detergent added to an 8,000-gallon tanker truck.

4. "If you're smart, you'll put that debit card away..." Your debit card might be a convenient way to pay for gas, but it's a no-win proposition. When you swipe a debit card at the pump, the bank doesn't know how much money you'll be spending until you've finished pumping. So to make sure you have the funds to cover the purchase, some stations ask banks to automatically set aside some of your money: That amount used to be $20, but with gas prices going up, stations have started asking banks to hold $50, even $100. That means even if you just topped off your tank for $10, you could be out $100 until the station sends over its bulk transactions, which can take up to three days. If your funds are running low, you might end up bouncing a check in the meantime — even though you had the money in your account.

Unfortunately, paying inside with your debit card isn't much of a solution either. Many banks charge their customers between 50 cents and $1 for the privilege of using their debit card in any PIN-based transaction. The American Bankers Association estimates only 13% of consumers pay these fees, but critics say the practice is on the rise and consumers are often unaware of these charges.
5. "...and don't even consider applying for our gas card." When it comes to gasoline credit cards, a little research goes a long way. The good deals are great, but the bad deals are really bad. Similar to store cards issued through retailers, gas cards are riddled with drawbacks, says Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com. APRs are high, starting above 20%; many don't offer rebates on gas purchases; and they often lack standard protections such as fraud monitoring and zero liability for unauthorized transactions.

What about a Visa or MasterCard af