California drivers should prepare to TTYL – or talk to you later – when they hit the road.

A new state law, SB 28, prohibits drivers from writing, sending or reading texts and emails while driving. It goes into effect on January 1st.

This law, along with the current California hands-free cell phone laws enacted in July of 2008, is intended to reduce driver distractions.

With rain, snow and freezing temperatures in the forecast across much of California, homeowners need to act to prevent possible damage.

From 1986 through 2006, winter storms accounted for $23.1 billion in losses nationwide, with wind, hail and flood adding another $9.3 billion.

To limit the possible damage from these winter risks, the Insurance Information Network of California recommends that homeowners take precautions.

Whether you're shopping inline at the mall or online at your computer, it pays to guard against thieves.  They're making their lists and checking them twice.

Property crimes like burglary cost victims an estimated $4.3 billion in 2007.  According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, Internet crime reached an all-time high that year with a 20 percent increase in reported losses over 2006.  California ranks first in both the total number of online criminals as well as the total number of victims of cyber crime.

Mobile home owners and renters often choose to go without property insurance, potentially exposing them to catastrophic losses such as those suffered in Southern California’s weekend firestorms.

Nearly 500 manufactured homes and more than 80 apartments were destroyed in the fires. While it's unclear how many were uninsured, about 82,000 – or 25 percent -- of the state’s mobile homes don't carry insurance, according to a Sacramento Bee analysis of 2007 census data.

With displaced residents of the weekend fires now returning to their neighborhoods, several home and business owners are now finding themselves facing dozens of questions before they rebuild.

To help navigate the insurance recovery process, the Insurance Information Network of California offers the following advice to those whose property has been damaged or destroyed.