[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] SB74 Update

Wed Jan 31 10:06:43 EST 2018

Very Good!!!!
> On Jan 17, 2018, at 11:47 PM, Don Lewis (KI4D) <ki4d at arrl.net> wrote:
> 
> I copied the text below from the
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/?ref=group_header>
> ARES/RACESofVA Facebook page.
> 
> 
> 
> SB 74 Senate Bill that concerned the use of Amateur Radio while driving has
> been amended to EXEMPT Amateur Radio . The bill was passed by the
> Transportation committee at 2 45 pm today.
> 
> 
> 
> Dr Joe Palsa ARRL Virginia Section Manager.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Don, KI4D
> 
> 
> 
> From: Don Lewis (KI4D) [mailto:ki4d at arrl.net] 
> Sent: Friday, January 5, 2018 12:47 AM
> To: alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: SB74 Update with ARC Talking Point Paper
> 
> 
> 
> Attached is a talking points paper approved by the ARC committee working on
> the SB74 issue. The paper is intended to provide a handy and concise
> reference for discussions about the current problems with the SB74 bill.  
> 
> 
> 
> In addition to sending letters, emails, and making phone calls about this
> bill, there are a couple tight deadline opportunities to speak out about the
> bill.  Public testimony regarding General Assembly matters may be given on
> Saturday, January 6th at the Fairfax County Government Center.  Registration
> by noon on January 5th is required.  General information and registration
> information may be obtained on the website
> https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/countyexec/genassemblydelegation_publichearing
> .  An opportunity for face-to-face meeting with Senator Surovell has been
> promised by the Senator's office on January 20th, located at  Whitman Middle
> School located at https://goo.gl/maps/ysjaWZAYNsD2.  This meeting will be
> after a townhall at the school which is scheduled to end at noon. The
> Senator's  staffer invited us to meet with the Senator at a coffee shop
> after the townhall meeting from around 12:30 to 2:00PM.  Anyone who lives in
> District 36 is highly encouraged to attend.  I will also be attending this
> meeting.
> 
> 
> 
> Don, KI4D
> 
> 
> 
> Additional Background:
> 
> 
> 
> SB74 has spurred a huge amount  of interest in the ham radio community, see
> information below that was copied from the ARES/RACESofVA Facebook page.
> There are several suggestions that the ham radio community should have an
> outreach to local sheriffs and police departments concerning this bill
> because of the difficulty of enforcing the bill. 
> 
> 
> 
> For additional information that may be helpful when discussing this subject
> legislators is attached and enclosed as follows:
> 
> n  Attached are New York State laws on distracted driving that can be used
> as a model.  It is worth noting that the state of New York has had a
> distracted driving law in effect for several years which could serve as an
> example since it has been tested in the courts.  It can be found on the
> following link: http://www.safeny.ny.gov/phon-vt.htm.  Also see an opinion
> issued by the state of New York DMV to the American Radio Relay League
> concerning two-way mobile communications devices:
> http://www.rcarc.org/images/NYS-DMV-Opinion.pdf.
> 
> n  Also worth noting are the following links which address the issue of
> distracted driving:
> 
> 
> 
> How New Distracted Driving Laws Will Affect Your Business in Washington,
> Oregon, and California - Day Wireless Blog
> 
> http://www.daywireless.com/blog/index.php/2017/09/28/how-new-distracted-driv
> ing-laws-will-affect-your-business-in-washington-oregon-and-california/
> 
> 
> 
> Are Two-Way Radios Really Safer Than Cell Phones When Driving? - Day
> Wireless Blog
> 
> http://www.daywireless.com/blog/index.php/2015/07/24/are-two-way-radios-real
> ly-safer-than-cell-phones-when-driving/ 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Text below was copied from the
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/?ref=group_header>
> ARES/RACESofVA Facebook page.
> 
> 
> 
> ============================================================================
> =========
> 
> 
> <https://www.facebook.com/greg.butler.7946?fref=gs&hc_ref=ARR62ksgX3gQW0abGR
> fujzY9_OFU41uL9ZcwsucUEf9eA_H-WpduXpw7_412CYxNuVQ&dti=101756496822770&hc_loc
> ation=group> Greg Butler
> 
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/admins/> Admin .
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/permalink/580784348919980/>
> December 31, 2017 at 5:02pm . tag
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/post_tags/?post_tag_id=5817
> 43818824033&ref=story_subtitle> SB74,
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/post_tags/?post_tag_id=5817
> 43742157374&ref=story_subtitle> Legislation
> 
> SB74 Update:
> I just received an email from Senator Surovell's office (the bill's author),
> pasted in its entirety below. IMHO, the response is entirely inadequate. I
> encourage anyone in his Fairfax/Prince William district to testify at the
> hearings mentioned in the letter.
> 
> Hello,
> 
> Thank you for contacting our office about Senate Bill 74. Senator Surovell
> appreciated your feedback on this issue along with many others who have
> reached out about this.
> 
> After reviewing the issue and the legislative activity from last year,
> Senator Surovell intends to propose the following language to outline an
> exemption for HAM radio users: "(i) while participating in emergency
> communications or drills on behalf of federal, state, or local authorities
> or (ii) while providing communications services to localities for public
> service events authorized by the Department of Transportation where the
> event is being conducted." This was language agreed to by the House
> Transportation Committee in deliberations last year.
> 
> We understand that this is not the full exemption that you advocated for but
> please know that we appreciate your feedback, will continue to engage with
> stakeholders moving forward, and the final language will be up to the
> legislature subject to the Governor's review.
> 
> Senator Surovell also asked me to encourage you to testify on this issue at
> the Prince William or Fairfax Legislative hearing if you are a resident of
> one of those counties. He is also able to meet with you for 15 minutes on
> January 20 in the afternoon if you would like to discuss the issue further.
> 
> Thank you,
> Philip
> Philip Scranage
> Legislative Aide
> Senator Scott Surovell, 36th District
> District Office: 571.249.4484
> Richmond Office: 804.698.7636
> 
> 
> <https://www.facebook.com/greg.butler.7946?fref=gs&hc_ref=ARR2_Y8vadLTnr9wKF
> jp1joLvCy3f-90PbbQt46RFL9iWzbCcaQ-TLRo95gNTrQ1AQU&dti=101756496822770&hc_loc
> ation=group> Greg Butler
> 
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/admins/> Admin .
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/permalink/582179272113821/>
> 20 hrs . tag
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/post_tags/?post_tag_id=5817
> 43818824033&ref=story_subtitle> SB74,
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/101756496822770/post_tags/?post_tag_id=5817
> 43742157374&ref=story_subtitle> Legislation
> 
> More on SB74 (Fairfax County hams take note):
> I just finished meeting with my county sheriff, where I gave him a copy of
> the proposed legislation. He agreed that the language did not make much
> sense and would present enforcement issues re: CB versus Amateur Radio. He
> mentioned that, while he is happy to call our local legislative
> representative, he is no longer on the legislative committee of the Virginia
> Sheriffs' Association ( <https://vasheriff.org/about-vsa/vsa-committees/>
> https://vasheriff.org/about-vsa/vsa-committees/). He recommended that
> amateurs in the counties represented on the committee contact their sheriff
> to solicit support for our desire for a blanket waiver. He specifically
> mentioned Sheriff Stacey Kincaid of Fairfax County as someone active, and in
> the bill's author's district. So, let's get sheriffs on our side. They could
> wield some actual clout.
> 
> 
> 
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