[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Virginia HB181

[k3wry at aol.com]

We have been watching and meeting with committee members. It was agreed to let certain wording to go forward. The reason behind this is the General Assembly is determined to get some kind of biil out with reference to distracted drivers.
The wording is such that an officer must actually witness distracted driving in progress. The distraction could while texting, talking on a phone, eating a burger, drinking a soda, or possibly using a microphone regardless of delivery driver, contractor or ham operator.
The bill wording is not perfect, but if we pushed to include the words Amateur Radio exception, the committee would have been overwhelmed with lobbyist for construction companies, delivery services, etc.ccc which would have created a bigger problem and could have hurt ham radio more than helped.
 
Best Regards, 73's
 
Dr Joe Palsa
ARRL Virginia Section Manager
State Government Liaison
K3WRY at ARRL.ORG.
804-350-2665
 
In a message dated 3/7/2018 11:16:33 AM Eastern Standard Time, ka4gfy at cox.net writes:

 
I have been watching this one.
It was stuck in committee for quite some time.  The one saving grace is this year's General Assembly session is over on Saturday.  Thank goodness!
Rich
On March 7, 2018 at 9:48 AM KI4D <ki4d at arrl.net> wrote:
Rich - thanks for being so alert. This bill looks worse than the original
SB74. Looks like we have work to do. I am wondering if Dr. Joe Palsa,
K3WRY,
Virginia Section Manager, knows about this one.
Don, KI4D
-----Original Message-----
From: alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of KA4GFY
Sent: Wednesday, March 7, 2018 9:14 AM
To: Alexandria Radio Club
Subject: [Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] News Reporting at its "Best"
I spotted a news article on WTOP's website this morning while riding the
train to work concerning using "Handheld Personal Communications Devices"
while driving.
I thought this monster had been put to bed this session.
So, I did some digging on the VA General Assembly's website on the bills
related to to "Handheld Personal Communications Devices" while driving.
The text in the news article obviously had not been updated since the
original SB74, because article mentions exempting CB operators. Huh??
The ONLY bill I saw that is still active that talks about handheld
communications devices is HB181. If you read the text of the bill, it
spends more time time talking about work zones and most importantly, if use
of the communications device diverts attention from the operation of the
vehicle, its a traffic infraction. It also talks about "certain" vehicles,
but in true politician form, does not define "certain vehicles." It DOES
say something about using a handheld radio - based device while
participating in a disaster relief situation, but NOTHING about exempting CB
operators.
HB181 has passed the Senate and is headed back to the House.
And the news media wonders why nobody believes anything they say? They need
to get their facts straight before publishing.
73,
Rich, KA4GFY
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