[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Net Check ins 6-17-2022

[Rich Adamy]

Start 0000 Z
Net control - KA4GFY

Check-ins -
W9TCE/p
KE4WGI
K0RVW
KI4THF
N2KFA
WD4ADF
KI4D
W2JWP
W4JJ/m
N4CWP

Off at 0106 Z

A couple of discussion items came up during the net:
The first one was about antenna structures.  In the Code of Virginia,
the law reads:

§ 15.2-2293.1. Placement of amateur radio antennas.

Any ordinance involving the placement, screening or height of antennas
shall reasonably accommodate amateur radio antennas and shall impose
the minimum regulation necessary to accomplish the locality's
legitimate purpose. In localities having a population density of 120
persons or less per square mile according to the 1990 United States
census, no local ordinance shall (i) restrict amateur radio antenna
height to less than 200 feet above ground level as permitted by the
Federal Communications Commission or (ii) restrict the number of
support structures. In localities having a population density of more
than 120 persons per square mile according to the 1990 United States
census, no local ordinance shall (i) restrict amateur radio antenna
height to less than 75 feet above ground level or (ii) restrict the
number of support structures. Reasonable and customary engineering
practices shall be followed in the erection of amateur radio antennas.
This section shall not preclude any locality, by ordinance, from
regulating amateur radio antennas with regard to reasonable
requirements relating to the use of screening, setback, placement, and
health and safety requirements.

Even in this area, no locality can enact an ordinance that prohibits
your tower from being less than 75 feet tall.

The second one was about operating an amateur radio in a moving vehicle.

§ 46.2-818.2. Use of handheld personal communications devices in
certain motor vehicles; exceptions; penalty.

A. It is unlawful for any person, while driving a moving motor vehicle
on the highways in the Commonwealth, to hold a handheld personal
communications device.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

1. The operator of any emergency vehicle while he is engaged in the
performance of his official duties;

2. An operator who is lawfully parked or stopped;

3. Any person using a handheld personal communications device to
report an emergency;

4. The use of an amateur or a citizens band radio; or

5. The operator of any Department of Transportation vehicle or vehicle
operated pursuant to the Department of Transportation safety service
patrol program or pursuant to a contract with the Department of
Transportation for, or that includes, traffic incident management
services as defined in subsection B of § 46.2-920.1 during the
performance of traffic incident management services.

C. A violation of this section is a traffic infraction punishable, for
a first offense, by a fine of $125 and, for a second or subsequent
offense, by a fine of $250. If a violation of this section occurs in a
highway work zone, it shall be punishable by a mandatory fine of $250.

D. For the purposes of this section:

"Emergency vehicle" means:

1. Any law-enforcement vehicle operated by or under the direction of a
federal, state, or local law-enforcement officer while engaged in the
performance of official duties;

2. Any regional detention center vehicle operated by or under the
direction of a correctional officer responding to an emergency call or
operating in an emergency situation;

3. Any vehicle used to fight fire, including publicly owned state
forest warden vehicles, when traveling in response to a fire alarm or
emergency call;

4. Any emergency medical services vehicle designed or used for the
principal purpose of supplying resuscitation or emergency relief where
human life is endangered;

5. Any Department of Emergency Management vehicle or Office of
Emergency Medical Services vehicle, when responding to an emergency
call or operating in an emergency situation;

6. Any Department of Corrections vehicle designated by the Director of
the Department of Corrections, when (i) responding to an emergency
call at a correctional facility, (ii) participating in a drug-related
investigation, (iii) pursuing escapees from a correctional facility,
or (iv) responding to a request for assistance from a law-enforcement
officer; and

7. Any vehicle authorized to be equipped with alternating, blinking,
or flashing red or red and white secondary warning lights pursuant to
§ 46.2-1029.2.

"Highway work zone" means a construction or maintenance area that is
located on or beside a highway and is marked by appropriate warning
signs with attached flashing lights or other traffic control devices
indicating that work is in progress.

E. Distracted driving shall be included as a part of the driver's
license knowledge examination.

2020, cc. 250, 543.

The law is intended to ban motorists from using their cell phones
while driving.  Paragraph 4 specifically says this law will not apply
to amateur radio and citizens band operators

&3,
Rich, KA4GFY