[GCARC] FW: Hams step up and succeed with important legislation adjustments

[Jeff One]

D. Jeffrey Garth
621 Greenbriar Drive
Williamstown, NJ 08094-1149
73, WB2ZBN
Club Publications
www.w2mmd.org

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life" - Confucius

-----Original Message-----
From: ARRL Members Only Web site [mailto:memberlist at www.arrl.org] 
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2024 16:14
To: qsowebdesign at gmail.com
Subject: Hams step up and succeed with important legislation adjustments

This message is sent to our entire division but special attention to our Pennsylvania members of the Atlantic division.

This is a follow up to our alert of April 18, 2024 to just PA members about PA Senate bill SB-37. Division members in other states may be interested in this cell phone law event.			

Congratulations! Your messages and calls to your PA legislators came through for all Pennsylvania hams after my urgent message to you of April 18th. You may recall a pending distracted driving bill had recently dropped a long-standing, pending exemption for amateur radio operation while driving. Our exemption language was placed back in after your efforts. Distracted driving caused by handheld cell phones or texting is a problem these days. But a broad sweeping definition of wireless devices also read on use of any two-way communications equipment which requires holding in a hand such as a microphone or an HT. Hands free use of voice equipment is still legal but that really only works for cellular phone use with a Bluetooth earpiece or speakerphone. Most hams do not yet have Bluetooth PTT.

With your calls and email messages to your PA senators and representatives, we explained our issues. The new law with our changes passed both houses when returned and is expected to be signed into law by the governor. I can tell you it was not easy and I did not think we were going to pull it off. The amended bill allows Amateur Radio use while driving even if not hands free. Texting is always out as it should be and no smart phones should be in your hand unless you are off the road. I recommend you keep a current copy of your FCC license in your glove box-always a good idea anyway.
	
Most distracted driving laws are reasonable and were not cleverly designed to inconvenience us for no reason. More accidents are caused by distracted driving than DUI incidents. GPS and some other commercial uses of devices are still exempt even if one argues they too may be distracting. For that matter, drinking coffee or eating, fooling with the ubiquitous dashboard touch screens or doing other things while driving can be more distracting that using a microphone.

Let’s set an example of safe driving while operating communications equipment. Dividing attention safely while using equipment is possible, as those of us who are also Emergency Vehicle Operations Course graduates or private pilots while operating aircraft are taught. Some of you mentioned these examples. Drive first - communicate later. Put the mic down when you should. We can and should develop and maintain these habits while operating communications gear on the road. Be proud of the example we can set. Let’s show them how it is done safely! By the way, we made some new friends in the volunteer emergency responder sector as well since we fashioned some language to help them use their radios in their cars. We had some allies in this matter. Many hams are also emergency responders in the Fire and EMS services and they sent out an alarm (no pun intended) about the new law when we raised the alert here. 

This matter is also an example of how we can act together as a team to prevent unintended consequences from making its way into law before we can adjust things. Whether for antenna ordinances, other radio related rules or any other issue which will effect amateur radio operations, our League is an effective way to apply the combined strengths and talent which clearly we have in our League membership. If you see an issue brewing, please reach out for help so we can get subject matter experts on the language involved to help you. Remember, it is our League - which includes you. My sincere thanks to the many members and non-member hams who stepped up, called me many times to report, and were very effective in shaking the trees! We had an outpouring of hams roll up their sleeves and put their shoulder to the wheel. A special thanks to Joe Stafford, KC3KDH who was our Paul Revere when he saw the modified bill coming back and called me. I would have missed it. Together we can still make things happen. Thank you all. 

PS. I will be at the Dayton Hamvention next week participating as a speaker in two forums and will endeavor to be available at the ARRL booths at times. I will have another message this weekend with details where to look me up if you are going.

73, and I will see you on the radio.

Bob Famiglio, K3RF
ARRL Atlantic Division Director
610-359-7300

www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF

ARRL Atlantic Division
Director: Robert B Famiglio, K3RF
k3rf at arrl.org