[HCRA] A follow up to my post from a few days ago

[Gil Hayes]

This has also been posted to https://wma.arrl.org/ as well.

On Fri, Nov 22, 2019, 16:34 Larry Krainson <computercare at comcast.net> wrote:

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> Follow up to my post a few days ago: ARRL Members Only Web site
> The outpouring of concern statewide from the Amateur Radio Community
> regarding the impact of the Distracted Driving Law has gotten the attention
> of our Legislators on Beacon Hill in Boston.  Ray, KB1LRL, and Tom, K1TW,
> wish to thank all the ARRL members in both Western and Eastern
> Massachusetts who communicated our concerns so effectively as a community
> to the Senators and Representatives and staff across the Commonwealth of
> Massachusetts.  This afternoon Tom Walsh, K1TW, Eastern Massachusetts
> Section Manager was contacted by the General Counsel of the Joint Committee
> on Transportation.  After discussing these concerns, Ray and Tom were asked
> to convey the following guidance to our members in both Eastern and Western
> Massachusetts sections.  This guidance is intended to assure everyone that
> the new law “permits use of a “federally licensed 2–way radio” provided
> that “1 hand remains on the steering wheel at all times.”.  Clearly this is
> good news. We are pleased to receive this opinion in writing which states
> “that a person may operate a motor vehicle while using a federally licensed
> 2–way radio or mobile telephone, except as provided in sections 8M, 12A and
> 13B, as long as 1 hand remains on the steering wheel at all times”.  This
> statement above appears in the first sentence of Section 13, of the
> Massachusetts General Laws as referenced in the final bill.  Below is the
> full text as received today from the General Counsel of the Joint Committee
> on Transportation.  It is the best clarification we have in writing at this
> point that the law will not apply to a 2-way mobile radio operation.  Ray
> Lajoie, KB1LRL, ARRL Section Manager Western Massachusetts Tom Walsh, K1TW
> ARRL Section Manager Eastern Massachusetts
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