[HIham] Oahu Cell Phone Bill passes, with exemption for amateur radio

[Ron Hashiro]

Bill 4, the mobile cellular phone legislation for the City and County of 
Honolulu passed Third Reading today, and has passed out of the Council.  
What was key for hams is the exemption of amateur radio from the effects 
of this Bill.

Per Major Nitta, the representative from the Honolulu Police Department, 
the Mayor will sign this bill into law.  The effective date will be July 1.

This bill is significant, because it addresses the issue of traffic 
safety, but does not diminish amateur radio in the course of this 
legislation.  To my knowledge, it sets precedence in Hawaii that a piece 
of legislation supports amateur radio.

There are many amateur radio operators that contributed to the success 
of this effort.  You can see many of their letters of testimony on the 
City Council Web Site.

http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-84429/BILL004(09).htm

And, we need to thank each member of the Council for their support of 
amateur radio.  A letter or email would be appreciated.

The sole Council member that opposed the Bill did not do so to oppose 
amateur radio, but rather to oppose the nature of the infraction being 
"holding an electronic device".  We should still thank Council Chair Apo 
for his effort and his support of amateur radio.

Among the amateurs vital to this effort were:

*  Bart WH6AA and Ann KH6W for teaching us about the legislative 
process, and how to write effective testimonial letters.
*  Wayne KH6MEI for securing contact with Transportation/Planning 
Committee Chairperson Gary Okino, and arranging a very productive meeting.
*  Kimo KH7U for contributing to that productive meeting.
*  Gordon KH6GL Bev AH6NF,  Kevin AH6QO, Zeph N7WAP, and Bob NH6XO for 
providing continuity in attendance and coverage of the discussion at the 
public meetings.
*  Clem KH7HO, Harold KH6HB, Ray AH6LT for additional insights and 
information.

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The Hawaii County Council is currently working with a draft equivalent 
to Bill 4, CD1 which is one version behind Bill 4, CD2 FD1 and therefore 
lacks the exemption for amateur radio.  The next few weeks will be 
important for the Big Island for testimony and education of their 
Council members.  Updates will be posted on this web page.

http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/cellular-phone-ordinance.html

Ron Hashiro, AH6RH