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

[Bev Yuen]

Glad to hear this bill passed Third Reading today.
A big thank you also to you, Ron, for all of your work on this bill.
Your continually-updated web page and your coordination kept us all 
updated and moving in the same direction.
Bev, AH6NF

At 04:19 PM 4/22/2009, Ron Hashiro wrote:

>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.
>
>-------------------
>
>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
>
>
>
>
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