[ILQSO] Proposed Distracted Driving Legislation in Illinois

[km9m-zig at comcast.net]

The below is FYI, Received from Brad Pioveson - W9FX. 
73, 
Zig - KM9M 

Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 8:52 AM 
Subject: [Illinois_ARES] Proposed Distracted Driving Legislation in Illinois 


Ladies and Gentlemen, we all have probably, to some degree, realized that 
this was coming. The horrific Missouri school bus crash of recent times 
resulting from a teen texting while driving led to a great cry to ‘ban 
distracted driving!’ I get it, I really do. Driving down the road 
while reading from a tiny little screen, typing on a midget-sized keyboard, 
and/or searching for iPod tunes cannot lead to safe drivers. We've all 
seen the results. 

Still, these activities are not, for the most part, what hams do when 
operating from their vehicles. We turn on a rig, dial up a frequency or a 
memory channel and talk into a microphone. There is no distraction, at 
least not in the same sense as texting-while-driving causes. The National 
Safety Council has no evidence indicating that the use of amateur radio gear (in 
general) has statistically demonstated any driving hazard or risk. 

The NSC notwithstanding, the Illinois Legislature, and, more particularly, 
the House of Representatives, is set to begin consideration of two proposed 
pieces of legislation designed to prohibit DISTRACTED DRIVING. I put that 
in CAPS because that’s what the intent of the legislation is purported to 
be. These two bills, HB3970 and HB3972, prohibit using all manner of 
electronic devices while one is driving unless said device is hands-free and/or 
voice-activated. Certain classes of operation are exempted from these 
bills including ‘persons driving emergency vehicles,’ someone reporting an 
emergency situation, or when the operator of the vehicle has the vehicle’s 
transmission in neutral or park and on the shoulder of the roadway. 

If this legislation passes as it is proposed, the use of amateur radio 
gear while driving will be outlawed in Illinois. 

Stop and read that last sentence again. 

It matters little if you are Democrat, Republican, Tea Party, independent, 
or apolitical - these bills are absolutely Draconian in nature. 
You’re a SKYWARN volunteer you say? Sure. You can operate your radio 
after you get off the road and when you have the vehicle’s transmission in park 
or neutral – but, not until. Are you thinking about becoming a Rover-class 
participant in an ARRL or CQ-sponsored VHF contest or, or, perhaps, hand 
out a few of the more rare counties during the Illinois QSO Party? Not if 
you’re driving and in motion, you’re not! How about chasing DX while 
you’re on your daily 1 hour commute into Chicago? Nope. Can’t call 
your buddies on the local repeater while you’re driving, either. 

We, the ARRL team here in Illinois, will weigh in with the legislature via 
our Stage Government Liaison, Charlie Richey, K9DUE. We are, 
however, to borrow a term, little more than spurious noise, to the Illinois 
Legislature. We aren't lobbyists. If we are to continue to enjoy the 
freedom to pursue our avocation, to enjoy the privileges our federal licenses 
grant to us, then, we Illinois hams, both individually and collectively, are 
going to have to get off our duffs and get involved. 

Please take this message to your clubs...take it to your local VHF (or HF) 
nets...put the info out far and wide – from Rockford to Cairo, Quincy to 
Rosiclare. Contact YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, YOUR SENATOR, AND, THE 
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE and let them know your feelings about this. If nobody 
opposes this legislation, like so many other ‘well-intended’ measures, this 
heavy-handed and ill-conceived attempt at legislating common sense will pass 
into Illinois law. Then it will be law enforcement officers that decide 
whether or not what you’re using in your car to communicate is legal according 
to their interpretation of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Not many law 
enforcement officers know the difference between a Sprint P2T telephone and a 
D-Star HT. 

I urge you to take the time to follow the links, below, read the text of 
these proposed laws, and make yourself heard - while there's still time to make 
a difference. 

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/HB/PDF/09700HB3970lv.pdf 
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/HB/PDF/09700HB3972lv.pdf 


73, Brad, W9FX 
ARRL Illinois Section Emergency 
Coordinator