[ILQSO] Fwd: Re: Proposed Distracted Driving Legislation in Illinois

[Bryan Todd]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Bryan Todd" <kc9nrb at gmail.com>
Date: Jan 27, 2012 10:42 AM
Subject: Re: [ILQSO] Proposed Distracted Driving Legislation in Illinois
To: "Illinois QSO Party" <ilqso at mailman.qth.net>

If I'm reading this right. If the equipemnt is "integrated"into the
vehicle, (I.e. mounted, wired) then it may possibly become exempt. It would
be a long shot, but it might be a loophole.  Any thoughts?
On Jan 27, 2012 10:32 AM, <km9m-zig at comcast.net> wrote:

> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
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