[ILQSO] Proposed Distracted Driving Legislation in Illinois

Fri Jan 27 12:02:30 EST 2012

How do you use VOX for CW?     

dah-dit-dah-dit   dah-dah-dit-dah over the mic doesn't quite cut it!      :-)

....D

-----Original Message-----
From: ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of John Geiger
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 11:48 AM
To: Illinois QSO Party
Subject: Re: [ILQSO] Proposed Distracted Driving Legislation in Illinois

Wouldn't it be ok to use your radio while in motion if you were using VOX?
That is hands free and voice activated.

73s John AA5JG

On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 10:42 AM, Bryan Todd <kc9nrb at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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