[InHam] [Inares] Fw: RE: Amateur Radio Plates

[Jay Farlow, W9LW]

Thanks, David, for a voice of reason. I'm thinking about blogging about this
issue.

73,

Jay, W9LW
Fort Wayne, IN
w9lw at arrl.net



-----Original Message-----
From: David Spoelstra [mailto:davids at mediamachine.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 2:30 AM
To: Inares at yahoogroups.com
Cc: arli; CentralIndianaHams at yahoogroups.com; ChicagoAmateurRadio Post;
Friendly Patriot Exchange; GunsandPatriots; handiham courage.org;
IndyHamRadio at yahoogroups.com; KA9QJGsyahoogroup;
kc8yczandsugarcookie263radios; kc9lkz at yahoogroups.com; NorthShore Radio
Club; InHams; HDXCC; W9IMS; ircnews at indyradioclub.org; John Poindexter - SM;
Isely, Dick (Dir, Cl); loueverettsr at arrl.net; W9BGJ at arrl.net
Subject: Re: [Inares] Fw: RE: Amateur Radio Plates

I can speak to this a little since I have been the Indiana ARRL SGL for many
years and have talked to numerous legislators and the BMV about this.

"Every Tom, Dick and Harry in this state has some special license plate".
 Absolutely true, and every Tom, Dick, and Harry pay an extra
$40 per plate per year for the privilege of having that special license
plate (some plates a few dollars more and some a few dollars less).

However, many years ago we did push through a special deal from the Indiana
government.  In Indiana, you can get callsign plates for just $8!
 http://www.in.gov/bmv/2406.htm  That is *way* lower than any other state.
 Before we got this deal, we used to have to order a vanity plate and it
cost us $48!

OK, so you're still not happy and want a plate with a special amateur radio
seal on it?  OK, it's a simple matter of economics!  To get a
specialty plate a club or organization must pay in advance for 5,000 blank
plates with the specialty seal to be made (they get a kick back as the
plates are sold).  Even after that if you don't sell at least
1,000 a year, the BMV will drop your organization because it's not worth
their time.  About 6 years ago I had the BMV run a search on the current
number of $8 amateur radio callsign plates.  Guess what?
There were less than 1,000 amateurs statewide taking advantage of our
current callsign plates!  I won't even go into the issue that most amateurs
can't seem to agree on anything and some brave soul/group would need to come
up with a amateur radio license plate design and seal and then take the heat
because someone else wanted a tower on the design or an FT-9000 or the ARRL
logo, etc, etc.  I can just guess about the email going back and forth in
Illinois about the "Amateur Radio" versus "Ham Radio" wording on the current
plates.

OK, so you're *still* not happy and you want to rouse the troops and get a
special, free plate made.  When I passed PRB-1 to protect our rights
statewide to have antennas I tried to rouse the troops too.  I polled the
legislators to get an idea of how many hams bothered to send an email to
their representative.  My count was a whopping
120-150 across ALL the legislators and unfortunately about 10% of those
threatened physical harm if they did not vote for the bill!  I learned my
lesson and have never done that again.  Now I have trusted individuals send
specific emails when I need support to pass or kill a bill.

So, I would currently rather save our political capital to kill or pass
bills that directly affect our ability to operate like the ones I killed
that would have made it illegal to use a mobile rig this past session.

I'll leave you with some thoughts:

1.  If you are willing to purchase the 5,000 blank amateur radio plates
that's wonderful!  But be prepared for all the hate mail and threats you get
from the current people who pay $8 for amateur radio plates and now have to
pay $40.  Also be prepared for the hate mail and threats because they didn't
like your design or the wording.

2.  If you want to pursue this with your legislators, that's wonderful too!
But be aware that might cause some of them to look at the numbers on the
current plates and decide that they should lump the current amateur radio
plates with the other organizations that buy less than 1,000 plates and then
kill off the current plates.  In that case, as above, be prepared for all
the hate mail and threats.

3.  If you can get enough people to email me that they support this effort
and want me to pursue it and would be willing to call and email their
legislators with well thought out remarks and not threaten them, then as
your ARRL representative I'll go for it!  Currently I get 0-2 emails a year
about this.  Yours is the first in two years.  I get about 100 a year on HOA
CC&Rs.

Lastly, if you think you can do better than me as the Indiana ARRL SGL, then
go for it!  Just be aware that on good years with almost nothing to do I
spend 300-400 hours doing this job watching the bills, talking to
legislators, visiting the statehouse, and answering the hate mail I get for
not making anything happen about HOA CC&Rs, making amateur radio the state
hobby, etc, etc.  This can be quite a thankless job...

Thanks!
-David, N9KT

On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 9:50 PM, Paul Webster <ka9jwx at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> This is intended for Indiana Amateur Radio Ops & Indiana elected
officials, especially the legislators, but Amateur Radio ops in other states
may find this interesting in that WB9OMC mentions the fact that HomeLand
Security is taking a real interest in the Amateur Radio Service, hence
Duane's argument for the new Amateur Radio License plate.
> PLW
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> From: Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com>
> To: ka9jwx at yahoo.com
> Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 6:33 AM
> Subject: Fw: RE: Amateur Radio Plates
>
> Hi OM.  I have been after my State Senator Ron Alting for YEARS 
> (evidence attached
> below) to move on getting Amateur Radio Operators a special license 
> plate that would be clearly marked as such.  As you might think when 
> you read the emails below, the obfuscation on this leads me to think 
> he will do nothing.  Take a look at what I have written and if you 
> think the reasoning is sound, perhaps you can get your state guys up in
the NW region to start something.
>
> Please feel free to mention that State Senator Alting has been sitting 
> on this since
> 2009 or whatever is at the bottom of the attached stuff below.  :-)  I 
> don't know that he would be too happy to see his emails "quoted 
> around" but perhaps if you get some action from your guys up that way 
> and they prod him a bit he'll get off his ass and actually DO 
> something.   :-)  I really don't give a crap WHO writes the 
> legislation or whatever they need to do, I just want to see something 
> actually HAPPEN. Alting can support it or not - and if he does NOT, I'll
be working on kicking his butt out of office.
>
> Every Tom, Dick and Harry in this state has some special license plate 
> whether they actually do a damn thing to help anybody or not. 
> Considering  the new Uncle Sam moves that would potentially tie 
> Amateur Radio in with Homeland Security; considering all that we have done
and been recognized for in the past; I feel like our time has come.
>
> I'd like to see this thing spread to be a statewide movement.  If what 
> we need to prod some elected people to do their jobs is some publicity 
> and mounted pressure, I'm all for it.
>
> TNX and best 73
> Duane
> WB9OMC
>
>
> --- On Tue, 4/24/12, Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com>
> Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Plates
> To: ralting at iga.in.gov
> Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 7:19 AM
>
> UPDATE: As you may be aware, the U.S. House and Senate recently passed 
> a Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2012 (or something close to that 
> name). President Obama You might want to take a look at section 6414 
> of that Legislation, which puts some matters regarding Amateur Radio 
> into the hands (or at least headed in that direction) of Homeland
Security.
>
> This means that it is VERY likely that our Hoosier Amateurs will be 
> playing a much greater role in Public Service 
> communications...........and the need for a more clearly identifying
license plate will be greater than ever.
>
> I continue to see all manner of the special plates; it would appear 
> that *someone* is suceeding in getting them through.  Yet our state's 
> Amateur Radio operators remain without a clearly identified plate.
>
> The word WILL be spreading and is bound to be placed into the hands of 
> any and all possible State elected officials. Will you join with them to
move this forward?
>
> Duane Mantick
> WB9OMC
>
>
> --- On Thu, 1/26/12, Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com>
> Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Plates
> To: ralting at iga.in.gov
> Date: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 9:53 PM
>
> Thought I'd get in touch with you on this.  I have seen a TON of new 
> plates on cars so it seems like perhaps it isn't as difficult as we
thought????
>
> Duane Mantick
> WB9OMC
>
>
> --- On Tue, 4/19/11, Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com>
> Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Plates
> To: "Ron Alting" <ralting at iga.in.gov>
> Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 3:22 AM
>
> Missed comunication, apparently - I was under the impression that you 
> were going to contact me when you thought the time was right to pursue 
> it.  Well, see you in a few months, I guess.............
>
> Duane Mantick
> WB9OMC
>
> --- On Mon, 4/18/11, Ron Alting <ralting at iga.in.gov> wrote:
>
>
> From: Ron Alting <ralting at iga.in.gov>
> Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Plates
> To: "'Duane Mantick'" <wb9omc at yahoo.com>
> Date: Monday, April 18, 2011, 4:33 PM
>
> Mr. Mantick,
> Session is winding down and new legislation cannot be introduced at this
late date.  I believe my 2/3/10 email below mentioned that we would need to
hear from you by November 2010 to get a bill ready for this session.  So,
this upcoming November would be the time to start drafting bills for the
2012 session.
>
> So sorry, if there was a misunderstanding.
>
> Ron Alting
> State Senator
> 200 W. Washington Street | Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
> P: 317.232.9517 | www.in.gov/legislative
>
> From: Duane Mantick [mailto:wb9omc at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 7:27 PM
> To: Ron Alting
> Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Plates
>
> Wondered if the timing on the Indiana Amateur Radio license plate idea 
> was now correct to see what could be done?  I have been seeing a 
> boatload of new (at least, I haven't seen them until recently) plates 
> that - if anyone wants to make an argument about "frivolous" - seem to me
to be far more of a "vanity".
>
> Drop me a line so we can see where to go with this.
>
> Thanks!
> Duane Mantick, WB9OMC
>
>
> --- On Wed, 5/5/10, Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com>
> Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Plates
> To: "Ron Alting" <ralting at iga.in.gov>
> Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 9:15 PM
> It helps to actually attach the image.........sorrry...........
>
> Duane
> p.s.  I voted for ya  :-)
>
>
> --- On Wed, 5/5/10, Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Duane Mantick <wb9omc at yahoo.com>
> Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Plates
> To: "Ron Alting" <ralting at iga.in.gov>
> Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 9:00 PM
> Just to stay in touch and alos as a point of reference, attached is a 
> photo of the Amateur License plate for our neighbors to the west in 
> Illinois.  Note that I am told they are pushing to have the wording on 
> the left changed from "Ham Radio" to "Amateur Radio", as they feel it 
> has fewer negative connotations from old stereotypes.  I am totally in
agreement with that.
>
> Duane Mantick
>
>
> --- On Wed, 2/3/10, Ron Alting <ralting at iga.in.gov> wrote:
>
>
> From: Ron Alting <ralting at iga.in.gov>
> Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Plates
> To: "'Duane Mantick'" <wb9omc at yahoo.com>
> Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 10:43 AM Duane,
>
> New legislation cannot be introduced until 1-1-2011.  I would be happy to
start working with you on this in November, 2010.  Please contact me then.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron Alting
> State Senator
> 200 W. Washington Street
> Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
> 317.232.9517
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Duane Mantick [mailto:wb9omc at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 5:53 PM
> To: Ron Alting
> Subject: Re: Amateur Radio Plates
>
> Sen. Alting;  Obviously, I am disappointed but not totally surprised. 
Please advise on the time frame for the beginning of the next session.
>
> Also, we had discussed mobilizing the state's Amateur Operators to also
work with *their* various state representatives so that you will have some
additional support for whatever action up to and including legislation. 
Given that we apparently have some time to work with, should we work on a
timetable to begin rounding up that support?
>
> While I have no hard data to back this up, my guess is that Indiana's
Amateurs would overwhelmingly support such a move.   Based upon my original
premise that a clear identification of an Amateur Radio vehicle to emergency
personnel/law enforcement would be of value when we hams do our public
service work would be desireable, I suspect that those folks would support
it as well.  Many Amateur groups have very good working relationships with
their area EMA's and others and thus may be able to garner support there as
well.
>
> I will take my cues from you on this - just let me know.  Once I let the
word out 'in the wild' so to speak, it will probably spread like wildfire
from one end of the state to the other.  My guess is that a release that is
too premature will not be desireable, hence my desire to see if you have an
idea of a good timetable.
>
> Amusing thought for the day:  I have a picture in my head of a photo of
the two of us holding the first such plate and installing it on my car....
> :-)  :-)
>
> I will look forward to continuing this effort with you, and I appreciate
the time you and your staff put into it.
>
> In Amateur Radio, we close most communications by wishing our fellow
amateur "73" which is much like the word "Aloha" is used in Hawaii.
>
> 73 and best wishes for a happy holiday season Duane Mantick WB9OMC
>
>
> --- On Thu, 12/10/09, Ron Alting <ralting at iga.in.gov> wrote:
>
> > From: Ron Alting <ralting at iga.in.gov>
> > Subject: Amateur Radio Plates
> > To: "'Duane Mantick'" <wb9omc at yahoo.com>
> > Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 4:32 PM Duane,
> >
> > After speaking with our attorneys and the BMV it is just not 
> > plausible to introduce legislation to alter the look of the plate at 
> > this time in a short session with a bad economy and a tight budget.  
> > This would indeed have a fiscal impact and based on that fact alone, 
> > such legislation would be dead-on-arrival.  Especially considering 
> > the fact that arrangements for another plate are already in place.
> >
> > Regardless, I understand your cause and am willing to produce a 
> > draft to introduce next session when there is a chance that it will 
> > pass.  I appreciate your understanding and look forward to working 
> > on this with you next session.
> >
> > Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance in the 
> > meantime.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Ron Alting
> > State Senator
> > 200 W. Washington Street
> > Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
> > 317.232.9517
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 73/75 de ka9jwx, Paul Lewis Webster
> SKCC #5322
> John 3:16
> Long:-87.334L (-87*20'3"W)
> Lat:41.4967N (41*29'48"N)
> EN61HL
> Merrillville, Indiana, 46410-3503, USA
> ;-)
>
> 


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