[NJham] Bill #A4146 to prohibit text messaging while driving can also impact all mobile ham radio operation!

[W2AGN]

Walter O'Brien, WO2U wrote:
> This note came from Skywarn:
>
> Attention all NJ Hams.
>
> Interpretation of this bill by some legal folks indicate a clear 
> danger to operating mobile. Please educate your Representative. The 
> Bill is moving fast.
>
> http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillsByNumber.asp
>
> Type in "A4146" to see all the parties involved and the complete text 
> of the Bill.
>
> - - - - - - -
>
> That website also brings you to where YOU can send an instant email to 
> YOUR state legislative rep.
>
> I wrote to all the bill sponsors and co-sponsors, as well as my own 
> state assemblyman, Mike Doherty of Hunterdon County.
>
> MUCH to my surprise and delight, he responded almost immediately with 
> a personal email advising me:
>
>> Thank you for contacting me. Considering the speed that A-4146 was
>> introduced into committee and passed you need to act quickly. I would
>> recommend that you and other members of the amateur radio community
>> contact the sponsor of A-4146, Assemblyman Moriarty, and request he
>> exclude amateur radio operators from the bill.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Mike Doherty
>
>
> Below is the email I submitted - feel free to copy, reword it, or 
> write your own, but if you operate mobile on any band, you need to act 
> now or we could all be prohibited from mobile operations. Read the 
> bill for yourself and see. There is no exclusion for amateur radio - 
> just a prohibition of all "wireless communications device" usage while 
> driving.
>
> 73 Walter WO2U
>
> - - - - - - - - -
>
>
> Text of my message to the bill sponsors:
>
> While I certainly can accept that text message can be a frivolous 
> activity that requires at least one if not two hands that should be on 
> the steering wheel and can be very distracting, and a deteriment to 
> safe driving, Bill #A4146 as it is written, while meant to prohibit 
> such text messaging while driving, can be very easily misconstrued by 
> law enforcement officials to limit the use of any "wireless 
> communications device" such as amateur radio transceivers or two-way 
> radios, which are often used in mobile situations to deal with 
> legitimated emergency communications needs with served agencies such 
> as Homeland Security, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other legitimate 
> agencies.
>
> For example, I am a radio operator for RACES, The Radio Amateur Civil 
> Emergency Service, a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer) 
> group of Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) Operators administered by local, 
> county and state emergency management agencies, and supported by the 
> Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the United States 
> government. As a part of the Amateur Radio Service, it provides radio 
> communications for civil-preparedness purposes only, during periods of 
> local, regional or national civil emergencies. These emergencies are 
> not limited to war-related activities, but can include natural 
> disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, power outages, 
> floods, victim searches, air crashes, and many others. We often run 
> drills and are activated through the Hunterdon County Office of 
> Emergency Management or FEMA and Homeland Security, and a ban that 
> incorrectly includes our communications equipment usage will be a 
> serious blow to our readiness and preparedness when required.
>
> Amateur Radio Operators are also authorized in local emergencies by 
> agencies such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army to deal with health 
> and welfare needs at shelters and the like, through the ARES group, 
> Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
>
> This bill as written can obliterate the needs of these operators to 
> access their "wireless communications devices" which are known to us a 
> "amateur radio transceivers" or two-way radios, and completely negate 
> our utilization by said agencies in case of emergencies.
>
> I respectfully request that the bill be rewritten to allow an 
> exception for FCC licensed amateur radio operators so that we are not 
> penalized for serving our communities needs.
>
> Regards,
>
> Name, Call, Address, City, State, Zip
>
>
If this thing gets rid of the morons driving around with a cell phone to
their ears, I'm FOR IT! I can wait to operate until I'm parked. Small
price to pay to rid the roads of these cellphone idiots!


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  / \  / \  / \  / \  / \   John L. Sielke
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