[NLRS] Legislative action in NLRS land

Wed Sep 1 14:24:36 EDT 2010

An exemption would be a good thing since an overly enthusiastic peace office might have an issue with anything that has a keypad with more than about 10 buttons.

----- Original Message -----
From: nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net <nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
To: NLRS List <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wed Sep 01 12:59:03 2010
Subject: Re: [NLRS] Legislative action in NLRS land

I was wondering about that myself. As an ARES member, I know we are urged to
do any digi text sending while stationary. I didn't see anything in the
proposed law about voice communication, either.

There IS the problem of some law enforcement officials being unfamiliar with
the equipment some hams might be using and thinking it is something else.
The mere presence of packet or D-RATS gear in a vehicle might raise some
eyebrows even if it is not being used. In that case I can see the amateur
radio exemption clauses being necessary.

73, Zack W9SZ

On Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 12:29 PM, Ray J <Ray at w9ray.org> wrote:

>
>
>
>  Wow U Guys must have fancier radios over there on the other side of
> the boarder. My mobile rig will not send or receive text messages.
>
>
> is there more to this law not listed here?.. why should hams be able to
> text while driving??
>
>  From what I read this does not affect regular voice calls or mobile
> radio use in any way.
>
> http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-1536
>
>
> w9Ray
>
>
>
> On 9/1/2010 8:23 AM, w0zq at aol.com wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > I do not encourage cross posting from other reflectors, but this one is
> important for all of us to act upon -
> >
> > 73, Jon
> > W0ZQ
> >
> >
> > Greetings Minnesota Amateurs;
> >
> > I’m sending this message to you as a request for you to get involved
> > with a piece of legislation making it’s way through the US Senate.
> >
> > S 1536 specifically is this:
> >
> >   “Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act of
> > 2009 or the ALERT Drivers Act - Requires the Secretary of
> > Transportation to withhold 25% of a state's apportionment of certain
> > federal-aid highway program funds for the fiscal year if the state has
> > not enacted or is not enforcing a law that: (1) prohibits, except in an
> > emergency, an operator of a motor vehicle from writing, sending, or
> > reading a text message using a hand-held mobile telephone (excluding as
> > voice-activated device); and (2) requires, upon conviction of a
> > violation of such prohibition, the imposition of certain minimum
> > penalties.”
> >
> > What I am encouraging you to do is to write Senator Klobuchar and ask
> > her to support an amendment, which exempts Amateur Radio from this
> > bill. This is vital to our ability to operate mobile for everything
> > from pleasure to emergency communications.  Most of us have some ham
> > gear in our vehicles, and we need to ensure that we can continue to use
> > them when we desire.  Currently the bill is in committee, and that is
> > where the changes can be made.
> >
> > The ARRL has a special section for Government Relations on its web site
> > that can provide you with additional information on legislation that you
> > encourage your Senators or Congressman to support.
> > http://www.arrl.org/arrl-legislative-action-program
> >
> > Below you will find an example letter (which you can modify if you
> > wish) that you can send to Senator Klobuchar requesting her support for
> > the amendment.  You are requested to send letters c/o Chwat's office
> > (ARRL’s representative in Washington DC) by fax, U.S. mail, or as
> > attachments to e-mails, for in-person delivery by Chwat's staff.
> > The relevant information is:
> >
> > * As a signed attachment to an email to arrl at chwatco.com
> > * As a signed fax to 703-684-7594
> > * As a regular letter to:
> >
> > John Chwat
> > Chwat&  Co.
> > 625 Slaters Lane
> > Suite 103
> > Alexandria, VA 22314
> >
> > Thank you for your time and consideration, and I hope you will join me
> > in this effort.
> >
> > 73!
> >
> > Kent
> >
> > Kent Olson
> > KAØLDG
> > Vice Director, Dakota Division
> > _____________________________________________
> >
> >
> > Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
> > 302 Hart Senate Office Building
> > Washington, DC 20510
> > Attn: Daniel Schill
> > Fax: 202-228-2186
> >
> > Dear Senator Klobuchar,
> >
> > I understand that S. 1536, “The ALERT Drivers Act,” will be voted
> > upon in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. As an
> > amateur radio licensee and member of the American Radio Relay League,
> > representing over 680,000 amateur radio licensees nationwide, including
> > 11,344 in the state of Minnesota, I urge you to support an amendment to
> > S. 1536 that exempts amateur radio licensees from this type of ban. The
> > amendment would seek to exempt “two way mobile radio transmitters or
> > receivers used by licensees of the Federal Communications Commission in
> > the Amateur Radio service.”
> >
> > The form of communication used by amateur radio licensees is
> > fundamentally different from that of cell phone users. Amateur radio
> > utilizes simplex, two-way radio communication in which relatively
> > little time is spent transmitting—unlike cell phones. Additionally,
> > the mobile radio sets used by amateur radio operators are typically
> > permanently mounted on the floor of the motor vehicle and do not
> > interfere with operation of the vehicle. In fact, after more than 50
> > years of amateur radio in the U.S., we are unaware of any evidence that
> > mobile radio operation has contributed to driver inattention. Amateur
> > radio licensees are public-service minded citizens who use their
> > radio-equipped motor vehicles to aid others, and they focus on driving
> > in order to perform these services.
> >
> > Please contact our Washington representative, John Chwat, if you can
> > help us by sponsoring this amendment. Please contact him at
> > john.chwat at chwatco.com or (703) 684-7703.
> >
> > Thank you,
> >
> > Your name&  contact information
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ARRL Minnesota Section
> > Section Manager: Richard H Jackson, KS0J
> > ks0j at arrl.org
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > NLRS mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/nlrs
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:NLRS at mailman.qth.net
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
> NLRS mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/nlrs
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:NLRS at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
______________________________________________________________
NLRS mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/nlrs
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:NLRS at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html