[NLRS] Legislative action in NLRS land

Wed Sep 1 14:36:58 EDT 2010

  This is what is happening in Ontario, Canada on using radios in a 
vehicle...

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2009/elaws_src_regs_r09366_e.htm 

Section 13 refers to amateur radio... We have a grace period for 
manufacturers to produce handsfree operation etc...

73,   Eddie VE3KRP

On 9/1/2010 2:24 PM, Marciniak, Ed wrote:
>
> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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