[nrv-hams] Fwd: Please Help! - Virginia 2017 Potential Legislation

Sun Jan 8 14:01:27 EST 2017

Hi Danny,
I shall certainly respond to this message. Thanks for the posting.
73,
Carter, N3AO

-----Original Message-----
From: nrv-hams [mailto:nrv-hams-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of dannywylam at gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2017 12:45 PM
To: NRV Hams <nrv-hams at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [nrv-hams] Fwd: Please Help! - Virginia 2017 Potential Legislation

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: bats at starpower.net
> Date: January 8, 2017 at 11:39:20 AM EST
> To: n3ev at arrl.net
> Subject: [nrv-hams] Please Help! - Virginia 2017 Potential Legislation
> Reply-To: "NRV-Hams: A mailing list for members of the New River 
> Valley \(VA\) Amateur Radio Club." <nrv-hams at mailman.qth.net>
> 
> Hopefully, you all already have this, but JIC, Please forward to all Hams & Clubs for Help?
> 
> TNX!
> 
> Gene  :)
> N3EV
> 
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> From: ARRL Members Only Web site <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
> To: bats at starpower.net
> Sent: Sun, 08 Jan 2017 11:05:09 -0500 (EST)
> Subject: Virginia 2017 Potential Legislation
> 
> Jan 8 2017
> 
> IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING ALL AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS IN 
> VIRGINIA
> 
> OK----here we go again. Virginia legislators are scheduled to convene 
> again in the next several days.  There is a Senate Bill # 860 which 
> again is trying to prevent the operation including texting and other 
> operations affecting two way radio while operating a motor vehicle. 
> The bill as you can read below----shows an exception for citizens band 
> radio and other special equipment and situations-------HOWEVER IT DOES 
> NOT EXEMPT AMATEUR RADIO OPERATION.
> 
> It is important you contact your local Virginia Legislator and request 
> the they MODIFY the wording in Senate Bill #860 -----TO INCLUDE 
> AMATEUR RADIO ------IN ADDITION TO CITIZENS BAND RADIO ---AS AN 
> EXCEPTION IN ITEM B-5, AS NOTED IN THIS EXISTING BILL.2017 SESSION
> 
> SENATE BILL NO. 860
> Offered January 11, 2017
> Prefiled December 7, 2016
> A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia, 
> relating to hands-free operation of handheld personal communications 
> devices in motor vehicles; exceptions; penalty.
> ----------
> Patrons-- Surovell; Delegate: Kory
> ----------
> Referred to Committee on Transportation
> ----------
> Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
> 1. That § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted 
> as follows:
> § 46.2-1078.1. Use of handheld personal communications devices in 
> certain motor vehicles; exceptions; penalty.
> A. It is unlawful for any person to operate a moving motor vehicle on 
> the highways in the Commonwealth while using any handheld personal 
> communications device to: unless the handheld personal communications 
> device is specifically designed and configured to allow voice and 
> hands-free operation and the device is being used in that manner 1. 
> Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of 
> communicating with another person; or 2. Read any email or text 
> message transmitted to the device or stored within the device, 
> provided that this prohibition shall not apply to any name or number 
> stored within the device nor to any caller identification information.
> B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
> 1. The operator of any emergency vehicle while he is engaged in the 
> performance of his official duties; 2. An operator who is lawfully 
> parked or stopped; 3. The use of factory-installed or aftermarket 
> global positioning systems (GPS) or wireless communications devices 
> used to transmit or receive data as part of a digital dispatch system; 
> or 4. The use of a handheld personal communications device for 
> purposes of navigation or generating audio transmission, provided that 
> such device is physically mounted to a vehicle; 5. The use of a 
> citizens band radio; or 6. Any person using a handheld personal 
> communications device to report an emergency.
> C. A violation of this section is shall be punishable as follows:
> 1. As a traffic infraction punishable, for a first offense, by a fine 
> of $125 and, for a second or subsequent offense, by a fine of $250; or 
> 2. If such offense occurs concurrently with an additional traffic 
> offense set forth in Title 18.2 or 46.2, or a valid local ordinance 
> governing traffic, or proximately results in an accident, it shall be 
> punishable as reckless driving as set forth in § 46.2-868.
> D. For the purposes of this section, "emergency vehicle" means:
> 1. Any law-enforcement vehicle operated by or under the direction of a 
> federal, state, or local law-enforcement officer while engaged in the 
> performance of official duties; 2. Any regional detention center 
> vehicle operated by or under the direction of a correctional officer 
> responding to an emergency call or operating in an emergency 
> situation; 3. Any vehicle used to fight fire, including publicly owned 
> state forest warden vehicles, when traveling in response to a fire 
> alarm or emergency call; 4. Any emergency medical services vehicle 
> designed or used for the principal purpose of supplying resuscitation 
> or emergency medical services relief where human life is endangered; 
> 5. Any Department of Emergency Management vehicle or Office of 
> Emergency Medical Services vehicle, when responding to an emergency 
> call or operating in an emergency situation; 6. Any Department of 
> Corrections vehicle designated by the Director of the Department of 
> Corrections, when (i) responding to an emergency call at a 
> correctional facility, (ii) participating in a drug-related 
> investigation, (iii) pursuing escapees from a correctional facility, 
> or
> (iv) responding to a request for assistance from a law-enforcement 
> officer; and 7. Any vehicle authorized to be equipped with 
> alternating, blinking, or flashing red or red and white secondary 
> warning lights pursuant to § 46.2-1029.2.
> D. E. Distracted driving shall be included as a part of the driver's 
> license knowledge examination.
> 
> Please respond to this needed change in this bill by contacting local 
> legislator ASAP since this is an active matter that AFFECTS EACH AND 
> EVERY AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR IN VIRGINIA.
> 
> Dr Joe Palsa
> Virginia Section Manager
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ARRL Virginia Section
> Section Manager: Dr Joseph G Palsa, K3WRY k3wry at arrl.org
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
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