[W1SMH] Fwd: MA Distracted Driving Bill, Call to Action

[Ray Cord]

Ray Deputy Director Norton EMA-CERT70 East Main St Norton, Ma. 02766508-726-1054 cell  
 
-----Original Message-----
From: ARRL Members Only Web site <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: raycord <raycord at aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Nov 19, 2019 7:10 pm
Subject: MA Distracted Driving Bill, Call to Action

Based on information we have recently received, it may be time to
contact your State Representatives concerning the MA Distracted Driving
Bill.  Over the weekend, Ray, KB1LRL and Tom, K1TW posted on both the
WMA and EMA websites the following news item:

https://wma.arrl.org/

https://ema.arrl.org/2019/11/16/ma-lawmakers-announce-surprise-agreement-on-distracted-driving-legislation/

Concerns are being raised across the sections asking what the impact
this bill has on amateur radio in the state.  Since the hands-free bills
were first filed, Eastern Massachusetts ARRL State Government Liaison,
Hank W4RIG, has  been closely coordinating with Senator Bruce Tarr, who
is the Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader and a radio amateur. 
Previously the Senator’s office reported to Hank that Amateur Radio
operation would not be impacted by earlier versions of the bill. 

With the hands-free bill finally clearing committee on the weekend and
ready for a vote, I asked Hank to contact the Senators office once
again.  Hank reports he has been in touch with the staff at Senator
Tarr’s office and with these most recent changes they can no longer
confirm there will be no impact on  amateur radio mobile operation.

My understanding is the problem results from the substitution in the
final text from committee of “mobile electronic device” in place of 
“mobile telephone”. In the original wording, the definition of a
mobile telephone in Massachusetts General Law specifically excludes
amateur radios and citizen band radios.  The definition in Massachusetts
General Law of “mobile electronic device” does not contain any
exclusion for amateur radios and citizen band radios. 

Senator Tarr’s office said they are trying to correct this.

This may be an appropriate time to contact your Massachusetts
Representative and Senator politely asking them to incorporate the same
words to exclude amateur radio from the revised bill as was previously
contained in the definition of mobile telephone.

This website will help you find contact information for your State
Legislators if you do not already have it: 
https://malegislature.gov/search/findmylegislator

73,

Ray Lajoie, KB1LRL (WMA Section Manager)

Tom Walsh K1TW  (EMA Section Manager)

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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw at arrl.org
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