Mike KF4UEL reports that the proposed hands-free law in Virginia would prohibit the use of a ham radio in a car unless the radio is equipped with a hands-free accessory. Unlike many other such laws, this law contains no provision excluding ham radios, and is written broadly enough that it would cover them, as well as covering most other land mobile services such as CB and business land mobile. The California law, for example, is specific to "wireless telephones", and the Chicago ordinance is restricted to devices that are connected to the public telephone network.
I've seen some discussion that suggests that it's the full-duplex nature of the telephone call that makes it so dangerous, and that the half-duplex operating mode of ham radios, CB, and business land mobile is not nearly as distracting. Commercial drivers (not to mention law enforcement and emergency response personnel) have been using land mobile radio for a long time now without anybody expressing serious concerns.
Hopefully we'll be able to convince Virginia that mobile hams aren't a threat to public safety.
I've seen some discussion that suggests that it's the full-duplex nature of the telephone call that makes it so dangerous, and that the half-duplex operating mode of ham radios, CB, and business land mobile is not nearly as distracting. Commercial drivers (not to mention law enforcement and emergency response personnel) have been using land mobile radio for a long time now without anybody expressing serious concerns.
Hopefully we'll be able to convince Virginia that mobile hams aren't a threat to public safety.
I already fired off two e-mails. One to my local Delegate, and a second just went out to all of the Delegates on the Committee that is reviewing these bills.
ReplyDeleteAs SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator for the local NWS office, our operations depend on mobile communications, and I drove that fact home in my e-mails, while pointing out that the law would also effectively wipe out a large amount of public service and emergency communications activity provided by the amateur community.
I do not expect that either of these bills will pass in Virginia, but even if these bills are struck down if we can get amateur radio acknowledged now then we've got our foot in the door when similar bills are introduced in the future.
73 de KG4PEQ