[Nvarc] [WECT] Re: Cell Driving Bill to be voted in MA house

Wed Jan 16 08:11:45 EST 2008

I think we would be infinitely more successful if we were to all reply with the same concerns. We need some boilerplate. 

Also, I believe that boilerplate should address (1) the difference between a telephone and telephony, (2) the use of an (descriptor?)  radio by a licensed radio amateur where the use of a telephone autopatch is a secondary function, (3) the use of an (descriptor?) radio by a licensed amateur when engaged in the support of emergency communications under ARES and/or public service in support of the community, and any other distinction we can draw between the general public and the amateur community. 

I think it is important to make the distinction of a licensed amateur to (a) make it illegal to use amateur equipment when not licensed, and (b) allow people younger than 18 the exclusion it would bring. 

I included the term (descriptor?) above so that a term that would include any sort of amateur radio in a mobile situation, not just a hand held radio.

I was pleased the bill referenced below appears better written than the previous copy. It was full of problems. 

We should have the ARRL lawyer tear this thing apart.

73,

Tony KX1G

----- Original Message ----
From: W1KT <w1kt at msn.com>
To: WECT <WECT at WPI.EDU>
Cc: repeater at harvardrepeater.org; NVARC Reflector <nvarc at n1nc.org>; WECT <WECT at WPI.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 5:08:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Nvarc] [WECT] Re: Cell Driving Bill to be voted in MA house

John, below is what I got from our SGL Shawn

Ed/SM/WMA 

spoke with an aide in the Transportation Committee this morning.  The
 bill,  H3679, is not quite as far along as the news made it sound.  The
 Transportation committee may vote it out of committee today or
 tomorrow, but that's only a few steps along the legislative process.  If they
 pass the bill out of the Committee, it might go to the full House, but
 only after the Steering Committee and the Ways and Means Committee
 decide it should progress.  (See the flow chart I made at
 http://www.userstudy.com/ARRL/Guide_to_MA_legislation.pdf ) 

H3679 incorporates bits and pieces of bills that have appeared in the
 past.  They removed the exemption for CB, and explicitly include only
 emergency personnel.  Here is the text of the bill:

http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht03/ht03679.htm

We have a couple of opportunities to amend this bill before it gets set
 in stone, if it comes to that.   In the next few days, I'll send you
 both some talking points to distribute to the troops.

The bottom line: this is not about to take effect any time soon, and we
 have time to organize a rational set of arguments to support our
 position here.  I'll be in touch shortly.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Griswold KK1X<mailto:kk1x at verizon.net> 
  To: Joe Dzekevich<mailto:joedzekevich at charter.net> 
  Cc: repeater at harvardrepeater.org<mailto:repeater at harvardrepeater.org>
 ; NVARC Reflector<mailto:nvarc at n1nc.org> ; WECT<mailto:WECT at WPI.EDU> 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 4:50 PM
  Subject: [WECT] Re: Cell Driving Bill to be voted in MA house

  Joe makes a good point. While the wording of the bill excludes
 emergency 
  workers from the ban on using mobile phones while driving, it also
 makes 
  allowances for the use of "citizens band radios" so long as one hand 
  remains on the steering wheel. Well, I don't have a "citizens band" 
  radio in my truck. I've written my Representative, Mr. Hargraves of 
  Groton, and urge you all to write to your own Rep.

  http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php<http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php>

  This web site can be access to find out who your Rep is and their
 email 
  address.

  Here is a link to what appears to be the current text of the Bill:
  *http://tinyurl.com/29aoh5

  73,
  John

  *
  Joe Dzekevich wrote:
  > This is on today's (Tuesday) Boston.com web site.  I fired-off a
 quick email to my state rep asking how the bill would affect radio mic's
 (i.e. - what is a hand held device?).  I told him that I don't want to
 see mobile radios accidently fall under the bill (i.e. amateur, police,
 fire, taxi, plow drivers, etc).  The news article calls them a cell
 phone - but if the hand held device wording is broad, we may be in
 trouble.  I told him that hams have been driving around for of 50 years
 mobile with problems and that we don't need to have our eyes leave the road
 to use a mic.
  >
  > Joe
  > K1YOW
  >
  > BOSTON—Drivers who talk or text on cell phones could be hit with
 fines or have their licenses suspended under a bill making its way
 through the Statehouse.
  >
  > more stories like thisA key legislative committee approved the bill
 Tuesday. It now heads to the full House of Representatives as early as
 Wednesday.
  >
  > The bill would allow police to pull over drivers they see talking
 on cell phones or sending text messages. Drivers who use hands-free
 headsets would be exempt.
  >
  > Adult drivers would face $100 fines for the first offense and $500
 for a third offense. Those with junior operator licenses would face
 fines and the suspension of their licenses.
  >
  > The renewed push for a cell phone driving ban follows the death of
 a 13-year-old boy in Taunton by a man who allegedly lost control of his
 SUV while text messaging.
  >
  >
  >
  > _______________________________________________
  > Repeater mailing list
  > Repeater at harvardrepeater.org<mailto:Repeater at harvardrepeater.org>
  >
 http://www.harvardrepeater.org/mailman/listinfo/repeater<http://www.harvardrepeater.org/mailman/listinfo/repeater>
  >
  >
  >   

  -- 
  John Griswold, KK1X
  mailto:kk1x at verizon.net<mailto:kk1x at verizon.net>

  http://www.imaginarythreedimensionalblackboard.com/<http://www.imaginarythreedimensionalblackboard.com/>
  http://www.emergency-radio.org/<http://www.emergency-radio.org/>
  Mobile +1(617)834-5787

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