Technical > Ham Radio > Proposed Illinois Legislation Would Ban Amateur Radio Mobile

Proposed Illinois Legislation Would Ban Amateur Radio Mobile

I don't see how this type of law could pass. And if it would I would hope that includes police, fire, business, etc. also be included.
Especially police. They don't need to be distracted holding a mic. and yacking back to dispatch during a high speed chase.

I dont think this type of law/rule will ever pass. It isn't the first time a state has tried this.

Thanks for the link...good reading.
--
Long you live and high you fly, and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry,
and all you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be.

reply to Sr Tech
Ontario Canada already has a ban in place that has been gradually coming into force over the last three years. It prohibits all handheld devices. However, one would be permitted to use handsfree interfaces to amateur radio transceivers such as bluetooth headsets. Also, clipping your speaker mike onto your lapel appears to satisfy the requirements of the law. When I am in Ontario, I keep my speaker mike clipped to my shirt.

New York State was the first state to enact a handheld cell phone ban. One interesting clause that was inserted into the law was an exemption for the use of "licensed" radios. As such, amateur radio, police, fire and any other radio that requires an FCC license is exempt. Cell phones are not licensed to the individual so they are not exempt. I suppose CB radios are not exempt either as they do not require a license but I am not aware of any case law on the matter.
--
I support the right to keep and arm bears.

Hams in Ontario are still exempted from the handsfree requirement until January 2013. Efforts are in place to make the exemption permanent like in almost every other province in Canada.
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"It's all coming down!!" - Mike Holmes

reply to Sr Tech
If the PD would enforce the existing bans on use of handheld cell phones while driving, there probably wouldn't have been any accident for the legislature to propose knee-jerk legislation to 'fix'.

The ARRL will undoubtedly lobby for us in IL. When I get as few dollars ahead, I'll think again about joining.

reply to Sr Tech
New Jersey has a strict electronic device usage ban.

However, due to the diligent work of my friend Bill, W2UDT, then NNJ ARRL SM (now vice director, Hudson Div) ham radio was specifically exempted.

reply to Sr Tech


I think there is more than a little over-reaction here. First, none of us are going to "lose everything" when it comes to our mobile rigs. The Illinois law as proposed specifically allows operation of electronic communication devices when using hands-free or voice-activated controls. What's wrong with that? Are we too proud to wear a headset mic?

Illinois truckers are already subject to this restriction, and none of them have tossed their cellphones into the garbage---they got handsfree headsets, and many of them have commented to me that they actually prefer it now that they have begun to use one.

This isn't about operating the controls of the radio, it's about holding and looking at things in your hands. I'm not pushing this bill, and I wouldn't mind seeing a licensed-radio exception, but really folks, it isn't the end of the world if it passes.

And, I have a double-perspective on this; I'm a Ham, and I'm a Cop.

The whole handsfree vs handheld thing is BS though.

The biggest danger in using a cellphone is distraction. Distraction comes from being engrossed in the conversation not from holding the device.

This is why banning all cellphone use while driving would be fine with me. Ham radios shouldn't be banned because the conversation is not full duplex. It is similar to listening to the (broadcast) radio.

reply to Sr Tech
It looks like the IL legislators have fixed their new law. I spotted some commentary and a link to the bill on eHam.net this morning by Bill Pasternak WA6ITF indicating that we have a 'special dispensation' and can operate while driving a motor vehicle.

link to eHam net article:
»www.eham.net/articles/27700

and a link to the bill itself:
»tinyurl.com/78gtzyd

Perhaps they have realized that our operations are not as distracting as texting.

73
N9DRY

reply to Sr Tech
They already have this "distracted driving law" where im at in Alberta too. The way im to understand it, is that enforcement is up to the cop who stops you. Anything other than driving can give you a hefty fine. It was interesting what n2jtx said about New York State exemption for the use of "licensed" radios. Thats a SMART way of doing it. Though Im not for certain of the EXACT law here (word for word) I dont think the people involved in that law HERE were thinking very well that day. The way its been advertized here is "if the cop wants to ticket you, to bad" I would guess its something to look into here, but I have a feeling the law here was very poorly made, though I could be wrong.

reply to Sr Tech
Sorry for the double post, guess I should have looked first. And not meaning to stray from the original post but in general of using "radio" while driving.

When I read the Distracted Driving Legislation (Bill 16) "Highlights:"

»www.transportation.alberta.ca/di···ving.htm

It did not include radio operator certificate.

But looking at the Queen's Printer Document, things seem to make a little more sense if i interpret correctly...

Exempt classes of individuals
3(1) Pursuant to section 115.1(1) of the Act, an individual who
holds a radio operator certificate issued under the
Radiocommunication Act (Canada) may drive or operate a vehicle
on a highway while holding, viewing or manipulating a 2-way
radio communication device.

»www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Regs···_113.pdf

guess i jumped the gun...

reply to Sr Tech
That California, Illinois, New York style mentality does not replicate itself here in Alabama. That nonsense will never happen here. It's too bad for the folks that choose to live in those areas.

reply to Sr Tech
They might as well take the Police, Fire, and Ambulance services off the air too.

If they are using a 2-way radio while driving, it's all the same.

They would need to explicitly exempt all ARES/RACES members from this law, as they are serving a Municipal/County/State authority, as an "official duty".

Too many cops typing on their "in-car" laptops while also driving.

Whom do you think poses the biggest threat to public safety???

Hand-held Mic, or using a laptop computer while driving??

Maybe it's a stupid question, but I just had to ask it....
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ROCK 'TIL SUNSET

reply to fifty nine