We have an issue which needs immediate attention. See the link attached which has a markup of the cell phone law proposed. It is NOT good and would make it illegal to operate handheld radios and possibly may be argued to include use with handheld mics attached to a radio except in certain commercial vehicles and police and fire vehicles.
DELETING EXEMPTION: (4) a hand-held radio being used by a person with an amateur radio station license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.
Now proposing INSTEAD: (4) A TWO-WAY OR CITIZENS BAND RADIO AFFIXED TO A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OR MOTOR CARRIER VEHICLE.
This does not include amateur radio or other 2-way radio like part 90 public safety or business for that matter unless operated from a defined commercial. This is likely because politicians involved really have no grasp of the different activities and how ham stuff differs in operation at the driver level. I have not spend a good deal of time yet analyzing this, but it appears a big gap for us now exists.
We need to join the Section’s response to this.
This is a critical event in my view. It may also elevate an accidental death while operating an amateur radio to vehicular homicide. See the penalties and related laws from the link. I do not know how much time we have on this.
Bob Famiglio, K3RF
Vice Director – ARRL Atlantic Division
610-359-7300
Link: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2019&body=h&type=b&bn=37