Episode 203 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast is out. We discuss the new Pennsylvania law that bans the use of handheld mobile devices and how it may affect two way radio operators across various services.
Of course, your comments and feedback are always welcome!
TWRS-203 - How Will the New PA Hands-Free Law Affect Mobile Radios?
Show Notes:
TWRS-203 - How Will the New PA Hands-Free Law Affect Mobile Radios? (buytwowayradios.com)
I live in a state that has had a hands-free law since 2008. I have not seen the data showing the impact on accidents. It may have but I still see people hold cell phones while driving everyday. I was a cop in a state that several years before the bill passed for hands-free cell phone use. The state made a change to our traffic accident form that all departments used to include a check box for “cell phone involved”. We used that if a cell phone was known to be used when the accident occurred whether it was the cause or not. This was used to collect data. Our state already had a law against distracted driving. Of course this hands-free law doesn’t include using a radio. If someone had an accident and stated that they were fiddling with their radio, distracted driving could have been cited. By the way, I was on the street for almost 20 years and never had a quota nor did any county department around us. I could go on about what you discussed about law enforcement, but won’t.
I heard about the bill for Pennsylvania’s bill more than a year ago. It is interesting that the ARRL lobbied hard to get Amauteur radio exempted and no other radio service. It doesn’t surprise me and that is one reason they will not see a dime from me. Amateur radio seems like an exclusive club that not only doesn’t care about other services but is actively working against other services. I am a member of that club, however, I don’t hold to the disdain for other forms of radio use that seems prevalent in Amateur radio. I would make a comment about how the Pennsylvania voters should have contacted their representatives to keep the bill from passing but I know where I live now that doesn’t work and the idea is a joke.
One last personal anecdote: Not too long after cellular phones became widespread I ran a stop sign while talking on the phone. There were no other cars at the intersection and there was no accident. My problem was I happened to be driving a black and white Crown Vic with red and blue lights on top. No, I didn’t write myself a ticket but it changed the way I used a cell phone from that day forward. It also changed the way I would handle similar infractions many years later when the cell phone law was enacted. When I witnessed someone using a cell phone while driving I would stop them and give them a warning instead of a ticket. While I never had that happen while using the radio in my patrol car that experience also made me more aware of my driving while using the radio.
It was interesting listening to you two going back and forth about cell phone use, distracted driving, your implied view of law enforcement, and other things. And while I don’t agree with a lot of what I heard it was still an enjoyable podcast. Keep up the good work and thanks for the podcast.
Sean
In the UK, phones are a total no no. Two way radios are not. If you use a hand mic or hand held radio with PTT, you could be prosecuted for driving without due care or attention, or the more serious dangerous driving, but otherwise, it is fine. The reason they clearly specify what a phone actually is allows the emergency services to use radios while driving, and other two way radio users benefit.
My son was a police officer. He got a ÂŁ200 fine and points on his licence sitting at end of shift in the police car, outside mcdonalds. Parked. Engine off. Burger in one hand, phone in the other. He got reported. Behind the wheel. Parked. Guilty!
On the ARRL front, why are people surprised they lobbied for their members? They are a ham organisation. Why would they lobby for anyone else, at the hams expense? If you use any of the other radio services, why would you even expect hams to work on your behalf? Worse, and be angry about it. Anyone can be a ham and join the ARRL. I dont understand many things about the US, but is this not the same as expecting a baseball organisation to represent basketball requirements?
I’m not mad. Never said I was. I have been an amateur for several decades and for part of that I was a ARRL member. I didn’t feel they listened to the average member back then and they seemed to have a very specific agenda that didn’t serve all amateurs. This was before GMRS got as popular as it is now and even so they seemed to look down on not only other services, which is their right I suppose, but also amateur radio operators that were not members of their organization. Things may be different now. I didn’t get mad, I just stopped giving them my money.