SBARC Members,
Did you know that using your mobile radio while driving is now illegal in California as of January 1, 2017?
California’s Distracted Driving Law Assembly Bill 1785 was passed in 2016 and went into effect on January 1 as California Vehicle Code 23123. The law was designed to curb smartphone texting while driving which has been identified as a safety hazard. However, the ambiguous language in the law has also unintentionally rendered all commercial and amateur radio two-way mobile operation illegal in California.
In nearly 70+ years of two-way radio technology there are zero documented cases of such operation being any known threat to public safety or operation of a motor vehicle.
Here is a very comprehensive news story that very succinctly summarizes the issue: http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2017/03/20/two-way-radio-users-worried-califo...
The original author of AB-1785, California Assemblyman Bill Quirk (Assembly District 20) has confirmed that the law was not intended to ban amateur radio mobile operation and the California Highway Patrol has confirmed its support for continued use of of mobile amateur radio (see attached memo from CHP).
However, the fix being considered this week on the floor of the State Assembly (known as AB-1222) does not completely codify Assemblyman Quirk's own Legislative Analysis nor a recent CHP memo supporting two-way radio operation. AB1222 goes to the Assembly floor for vote SOON and it *MUST* be fixed first!
I am writing to urge you to consider contacting Santa Barbara's Assemblymember Monique Limón at her Sacramento office (916) 319-2037 and encourage her to support revisions to AB-1222 to specifically permit radio amateurs to once again legally use mobile radios while driving.
You can find more information and language to use on your call here: http://www.no1pc.org/handsfree/index.htm
You might also consider signing this petition: https://www.change.org/p/correct-ambiguities-of-ab-1785-cvc-23123-5-cellular...
Meanwhile, the CHP memo is not a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card. It is non-binding and not applicable to local law enforcement agencies. However, you might consider printing the attached copy of it for your glovebox for whatever it is worth until this vehicle code is corrected.
Thank you for your consideration,
Levi C. Maaia, K6LCM