I received a message via Tom KJ6DZT, from Gordo, regarding the bill in the California legislature restricting the usage of any mobile device while driving. The article is way too long and wordy to be reprinted here. The jist of it is that there are forces at work to get mobile radios excluded from the bill. This includes a national truckers association and the ARRL, to name a few. There is a letter drafted that would exempt Ham Radio and industrial entities like truckers from the affects of the bill.
There good hope. The last bit reads as follows:
“Finally, the California Highway Patrol is expected to disseminate guidance within a month or two. Through a Ham contact at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office, Vice Director Woll had already received a preliminary version of that guidance. It states that using wired radio microphones would not be considered a violation but that using hand-held radios would be cause for a citation.
From the above, it appears that no grass-roots action is needed at this time. However, until and unless we receive authoritative guidance to the contrary, we advise against using hand held radios while driving unless they are equipped with external, corded microphones. As always, avoid any radio usage or other activity whenever you feel it detracts from your ability to control your vehicle fully or to maintain awareness of surrounding traffic.”
So I suggest that if you operate mobile with a hand held radio, buy a speaker/mic and hope for the best.
