[Mldxcc] Calif Hands-Free Regulation AB-1785

[Alan Maenchen]

Interesting discussion. Hate to see you go Rick but I doubt you can escape
the nanny state unless you move to the back side of the moon. Population in
the US is now three times what it was when I started ham radio but the
infrastructure hasn't kept pace. Highways are jammed like never before and
tempers are short. CA has grown even faster than that. It was a lot easier
50 years ago to drive around while handling a PTT mic. Yes, you can still
do that with reasonable safety in some places, but where most people live
and drive, that isn't the case any more. I've also been trained for certain
multi-task operations, but I still screwed up and nearly crashed because I
momentarily concentrated on the mic and the conversation. Ham radio does
not teach those skills. After a while of trial and error, you do learn but
the error rate has become a problem simply because it's harder now than it
ever used to be. It's called growth.

That said, my blood pressure has dropped and my attitude has significantly
relaxed since moving from the bay area a couple of years ago. CU in the
pileups!

Aloha,  Alan  AD6E / KH6TU




On Sat, Feb 4, 2017 at 8:14 AM, Rick WA6NHC <wa6nhc at comcast.net> wrote:

> Thank you for the words of support.  I suspect we are the minority from
> our training; there is a running discussion off list with those that
> disagree.  Besides fire training, I am also a pilot, I'm trained in LE
> skills and I walk amongst the wildlife so having a situational awareness at
> all times is second nature to me (no pun intended).  ANY of those environs
> can kill, quickly should you get distracted (bears and moose are just as
> quick as a speeding car and they can INTEND to cause you harm).  Apparently
> I'm adequate at this skill, I'm still here and mostly intact.  As I age,
> I've noted that it takes more effort, so I've adjusted.  That means I put
> the mike down in traffic and turn the music down.  Working DX is for the
> open road and no traffic.
>
> Like Jim said about flying; when the fan quits FLY the aircraft THEN
> figure out a direction to go (where to land) THEN issue your mayday IF you
> have time (it involves changing frequencies if you're not in controlled
> airspace) but FLY first.  The same is true in driving, control the vehicle
> FIRST, avoid making it worse, then get off the road if unable to continue,
> then call for help.
>
> I submit that it is impossible for any human to single task; there is
> always something running in the background (the destination, personal
> issues, job, home life...).  Understanding the limits of ones ability is
> crucial.  The state has presumed to know better because of the lowest
> common denominator (who are quite deadly and shouldn't be allowed to do
> more than breathe on their best days).  In other words, if I get a ticket,
> it's not the RADIO that is at fault, I've exceeded my limits by attracting
> attention (driving poorly).
>
> To me, having a radio conversation is no worse than talking with a
> passenger or listening to music/sports/talk radio except that I randomly
> interact audibly AND use a mike (as opposed to yelling at a touchdown or
> home run).  I also interact with the GPS on occasion while driving which is
> still allowed (I can 'talk' with one of them, no hands needed) and I can
> even wave at folks walking/driving by (ok, occasionally 'salute' them
> too).  A microphone is added to the list of normal things I interact with,
> like wipers, headlights, turn signals, heater controls and I can even open
> a window safely while driving!  The state has presumed that none of us are
> this capable and would see us in a box unable to even adjust our seat while
> driving and no ability to interact with passengers.  One box does not fit
> all.
>
> For the state to set limits on radio use tells us they think they have
> more 'power' than a Federal license because the state owns the road (built
> with Federal money most likely).  The only places the state has
> successfully (in court) managed to limit our license is under the (Federal)
> building codes, adopted locally and adapted for local needs and through the
> permit process for our antenna structures.  The HOA and CC&R limits are a
> contract between buyer and a community (and NEVER again will I enter into
> one) which is not subject to state control (except court to settle
> arguments).
>
> For the state to tell me that a microphone is worse than talking with a
> passenger or holding their hand while driving, is insulting.  I won't
> follow this law (and there are others that I quietly ignore as well).
>
> I'm not PO'ed, I'm fed up.  Without being political, this state is
> horribly broken and I see no signs of responsible recovery, ZERO.  I am a
> native born, life long resident; it offers everything I want but everything
> I've come to hate as well.  The bad now outweighs the good and since I have
> no ties here anymore (retired, my kids are mobile, we'll visit); it's time
> to move on.  I'm also a moderate conservative and I'm tired of bumping into
> liberal thinking everywhere I go.  I'm a multiple minority in the land of
> my birth.  Change is good, takeover has happened, that's less good.
>
> The infrastructure (roads, water storage, power generation) has been
> ignored so that repairs have reached the point of requiring full
> replacement, too much tax monies are wasted or given away (that's politics)
> and the current mindset is to simply smoke a joint so it all goes away.  We
> are cajoled to limit our use of consumables (water, power) which is good,
> BUT the state continues to allow new building and new occupants KNOWING
> there isn't enough resource to meet the demand (because of a state court
> order, locals cannot say no to new meters and they can't raise the cost to
> make it unattainable).   And to make it worse, the south state occupant has
> no concept of the north state and can outvote us 3:1 on any given day which
> harms our way of life.  The south state (and bay area) provides tech to the
> world, the rest of the state feeds it.
>
> I'm not having it; I'm done.  If I'm a rat leaving the sinking ship, then
> shave my whiskers; just as soon as I sell, I'm outa here.  My standard of
> living will be different but generally much higher (nicer house, more
> trees, real property, lower bills and taxes but I'll have clean well water,
> fields to mow and snow to be plowed), I'll 'manage'.  ;-)  I'd rather have
> folks expect you to WAVE as you drive by than be flipped off; where
> personal responsibility means more than a law and a handshake is still a
> contract... that's not in CA anymore.  Those days are gone here.
>
> I've seen this approaching for decades and part of the travels I've done
> has been to find a new home.  I've decided on that location for my final
> home.  Everywhere is flawed, the trick is being able to live with those
> flaws (tornadoes, hurricanes, thick humidity?  Oh HELL NO).
>
> Ok, off the soapbox, while I've signed the online petition, I generally
> feel that is isn't the proper process here and I immediately got a request
> for funding (duh, for what?  Where does THAT money go?).  I encourage all
> to complain to their state representative (they're not our 'leaders' as
> THEY presume, they supposed to represent us) and to the ARRL.  We're not
> alone; Nevada has an equally harsh and poorly written law about using a mic
> while driving (I've turned up the mic gain, kept it out of sight on my lap
> and talked louder; that works).  It's untested in court in both states so
> far but has been on the books for at least 4 years in NV now.   That's a
> dangerous precedent except for those wanting a nanny state.
>
> This struggle is larger than just CA and our cause is just.  Normally I'm
> apolitical (because my employment required it) but this... is wrong.
>
> Rick WA6NHC
>
> On 2/4/2017 7:44 AM, Jim & Emilia wrote:
>
> Here Here, Rick WA6NHC!
>
>
>
> As Clint Eastwood (Dirty Harry) said “a man’s got to know his limits”.
>
> I love Rick’s points on all the services that are affected.
>
>
>
> I’m certain that it all depends on your training.  In my case, I’m a
> licensed private aircraft pilot.  You are taught to do multiple tasks from
> your very first flight (operating in a XYZ environment is a real eye
> opener).  There is one very important rule in flying.  You must do these
> tasks in the following order; aviate (fly the plane), navigate (know where
> you are in XYZ space), then communicate (no one on the ground can fly your
> plane).  Never deviate from these rules (just ask Captain Sullenberger; he
> followed these rules exactly and his dire situation turned out all right).
>
>
>
> These same rules can be applied when driving.  There have been many times,
> while driving, that I’ve put the mike down and attended to the primary
> tasks (drive the car and be situationally aware of the cars around you).
> Communications come last.  I’ve missed some neat DX, but I’m still alive
> because I followed my training.  Communicate another day.
>
>
>
> I too am pretty fed up with our nanny state, but not quite PO’d enough to
> leave, although I’ve done an extensive search on where to go, in the USA.
>
>
>
> If you don’t have multitasking ability, don’t do 2 way radio in your car.
>
> Get your wife licensed and let her have all the fun or have her drive and
> you play on the radio!
>
>
>
> 73 and good DX.
>
>
>
> Jim
>
> WB6BET
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mldxcc mailing list
> Mldxcc at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/mldxcc
> Need list help? Contact mldxcc-owner at contesting.com
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.contesting.com/pipermail/mldxcc/attachments/20170204/3386de24/attachment-0001.html>