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
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