VA3/VE3 Driving while distracted update from RAC

The following came in to me from the RAC Bulletin Service…

=========================

RAC Bulletin 2012-057E – Distracted Driving Bulletin: Ontario Extends Exemption
2012-09-25

The Radio Amateurs of Canada are today announcing written confirmation from  Minister Bob Chiarelli of the Ontario Provincial Government regarding a five year  extension of exemption to the Ontario distracted driving law. In his letter,  Minister Chiarelli explains that the current exemptions for both Amateur Radio and  Two Way Commercial Radios will be extended until January 1st, 2018.

Minister Chiarelli expresses his hope that in that time commercial hands free  alternatives will be found for two way radios. While RAC finds victory in the five  year extension, a permanent solution is desired and required.  The Radio Amateurs of Canada will continue to pursue a permanent exemption for  Amateur Radio operators in Ontario. Similar exemptions already exist in many other  provincial jurisdictions in Canada – thanks in part to the efforts of local  amateurs and RAC’s national strategy to address distracted driving legislation.

The Radio Amateurs of Canada is Canada’s national voice for Amateur Radio. Our  efforts not only promote the Amateur Radio Service but protect it from regulatory  interference that may lead to less capability to provide emergency communications.
Not already a RAC member? Why not join today at http://www.rac.ca and find out about the many benefits our members enjoy across the country and the world beyond.

Bill Gade, VE4WO
Regulatory Affairs

**—-**

Vernon Ikeda – VE2MBS/VE2QQ
Pointe-Claire, Québec
RAC Blog Editor/RAC E-News/Web News Bulletin Editor

====================================

Thought you might find it interesting

73bob

The “American Invasion” arrives in Toronto

I found a couple of interesting posts from a fellow amateur radio blogger.  His call is  N0IP  (they start here) as he and his family (along with his handheld) visit Toronto.  Glad to see that the Toronto Amateur Community is making them feel welcome.  In addition to this as I have previously mentioned that Connie NR4CB has started her epic trip (see my previous posting for the links) and will be visition VE2 and VE3 after some time after field day I believe.

How many other are going to be travelling this Summer?   If you are don’t forget your handheld radio and if you are really eager bring along a qrp rig as well…  It does beat sitting in the hotel room watching reruns or infomercials…

Are you visiting Ontario this summer???  Let me know (leave me a comment) and I’ll try and get you up to date repeater and net frequency information…  Also I am trying to get some up to date information on our current Driving while distracted laws as they pertain to non Canadian Amateurs driving in Ontario…

73bob

B.C. Mountie poses as beggar to thwart cellphone use while driving

Todays post just made me laugh and I had to share it with you.

It does sit as a gentle reminder that to the Hams from VA3/VE3 (who are now currently distracted by the changes to the Ontario Section Map) that you also have to remember that soon your exemption for Driving while distracted will be running out… Then you might not be laughing as hard at the same type of aticle. 

Thanks to the Ottawa Citizen for sharing the story with us.   The link to the story follows…

B.C. Mountie poses as beggar to thwart cellphone use while driving.

73bob

A little more on Driving while distracted

Tonight while checking out some blogs that I like to read on occasion I found some driving while distracted info on the KD8BIG Blog:

The blog posting itself can be found here and I suggest you visit his blog and take a look around as in my opinion it makes for really good reading…

73bob

New Website for Ontario ARES

I got this little bit of info off the RAC Bulletin Service and thought I would share it with you as well as toss a couple of comments out… Yes I know I had resolved to be nice but I am not RAC Bashing (or ARES Bashing) with this one…

First of all courtesy of VE3AJB who is the Section Manager for the Ontario Section of RAC …  News comes to us that the Ontario ARES group has a new website.  This is a good thing because when Ontario ARES had that tiff with ECOA last year the guy who owned the old domain name sided with ECOA and took what was the official Ontario ARES website down.  This is kinda like taking your ball and going home when you don’t want to play the game anymore….

Anyway the new Ontario ARES Website is here.

 Well I am glad to see something replace the old website and hopefully in the very near future the site will be updated with information that not only will be of use to Amateurs but the people who just might someday need our services.

 Now lets take a look at the bigger picture

Cut the crap guys…  We are not going to impress anyone when we fight like little spoiled brats in the playground.

On one side of things we have Bill Unger VE3XT and his group trying to convince the Minister of Transportation that we deserve an exemption from the Driving while distracted laws.

If the Minister decided to do a Google Search he would find one suspended site and a second site that still needs some work and unfortunatley the first one he will find is the suspended site.  Looks really good eh!!! Its all about how the public sees us and right now they are not seeing our best…

Several other bloggers have made comments about how they think things should be done and their comments make sense to me.  Take at look at Bill VE3CLQ’s blog and read some of his posting in Jan 2012 and Dec 2011 and you will see what I mean.  Peter VE3HG also makes some good points about ARES in the same time frame.   Check out Peters blog from December 1st to December 15 for some thoughts on Field Services and ARES.

There is no doubt in my mind that ARES needs a makeover.  Canada is way too large to have one set of needs that can be met across our country.  In the larger centers the needs are different than in the northern parts.  The east and west coasts with their ever changing weather patterns have needs I can’t even imagine in Ottawa.  The same way someone in Rural Manitoba worries about floods is wondering what we are talking about when 10,000 people are sent to shelters when there is a fire in a chemical plant in Toronto.

We need to re work ARES to the good old days…  When we used to support our local communities and do a good job at it.  We don’t need to set up large province wide groups.  We don’t need the large confused organisation…  We have the goverment to do that….  We need to be able to provide limited Backup communications to our friends and neighbors while the larger groups are talking or arguing about who is going to save the world…

73bob

ps….  Yes this turned out to be a bit of a rant….  Sorry….  As usual comments are welcome….  BE NICE….  Flames will be cheerfully ignored….  and really Nasty stuff will just be deleted…. If you want to send me a detailed comment by email  I’ll even cut and past it into a Blog Post giving you credit as a “Guest Blogger”  The choice is yours…

 

 

News from RAC on Ontario Distracted Driving

The following come to us via Bill Unger VE3XT….

==================================

RAC Distracted Driving Committee meets with MTO Officials

On October 20^th  the same day that the Honourable Bob Chiarelli was sworn in as the new Minister of Transportation, Steve Pengelly, VE3STV former RAC HLC, Jeff Stewart, VA3WXM Southern Ontario Director and Bill Unger, VE3XT North East Ontario Director met with the Assistant Deputy Minister – Road User Safety Division and the Director – Safety Policy and Education Branch.

One of the questions we were asked is why Amateurs believe we deserve an exemption to operate while mobile.  We explained that in order to be proficient in the use of our radio systems including mobiles and repeaters, in order to ensure they are always in working order and in order to ensure we know where they work best and where they don’t work well at all, we must continually test them. This is done by daily usage and by providing community service to many diverse groups across the Province.  They were told that many communities rely on the Amateur Radio Operators in their areas as part of their emergency preparedness plans.  They were also advised that Amateurs have installed, at no expense to the taxpayer, a communications infrastructure that provides a backup to existing telecommunications systems in which authorities can have confidence.

We demonstrated a 2 Metre radio to them and illustrated the difference between Simplex using PTT and Duplex with cell phones. We emphasized that to use our radios and communicate we did not have to remove our eyes from the road.

It was also brought to their attention that we are a relatively small group of private individuals and for us to continue our public service while having to comply with the new legislation, could be a financial hardship on some Amateurs.

The Ministry Officials raised several other questions as to why we cannot comply with the legislation.  They were answered with solid technical and operational explanations as to the difficulties we would encounter in order to do this.

A reasoned set of arguments was presented to allay their concerns regarding safety and to explain why Amateurs should be treated differently than others and exempted on a permanent basis.

Ontario has committed to consult with RAC early in the New Year on this matter so a permanent solution can be found prior to January 2013.

Bill Unger VE3XT

Chair

========================================

Update on Driving while distracted for VE3/VA3

News from the RAC Blog….

Today we have news that RAC Task Force has been formed to lobby the Ontario Ministry of Transportation on our behalf.  For more information on this topic which is close to many amateurs please follow this link…

Congrats go out to RAC for getting the ball rolling on this topic…

73bob

 

My thoughts on the Driving while distracted issues

First off…  These comments pertain to the issues in the Province of Ontario (VA3/VE3) but you could use the same arguments in your location if needed…

There is currently a debate going on about the lack of exemption to/for  Amateur Radio Operators in VA3/VE3Land under the new Driving while distracted laws in Ontario. 

As an Amateur in Ontario I freely give my time and the use of my equipment to support various public service events and ARES Activities in my immediate neighborhood and the localities surrounding them.  This includes mobile Amateur Equipment with a replacement value of over $1200.00 (FT857 +FT2900 and antennas) plus taxes.  This equipment is sitting in a kit ready to be installed in whatever vehicle I would be using because I no longer own a vehicle. 

Currently Amateur Radio Operators have an exemption (time limited) so we can come up with solutions (blue tooth) to comply with the hands free demands of the new law. 

The question I find myself asking is why should I ???  Why should I tie up valuable resources on the chance I might need them???  Having a mobile radio (or two) was a worth while thought when I might put them in a Rental a couple of times a year for family trips and if I needed to I could put them in vehicle for a public service event as well.  It sorta justified having them around just in case…

Just about the rest of Canada’s Provinces and territories seem to have less restrictive laws on this topic and the strange part they seem to have needed emergency communication support in the last little while.  ARES was active with the Manitoba Floods,  ARES was active the the Alberta Fires recently in Slave Lake,  ARES and Amateur Radio play a big part in the Province of BC and the emergency plan.  Currently Quebec is having Flood Issues as well and RAQI is there assisting…  These provinces and others undersand the need for backup communications support.  A big part of that support is happening because we as amateurs can use the equipment we already own in our vehicles.   Now perhaps if we had a “good disaster” here in Ontario then the goverment might look at us in a different light but we don’t want to put that theory to the test…  Or at least I don’t!!!

Its a simple fact of life…  The money is becoming tighter so why would I want to tie up valuable money on equipment I can’t use unless its an emergency??? 

This is not about withdrawing services but more about the quality of the equipment I will be bringing if needed…  I guess the repeaters will be up and running  so my handheld and the rubber duck should be fine and as the repeaters are up we won’t need HF for backup to the VHF net.  I’ll still be there if needed (or if asked) but the 100w mobile HF Rig and the 75w VHF Mobile Rig along with the suitable antennas might not be…  This is a lot of money (for me at least) to have sitting in the box just so I can use it in an emergency…

The Amateurs who do public service all seem to think that we can still use our radios parked at the checkpoints (very true with the key word parked there) and so they are not directly affected…  But many of the bodies who assist with these events might not want to help out as they no longer have a need for mobile radios…  Why have it if you can’t use it??? 

In my opinion this very shortsighted law will hamper public service and backup communications in the long run.  The cost of providing communications gear in case its needed is too great.  If I can’t use it then why keep it. 

I stress that I am not talking about withdrawing services… 

Just that once this temporary exemption  for us runs out the quality of the  tools I bring when asked to serve my community will be not as high as it once was…

73bob

Message from VE3XT RAC Director

The following found its way into my email box this afternoon and Bill asked me to post it here to get the message out to more Ontario Hams…

For your info

73bob

=========================================

Hello:

Just back from Dayton and we got a great response from a lot of Canadian hams who came by the booth and already planning for next year.

Why I am sending you this email is just a gentle reminder that I really need letters of support from 3^rd party groups and organizations.  If you help with communications for any group or are part of an emergency response procedure for your community we need a letter from them.

I am not looking for a letter asking or telling any one that we need to continue to be able to operate mobile but rather a strong statement that Amateurs are important to the operation of their event or emergency preparedness plan.  We need to show the bureaucrats and technocrats that Amateurs are a vital group and provide many community services that so far has gone unnoticed.  Stated simply, we need to “get on their radar”.  The letters can be addressed to either Kathleen Wynn or your individual group.

Once the legislators understand that Ontario Amateurs provide a service that fills the needs of many diverse groups and organizations across the province I believe we can change their minds.  This logic has worked in other provinces and it will work here as well.

Thanks and please try to get those letters to me soon.

73

Bill Unger VE3XT

North East Ontario Regional Director

Radio Amateurs of Canada

Driver didn’t get the message

Today’s bit of discouraging news comes to us courtesy of the Ottawa Citizen (daily newspaper)…

Its discouraging because its showing Driving while distracted in a bad way…  Another professional who can’t follow the rules…

It takes away a little more public support and we did not have much to start with…

How are your attempts at getting your local officials to send a letter to the Provincal Goverment asking them to give Amateur Radio an exemption going?  As I have mentioned previously our local MPP is not going to go to bat for us on this one as the bulk of his constituants do not know the difference between a smart phone and my Yaesu VX8Gr or my Yaesu FT2900. 

However your local EMO official might know the difference and also know the value of Amateur Radio in that real emergency situation…  He should know what the local community could lose once we can no longer operate mobile in an unrestricted way…

His letter (along with others) stands a chance of getting either an exemption or an extension of the current exemption but right now time is running out…  Less than 2 Years to go and we have lots of work to do yet…

To win this we need an effective lobby effort!

Also the people we assist with Comms for Car Rallys, Bike Tours and walkathons…. They might want to send a letter to the Minister as well…  What about the local Police Department when we assist them with Communication for a lost child or when your ARES group goes out on the Pumpkin Patrol???  Perhaps they might want to help us as well…

Take the time to read the article then you will be (might be) motivated enough to think about who we can get on our side for this fight…

Driver didn’t get the message.

73bob