On the Web : March 2008


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SJRA

Our contributions to the South Jersey Radio Association club bulletin "Harmonics" includes lengthy Web addresses. As the URL's can be difficult or a nuisance to type into your Web browser, the postings here should make it easier to get to the Web sites SJRA members are interested in. Look for the posting at w2xq.com at the time "Harmonics" is scheduled for delivery in the south Jersey area. Questions, suggestions or contributions are always welcome.
SJRA's home territory

Cell phones in vehicles

This is just a reminder that New Jersey motor vehicle laws changed on March 1. If you operate a cell phone in your vehicle while moving, it must be hands-free. Otherwise you can be stopped and ticketed. N0TAZ, Leon, an attourney living in Trenton, prepared the following:

Here is a short synopsis New Jersey's revised cell phone law that went into effect today (March 1, 2008), subject to any future amendments or court opinions to the contrary. Nothing in this e-mail should be construed as legal advice or as a legal opinion.

  1. The new law now makes use of a handheld cell phone or any other "electronic communication device" a primary offense, meaning one that allows police to stop and ticket you, UNLESS (1) it is being used hands-free (with a headset or speakerphone); (2) it is placed in such a way that it does not interfere with use of federally-required safety equipment (lights, horn, turn signals, flashers, etc.); and (3) the driver operates with a high degree of caution.
  2. It is interesting to note that this is the ONLY NJ motor vehicle law that requires a driver to operate with a "high degree of caution". Thus, it raises the normal standard of care when operating a hands-free phone or electronic communication device.
  3. While the law prohibits use of handheld "electronic communication device[s]", it does not define what that is. It is not unreasonable to conclude that pagers, Blackberries, portable web browers, laptops and other computers, and even CB radios, Family Radio walkie-talkies and business band radios would be deemed to be "electronic communication device[s]." The statute explicity allows use of Amateur Radio equipment by exempting it from the definition of "electronic communication device".
  4. "Use" of a handheld cell phone or electronic communication device includes "talking or listening to another person on the telephone, text messaging, or sending an electronic message via the wireless telephone or electronic communication device". Interestingly, the law does not address "reading" or "retrieving" text messages that are received. Will the Courts say that the prohibition on "text messaging" includes reading a text message? What about photo messages? These issues are currently unclear.
  5. The statute permits the use of one hand to activate or deactivate any function of the cell phone or the electronic communication device, provided that the driver is using a hands-free device. So, this means that you can dial a call, hang up, transfer a call, listen to voicemail, etc., using one hand, so long as you're using a hands-free device (headset or speakerphone).
  6. The law applies only to drivers of "moving motor vehicles", not to passengers. Is it applicable to a driver stopped at a red light or in a traffic jam, since he/she is not in a "moving motor vehicle"? I'd bet that the Courts will say "yes". Obviously, it doesn't apply to parked vehicles. It's unclear whether it applies to a disabled motor vehicle that is in a lane of moving traffic, although the statute allows use of a handheld device for emergencies.
  7. The law applies only on public streets and highways. It is, therefore, inapplicable on private roads, private driveways, and private parking lots/parking decks.
  8. No, the law does NOT authorize police to confiscate your cell phone or your car for using your cell phone without a hands-free device.

For a copy of the law, click here: www.judiciary.state.nj.us/legis/2007c198_law.pdf. In a separate e-mail, ARRL SNJ SN Jean Preiestly KA2YKN suggests downloading a copy of the law, and put it in your car, in case of being stopped by an overzealous officer. And don't forget to keep a copy of your FCC license with you.

On the 12th, I had a chance to talk about the statute with several troopers from the Totowa barracks that came to my work location. Memoranda has been passed out to the troop cars. I get the impression that the law is still being sorted out. On the other hand, law enforcement clearly have the tools and authority to stop those cars we all see wandering among the lanes of an interestate, speeding up and slowing down and generally endangering other drivers in the adjacent lanes. This moving violation carries a minimum charge of $100. Unfortunately, for the moment at least, law enforcement won't be able to snag the soccer moms and the teenagers yacking on their cell phones as they trailing through the local shopping mall parking lots.

Handsfree

As long as we're on the subject of handsfree devices, Ted W2TAG passes along a link to a video showing a BlueTooth application for ham radio. There is some construction work involved but the interface box doesn't appear to be overly challenging to build. Watch the video at uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6ypVUoRVv3U and make up your own mind. I've often wondered why, with BlueTooth technology in uses all through the communications industries, why the transceiver manufacturers haven't cut the mike cord a long time ago. Maybe this video will finally wake up the Kenwood, Icom and Yeasu engineers.

Oops... Radargate

Keith Waltman sent this message along with an interesting story within. Since at least some hams operate up in the chicken cooking range of frequencies, I thought this tidbit to be interesting to all:

Several years ago, my good friend and fellow ham, Tim Shingara, discovered a serious flaw with certain handheld radar guns when used in Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. The outcome of all this for the PA SP could be dismissing thousands upon thousands of speeding tickets in the Commonwealth. The State Police are scrambling for viable excuses to cover up the situation and here is video of the latest attempt. Nowhere in RF engineering has anyone but Richard Guth heard of "frequency noise": www.youtube.com/watch?v=xke-BIfXLWY. Keith adds "Read more at Google:" www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=HPID,HPID:2005-18,HPID:en&q=tim+shingara.

WA1AOR, ex-KA1AOR

Some people have been asking "whatever happened to Gary North who lived in Browns Mills?" He abruptly disappeared from the area repeaters (including K2AA) in 2006. The mystery is solved. While researching another call, I found an FCC listing that puts Gary in Summerville, SC, with a new vanity call of W1DCN. There was no telephone number listed, so I did a reverse lookup on the address and found a telephone number with a different name at the listed address.

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Revised 12 March 2008

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