[d-star] Minnesota's New Texting Law. Watch out APRS and Dstar users.

[Matthew Genelin]

*sigh*

Yes, I too believe it's about time we have a law like this; just that  
it's really hard to enforce.

It's about time to take the ham radio out of my car and replace it  
with a motorola... nothing to stare at incessantly in traffic, easy to  
use.

-Matt

Matthew Genelin
Fast Computer Service Co.
Onsite Computer Repair
612.605.5382
mgenelin at fastcomputerserviceco.com



On Aug 1, 2008, at 8:01 AM, Eric - n0nki wrote:

>
> This new law effective today has got me a bit upset. Just thinking  
> about
> the idea that police officers might find it justifiable to take my  
> radio
> equipment.  What about UPS/FedEx and other delivery vehicles, service
> trucks, bus drivers, taxi cabs, the city parking enforcers...  So many
> commercial vehicles have MDTs (mobile data terminals). I personally
> interact with my mobile APRS station and car computer and I do this  
> quite
> safely.  I guess now it's time to develop speech recognition for the  
> car,
> mostly in the hope I can convince law enforcement to leave me alone.  
> I can
> see the purpose, those damn distracted teens and the silly folks who  
> think
> they can learn to text while driving or the uppity business person  
> who's
> using the CrackBerry while speeding to another meeting while on a
> conference call and thinking about what s/he's going to be doing in
> another two hours...
>
> Anyhow, here's the text of the law for anyone concerned...
>
>   Sec. 38. [169.475] USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE.
>     Subdivision 1. Definition. For purposes of this section,  
> "electronic
> message" means a self-contained piece of digital communication that is
> designed or intended to be transmitted between physical devices. An
> electronic message includes, but is not limited to, e-mail, a text
> message, an instant message, a command or request to access a World  
> Wide
> Web page, or other data that uses a commonly recognized electronic
> communications protocol. An electronic message does not include  
> voice or
> other data transmitted as a result of making a phone call, or data
> transmitted automatically by a wireless communications device without
> direct initiation by a person.
>     Subd. 2. Prohibition on use. No person may operate a motor vehicle
> while using a wireless communications device to compose, read, or  
> send an
> electronic message, when the vehicle is in motion or a part of  
> traffic.
>     Subd. 3. Exceptions. This section does not apply if a wireless
> communications device is used:
>     (1) solely in a voice-activated or other hands-free mode;
>     (2) for making a cellular phone call;
>     (3) for obtaining emergency assistance to (i) report a traffic
> accident, medical emergency, or serious traffic hazard, or (ii)  
> prevent a
> crime about to be committed;
>     (4) in the reasonable belief that a person's life or safety is in
> immediate danger; or
>     (5) in an authorized emergency vehicle while in the performance of
> official duties..
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