On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:41:20 -0400, Michael Coslo
wrote:

People like the police and Ham radio operators and plenty of
other folk use radios daily, yet when was the last time that you heard
about say a State Forest Ranger getting in an accident because he was
using the radio?

Hi Mike,

Am I the only one to recall that time when it was AGAINST THE LAW to
operate a ham radio while driving for EXACTLY THE SAME REASONS you
have witnessed with cell phone users poor driving performance? Having
a rig in the car came with the legal distinction of operating mobile
and operating remote. I've lived in states where you could only
operate remote, and it was against the law to operate mobile. Consult
old copies of the Ham rags for various campaigns to change the laws
(even to operating remote).

If the laws changed at all, it wasn't because of our legislative clout
so much as it was the telephone company's.

Ham radio operators behind the wheel and engaged in a QSO exhibit no
greater care than the ordinary driver on the cell phone.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC