Distracted Driving Legislation - Differing Interpretations

Notice to Amateur Radio Operators in Alberta, from the Calgary Communications Club.

 

In discussions with City of Calgary Police and the local RCMP, we have confirmed that there is a marked difference in how law enforcement views the exemption of radio amateurs to the distracted driving sections of the Traffic Safety Act and how radio amateurs view the exemption. Law enforcement thinks the exemption applies only while the radio amateur is engaged in an emergency. Radio amateurs think the exemption applies all the time. Note: if a radio amateur is driving erratically or otherwise contravening the Act, the exemption offers no protection.  The exemption simply allows a radio amateur to hold, view, or manipulate an amateur radio (or a microphone connected to such a radio) while driving. 

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A new repeater to extend NARC's coverage

VE6TNC_mobile_handheld_thumbWith many thanks to Ray VE6RHS NARC Operations Director and Randy VA6RC & Dave VA6TK NARC's Intrepid Repeater Team, NARC is pleased to announce a new VHF repeater location near Chapman, Alberta.  Thanks also go to Curtis VE6AEW and Kiernan VA6IP for scoping out the site.  VE6TNC will be our new "Elk Island" repeater and will be going on-air in the coming weeks (sometime around April-May).

The map to the right shows the expected mobile and handheld coverage for the new repeater.  Yellow is mobile coverage at 25W and green is handheld coverage at 5W. Please click on the image for a full-sized view.

VE6TNC will be on 146.610 (-)  with 100Hz CTCSS

NARC_Total_Coverage_thumbNARC Repeater Coverage

With the addition of the new Elk Island repeater, VE6TNC, this brings a total of five linked repeaters to the NARC repeater system.  Providing remarkable coverage around the Edmonton region, these repeaters are VE6PLP about 70 klms to the SSW of Edmonton, VE6JN about 15 klms to the west, VE6HM at aproximately 15 klms to the east and VE6UV just a kilometre or two to the south of downtown Edmonton.  The NARC repeater system also has an on-demand link to the SARA system, extending coverage to a large portion of Alberta when needed.

The map to the left shows the NARC repeater mobile and handheld coverage from south of Red Deer, west of Seba Beach, north of Newbrook and east of Innisfree.  Yellow is mobile coverage at 25W and green is handheld coverage at 5W. Please click on the image for a full-sized view.

Distracted Driving Law in Effect September 1, 2011

Edmonton .... The most comprehensive distracted driving legislation in Canada will soon be implemented in our province. Alberta’s new distracted driving law will come into effect on September 1.

“This legislation is another step forward in our traffic safety efforts and an important addition to our overall traffic safety strategy,” said Minister of Transportation Luke Ouellette. “I am confident this new law, which is practical and enforceable, will help to keep Albertans safer while on the road and that’s something we can all support. We all have a role to play in traffic safety and I encourage Albertans to start practising safer driving habits today.”

Licenced Radio Amateurs have partial exemption in the Regulation as follows:

"Exempt classes of individuals
3(1) Pursuant to section 115.1(1) of the Act, an individual who
holds a radio operator certificate issued under the
Radiocommunication Act (Canada) may drive or operate a vehicle
on a highway while holding, viewing or manipulating a 2-way
radio communication device."

Further resources:

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/distracteddriving.htm

The Ammendment Act: http://www.qp.alberta.ca/570.cfm?frm_isbn=9780779755011&search_by=link

The Regulation: http://www.qp.alberta.ca/570.cfm?frm_isbn=9780779758609&search_by=link

* ARES Edmonton is providing this information for the interest of licenced Amateur Radio Operators only.  None of the information provided here should be considered legal advice from ARES Edmonton.

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