WASHINGTON-The Industrial Telecommunications Association is urging that business communications that use two-way handheld radios be exempted from legislation meant to curb distracted driving.
“We do not believe the intent of [the congressional legislation] was to restrict entities using two-way radios strictly for business purposes, but rather as a safeguard for surrounding motorists when an individual uses a mobile telephone or wireless device for a personal matter. As the bill is currently drafted, however, clarification will be vital to the two-way radio dealers and licensees in your district and nationwide, as there will be uncertainty as to whether two-way radio devices used primarily to advance business interests would be exempted from state regulation while operating in motor vehicles. … Prohibiting operation of two-way wireless devices in motor vehicles will be detrimental to the services offered by many businesses throughout the nation,” said Jeremy Denton, ITA director of government affairs, in a letter to Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) and Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.).
Last month Ackerman and Corzine introduced legislation known as the “The CRASH-Call Responsibly and Stay Healthy-Act.”
The CRASH Act would withhold highway funds from states that do not enact legislation restricting the use of wireless phones while driving. States would have two years following passage of the Ackerman/Corzine legislation to enact bills on their own or risk losing 5 percent of their highway transportation money the first year and 15 percent the second year. The amount risked would increase by 10 percent until legislation was enacted by the individual states.
