Further to the conversation at the DX club meeting last night, I can understand why people are concerned about distracted driving laws and regulations. While Amateur Radio Operators were clearly exempt in the 2011 version of the Traffic Safety Act, no longer does this seem to be the case.
From http://www.qp.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=T06.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779738533 - Section 115 is the one that concerns me... here's why:
Cellular telephones, electronic devices, etc.
115.1(1) Subject to this section and the regulations made under
section 115.5, no individual shall drive or operate a vehicle on a
highway while at the same time
(a) holding, viewing or manipulating a cellular telephone,
radio communication device or other communication
device that is capable of receiving or transmitting
telephone communication, electronic data, electronic mail
or text messages, or
(b) holding, viewing or manipulating a hand-held electronic
device or a wireless electronic device.
(2) An individual may drive or operate a vehicle on a highway
while using a cellular telephone or radio communication device in
hands-free mode.
(3) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to
(a) the use of a 2-way radio communication device, only for
the purposes set out in the regulation, by an individual
driving or operating an escort, pilot or trail vehicle who is
required by regulation under this Act to maintain 2-way
radio communication, or the use of a cellular telephone or
other communication device by that individual for those
purposes when 2-way radio communication is not
functional or is unavailable,
RSA 2000
Section 115.2 Chapter T-6
123
TRAFFIC SAFETY ACT
(b) the use of a 2-way radio communication device, only for
the purpose of maintaining communication with the
individual’s employer, by an individual driving or
operating a vehicle who is required by the individual’s
employer to maintain 2-way radio communication while
the individual is acting within the scope of the
individual’s employment, or the use of a cellular
telephone or other communication device by that
individual for that purpose when 2-way radio
communication is not functional or is unavailable,
(c) the use of a 2-way radio communication device, only for
the purpose of participating in a search, rescue or
emergency management situation, by an individual
driving or operating a vehicle, or the use of a cellular
telephone or other communication device by that
individual for that purpose when 2-way radio
communication is not functional or is unavailable, or
(d) the use of a cellular telephone or other communication
device, only for the purpose of contacting an emergency
response unit, by an individual driving or operating a
vehicle.
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to an individual driving or
operating an emergency vehicle while the individual is acting
within the scope of the individual’s employment.
(5) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a vehicle that
(a) is not on a highway, or
(b) is parked in a manner specified in a regulation under this
Act.
2010 c23 s2
From what I read and understand here, Amateur Radio Operators are no longer exempt unless it's a part of your job or you are contacting an emergency response unit. I've checked the rest of the 2014 version (Current as of December 17, 2014) of the Traffic Safety Act and cannot find any mention of "exempt classes of individuals" or "Radiocommunication Act" mentioned in the 2011 version.
Thoughts?
