What problems are people having with law enforcement officers?
--Eric W4OTN
On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 21:10, Eugene Zimmerman <ezimmerm@erols.com> wrote:
> Hi Les
>
> This is wonderful information for emergency vehicles. But not so good for
> rovers.
>
> Rovers need to obey the law - emergency vehicles sometimes do not. For
> instance if your rover operates essentially only when it is stopped, or even
> if you are a run and shoot rover who occasionally stops, it is ABSOLUTELY
> incumbent on you to get your rover off the road as far as you can and in any
> case far enough that NO part of the vehicle or the antennas you use is on or
> over a travelled road. Then there is no reason to worry about being hit
> unless some drunk runs off the road and hits you. And then no amount of
> markings will help.
>
> Secondly you should make your rover as inconspicuous as possible. That can't
> be the case for a run and shoot rover but a rover that stops and sets up can
> often have the antennas collapsed to the point that from a distance it looks
> like a few bags of oats for the family horse or some fertilzer for the
> garden. I guarantee you will be hassled by the authorities who know nothing
> of amateur radio or roving. If you are in a car covered with neon stipes and
> you are wearing a yellow safety vest, what are you going to do when you are
> approached by the local sheriff? If you tell him that you are an emergency
> vehicle he is first going to ask what emergency and then ask for
> identification - as an emergency vehicle - and second he can't be faulted if
> he thinks you are not playing with a full deck of cards. In the latter he is
> correct as many rovers including me will tell you. I don't know about
> Alabama and the Florida panhandle but I'll bet law enforcement officers are
> very wary of folks they think are crazy. He may be looking for the target on
> your back. :-)
>
> Brian the Rover ND3F/N3IQ is probably the expert on dealing with authorities
> and how to avoid a bad outcome from such encounters. I'd suspect ND2F/5
> knows more than anyone else about authorities for a run and shoot rover -
> how to dress, how to pull completely off road, what to say, etc. But making
> the rover vehicle any more conspicuous than it already is and wearing
> clothing that is - to be nice - odd is probably a good way to get on the
> wrong side of the authorities.
>
> 73 Gene W3ZZ
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: Les Rayburn [ <mailto:les@highnoonfilm.com>
> mailto:les@highnoonfilm.com]
>
> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 3:39 PM
>
> To: Sean, KX9X Kutzko; K1CE@cfl.rr.com; VHF Contesting Reflector; DEC Region
>
> 2 WX4AL
>
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Rover/EMCOMM Vehicle Visibility
>
> Amateurs who operate "Rover" in VHF/UHF Contests, and those who operate
> mobile response vehicles for emergency communications deployments should pay
> particular attention to their safety while on the road. For some great
> suggestions on how to improve your chances of not being involved in an
> accident, you may want to read a new study just released by the United
> States Fire Administration (USFA), in partnership with the International
> Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), and supported by the US
> Department of Justice.
>
> Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Study (PDF, 2.2 Mb).
>
> According to the study, numerous law enforcement officers, firefighters, and
> emergency medical services (EMS) workers have been injured or killed along
> roadways throughout the US over the past decade. While I'm not aware of any
> serious injuries to amateur radio operators, most of us who operate mobile
> can share stories of many "close calls". The study discusses the importance
> of addressing emergency vehicle characteristics and human factors to reduce
>
> injuries and deaths.
>
> The key findings of the study were:
>
> . Retro reflective materials hold greater promise for enhancing the
>
> conspicuity of emergency vehicles.
>
> . Being visible and recognizable are important facets of emergency
>
> vehicle conspicuity.
>
> . Contrasting colors can assist drivers with locating a hazard amid
>
> the visual clutter of the roadway.
>
> . Fluorescent colors offer higher visibility during daylight hours.
>
> The following are the key recommendations of the study:
>
> . Outline vehicle boundaries with "contour markings," using retro
>
> reflective material.
>
> . Concentrate retro reflective material on lower half of emergency
>
> vehicles.
>
> . Use fluorescent retro reflective materials in applications where a
>
> high degree of day/night time visibility is desired.
>
> . Use retro reflective material on law enforcement vehicles on rear
>
> to maintain stealth when facing traffic or patrolling.
>
> . Apply distinctive logos or emblems with retro reflective material
>
> to improve emergency vehicle visibility and recognition.
>
> To that, I'd add another suggestion. When operating rover, I always wear a
> bright yellow "safety vest" sold at Lowes, Home Depot and similar stores. It
> includes the highly reflective 3M materials that seem to almost "glow" under
> headlights. I wear this vest even when parked...so that if I suddenly exit
> the vehicle during the action of a contest, I don't have to remember to put
> it on.
>
> I consider myself a very safe operator/driver, but recognize that I get
> caught up in the furor of operating and might make a mistake. I've also got
> a set of yellow flashing "caution lights" that I use on the truck whenever
> I'm storm spotting, or driving in poor weather conditions.
>
> Thanks to the EMR-ISAC for summarizing the report, most of the content of
> this e-mail is theirs. The study is well worth reading, and might save your
> life.
>
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
>
> EM63nf
>
> 121 Mayfair Park
>
> Maylene, AL 35114
>
>
>
>
>
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