‰  NOW 30 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM NOVEMBER 2012 QST  PAGE 82‰

COMMUNICATIONS PRESENT A DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT LEVEL OF RISK IS A SOUND ONE,
IT DOES NOT NEGATE THE EXISTENCE OF RISK, NOR DOES IT EQUATE WITH DRIVING
WITHOUT THE DISTRACTION.  WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A BAN, THE INDIVIDUAL
AMATEUR NEEDS TO DETERMINE WHETHER HE OR SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO FACE
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY AFTER A COLLISION.  HAMS NEED TO CONSIDER
THAT A JURY OF 12 PEOPLE OFF THE STREET WILL DECIDE WHETHER THEIR MOBILE
OPERATING WAS SUFFICIENTLY NEGLIGENT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCIDENT.  DID
THE USE OF THE RADIO INVOLVE A LEVEL OF NEGLIGENCE THAT WILL PERMIT THAT
JURY TO AWARD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO SOMEONE WHO WAS INJURED OR TO THE
FAMILY OF SOMEONE WHO WAS KILLED?  GIVEN OUR NUMBERS, IT WILL BE A RARE
JURY THAT INCLUDES A LICENSED AMATEUR, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS AN AMATEUR OR WHO
HAS SUFFICIENT FAMILIARITY WITH AMATEUR RADIO TO UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENTS
AND DISTINCTIONS OR EVEN CARE ABOUT THEM.  IN MOST INSTANCES WHEN THERE ARE
INJURIES IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, THE ACCUSED PARTY WILL BE REPRESENTED BY
LAWYERS SELECTED BY HIS OR HER INSURANCE COMPANY.  FEW OF THOSE LAWYERS
WILL UNDERSTAND AMATEUR RADIO.  WILL THEY BE ABLE TO CONVINCE A JURY THAT
‰  END OF 30 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ