In April of last year, Coconino County Supervisors passed Ordinance No 2014-03 regulating the use of communications equipment while driving.

The ordinance was aimed mainly at drivers being distracted by texting on a cellphone while driving. Mainly teens. Some of the cities and towns in Coconino County have decided to write their own ordinances or skip enforcement of the ordinance altogether in their jurisdiction.

There was some question about how this applied to amateur radio operators. The ordinance, however, specifically exempts:

A person who holds a valid amateur radio operator license issued by or any license issued by the Federal Communications Commission or the driver uses a two-way radio, such as a CB radio.

Of course some confusion could arise from this. I use Echolink on my cellphone and can contact people throughout the world. The answer is, of course, no. You cannot use a cellphone because it is technically not a radio. You still must manipulate the device in order to make contact and each time you want to talk. It still diverts your eyes from the road.

With a microphone, such as with a citizen’s band or amateur radio, you can still keep your eyes on the road.