WEBSITE OF THE YELLOWKNIFE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, CANADA

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YARS was instrumental in the development of distracted driving laws as they relate to the use of mobile amateur radios.  This is a topic of national concern especially in the face of the use of cellular telephones while driving.  Amateur radio operators are seen generally as providing a useful public service. 

In the Northwest Territories some years ago a converted bus-camper broke down outside of Behchokǫ̀.  Fortunately VE8NSD just happened to be on the road and came across the vehicle broken down.  The vehicle was beyond the range of any cell phone network (that is common on stretches of highway in the Northwest Territories).  He was able to contact the YARS repeater in Behchokǫ̀ (VE8RAE), which is linked to the Yellowknife repeater (VE8YK).  VE8IR just happened to be monitoring the VE8YK repeater.  The message got through and VE8IR was able to telephone for a recovery vehicle to go out to the area and recover the converted school bus. No police resources were expended. Fortunately this occurred in the summer; had it been winter, the event could have been a life or death matter.  This is an example of the public service role that amateur radio operators can perform.  There are many more examples, but this one is particularly relevant to highway safety.

Another public service event occurred some years ago when a commercial vehicle was in a local garage for servicing.  Its land mobile radio (LAD) was left on and the microphone fell in between some seats.  The push to talk switch was activated.  This created interference on the commercial radio frequency.  YARS was called upon to apply its direction finding techniques and we were able to find the offending vehicle.  The radio was located and switched off.  The LAD frequency was clear once again for general use.   

Amateur Radio Licence Plate for the Northwest Territories - VE8WD - Current Series

In the Northwest Territories the Restricted Electronic Devices Regulations, R-100-2011 governs the use of amateur radio equipment installed in a motor vehicle. Such licence plates are often referred to as "vanity" plates, but there is nothing vain about them.  They are a class of public service licence plates, not unlike licence plates for veterans. 

YARS had input into amendments concerning distracted driving in the parent Act and these regulations when they were made. The regime governing this matter in the Northwest Territories is one of the most accommodating in Canada.  For a cross jurisdictional review see:  https://www.rac.ca/distracted-driving/ .