[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 369 Introduced in House (IH)]





105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 369

To require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe rules to 
protect public safety by preventing broadcasts that create hazards for 
                               motorists.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 7, 1997

  Mr. Vento introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe rules to 
protect public safety by preventing broadcasts that create hazards for 
                               motorists.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the Federal Government has an obligation to protect the 
        health and safety of United States citizens;
            (2) motor vehicle operators, when distracted, can pose a 
        safety risk to others on the roads; and
            (3) radio broadcasts that employ sound effects identical or 
        substantially similar to customary public safety or traffic 
        sounds, such as horns, sirens, or train whistles, can be 
        distracting and hazardous to motor vehicle operators.

SEC. 2. RULES REQUIRED.

    The Federal Communications Commission shall establish rules barring 
the use of horns, sirens, or other customary public safety or traffic 
sounds from audio broadcasts as necessary to prevent such sounds 
effects from adversely affecting the public safety of motor vehicle 
operators, passengers, or pedestrians.
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