SnoopCoop

Having been in law enforcement and the related for 45 years, I will state how I might operate my vehicle with certain transmitting devices.   I would not be overly concerned if at all about using a ham, gmrs or cb radio in my vehicle.  There may be a law in some states you can't have a transmitting device such as a microphone in your hand in some states but it is hardly enforced if at all and more importantly there is NO EVIDENCE that the person was operating (transmitting) on such a device even if involved in a motor vehicle accident. 
 
A cellular telephone is another matter.  Most states make it very clear in their law you can't talk or text on a cellular telephone in your hand up to or about your face.  It is allowed in most states I am aware, you can talk through your cellular phone if you speak in a remote mode hands free... say through the car stereo system. HOWEVER,  THERE IS A HARD COPY RECORD OF A PERSON SPEAKING OR TEXTING ON A CELLULAR TELEPHONE WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE OBTAINABLE THROUGH THE CELL PHONE CARRIER.  If the person operating the vehicle is involved in a motor vehicle accident, possibly a serious motor vehicle accident and definitely involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident, the POLICE and the CIVIL ATTORNEY will obtain a COURT ORDER and show the operator's activity at the time and date of the accident and it WILL be used against the operator as "inattentive" to driving. 

Having been in law enforcement and the related for 45 years, I will state how I might operate my vehicle with certain transmitting devices.   I would not be overly concerned if at all about using a ham, gmrs or cb radio in my vehicle.  There may be a law in some states you can't have a transmitting device such as a microphone in your hand in some states but it is hardly enforced if at all and more importantly there is NO EVIDENCE that the person was operating (transmitting) on such a device even if involved in a motor vehicle accident. 
 
A cellular telephone is another matter.  Most states make it very clear in their law you can't talk or text on a cellular telephone in your hand up to or about your face.  It is allowed in most states I am aware, you can talk through your cellular phone if you speak in a remote mode hands free... say through the car stereo system. HOWEVER,  THERE IS A HARD COPY RECORD OF A PERSON SPEAKING OR TEXTING ON A CELLULAR TELEPHONE WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE OBTAINABLE THROUGH THE CELL PHONE CARRIER.  If the person operating the vehicle is involved in a motor vehicle accident, possibly a serious motor vehicle accident and definitely involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident, the POLICE and the CIVIL ATTORNEY will obtain a COURT ORDER and show the operator's activity at the time and date of the accident and it WILL be used against the operator as "inattentive" to driving. 

Having been in law enforcement and the related for 45 years, I will state how I might operate my vehicle with certain transmitting devices.   I would not be overly concerned if at all about using a ham, gmrs or cb radio in my vehicle.  There may be a law in some states you can't have a transmitting device such as a microphone in your hand in some states but it is hardly enforced if at all and more importantly there is NO EVIDENCE that the person was operating (transmitting) on such a device even if involved in a motor vehicle accident. 
 
A cellular telephone is another matter.  Most states make it very clear in their law you can't talk or text on a cellular telephone in your hand up to or about your face.  It is allowed in most states I am aware, you can talk through your cellular phone if you speak in a remote mode hands free... say through the car stereo system. HOWEVER,  THERE IS A HARD COPY RECORD OF A PERSON SPEAKING OR TEXTING ON A CELLULAR TELEPHONE WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE OBTAINABLE THROUGH THE CELL PHONE CARRIER.  If the person operating the vehicle is involved in a motor vehicle accident, possibly a serious motor vehicle accident and definitely involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident, the POLICE and the CIVIL ATTORNEY will obtain a COURT ORDER and show the operator's activity at the time and date of the accident and it WILL be used against the operator as "inattentive" to driving. 

All P1225s are repeater capable.

Recently learned about this site that has an excellent user guide to GMRS and FRS radio.
Thanks Christiaan.
 
https://www.k0tfu.org/reference/frs-gmrs-privacy-codes-demystified.html

Here is a simple calculator for RF exposure:
http://hintlink.com/power_density.htm
 
For 15W at 462MHz safe distance seem to be little more than 4ft. More info here:
https://transition.fcc.gov/bureaus/oet/info/documents/bulletins/oet65/oet65b.pdf

Hey Snoop. Thanks for the advice on my post. This topic is a little more up my alley.
 
Speaking in general terms outside of GMRS:
The thing about electromagnetic energy (radio waves) is, it's literally everywhere already. Light, sound, RF, and even the more harmful X-ray and gamma ray energy are all propagating constantly all around us. For GMRS purposes the wavelengths are pretty long (2 meters ish) so the likelyhood of any harmful health effects are very slim even when standing very close to a high power transmitter. The main concern is much higher frequencies (several gigahertz such as those used for radar and higher) at very high outputs. The higher the frequency the more dangerous it becomes, and the same can be said for output power in those higher bands. There are many stories about sailors feeling physically warmer when standing in front of the high powered radar stations on naval ships. For this reason there are painted lines on the deck to help keep them safe. "Radiation" does not simply apply to all frequencies with regard to it's ability to alter cellular DNA. The frequencies required to do that have wavelengths that are incredibly small.
 
That's a long explanation, but think of it like this, if RF energy were that harmful would it be safe to hold a 2 GHz 0.5W transceiver (your cellphone) up to your head for hours at a time? While claims have been made that it causes health issues, they are largely unsubstantiated and most have been debunked.
 
All that to say, you'll be just fine using a UHF transceiver at 40W, or even 400W for that matter.
 
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Austin:
 
I am very new to GMRS myself and have yet to learn some things I am sure.  However, there are some learned men on this forum and I am sure you will get the right answer.  Beside that... even though I am new, I have the Midland MXT275 in my vehicle which is the same radio as yours but the control is in the microphone head.  Same power, 15 watts and all that.  Being new myself.... I had to go over and over and over my input numbers for the Repeaters and did so.  The only MISTAKE I originally made was in the lower 15 thru 22 (simplex) channels I also put the HZ or Tone number... which is "20" in your case.  Thinking I had to do that to "receive" or "hear" the repeater: wrong.  After I removed the "tone number" from my lower simplex 15-22, channels bingo!  Make sure you didn't do that.  You only have to put the "20" in the upper Repeater 15-22 (or just for the Repeater you want to hit). Your Midland radio is designed to do the rest.   I  am using the Midland MXT whip style 6DB gain.  Great antenna.  I hit a repeater approximately 40 miles away and it was loud and clear.  But note I am in Florida and there are no or very minimum hills. The low profile Midland antenna you are using... I believe... is 3DB gain and not 6DB gain.  I say that, because I didn't see the Midland low profile in 6DB gain.   I just ordered one as I am going to set up a base station in my office on the 2nd floor of my Townhouse and put that mag mount antenna on a 15 inch round pizza tin near by picutre window.  I am still deciding whether to purchase the 40 watt Midland model or the MXT115.  Probably will go with the MXT115.
 
One other thing to note.  I have found on the Repeater channel I can go DAYS without hearing anyone else or even getting a "radio check'  and I am in a very populated area, just north of West Palm Beach.  LISTEN FOR THE REPEATER TO IDENTIFY ITSELF EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE: you will know ya got it right. 
 
Well... sorry to carry on so much but maybe I was able to help with my shot in the dark!  Love to hear how you make out.   

Thanks for the question and thanks for the great answer!  I am learning too.  I put that in my School notes!
 

Travel Tone is when a repeater enables 141.3 Hz as an open tone for travelers to use when in the area. For example, you could tune your radio to each GMRS repeater channel with 141.3 as your tone, and the repeaters with a Travel Tone are open for temporary use without permission. Good for when you don't have time to program each repeater along your route.
 
ORI stands for the Open Repeater Initiative which was created by Popular Wireless many years ago. It was a way to indicate a repeater is open for any licensed GMRS operator to use without having to ask the owner's permission. These repeaters you can just jump on and use as long as you follow GMRS rules and use your callsign.

Much obliged sir!  Will remove.  Great people on a great forum.