LockTheClock

Fix Daylight Saving Time for good!

How To Help

The Number One question I get is this: How can I help?

If you just want to sign a petition

  1. Do some research and see that there have been dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens, many by people who don’t even know the difference between “Daylight Savings” and “Daylight Saving” time.
  2. Realize that you might as well send a letter to Santa.
  3. Sign up for my very infrequent newsletter.
  4. Better yet, follow our account on Twitter. I’m not really very good at the Twitter, but more followers and lots of likes really helps legislators, etc., understand that a lot of people care about this.
  5. If you don’t have the Twitter machine, that’s OK, but tell all your friends that do to follow this account: https://twitter.com/lock_the_clock
  6. Thanks!

As for other ideas… Just answer the questions below, and do whatever you are comfortable doing. This page is occasionally updated, but if I’m missing something, please contact me.

Be aware that, unfortunately, this topic has gotten so big that there are a bunch of scams out there. I would not recommend giving any money to anyone who says they are trying to get this fixed. There are even some that use the #LockTheClock hashtag or do other weird stuff. Just keep your money, and save it so you can take a trip to Hawaii or Arizona, two states that don’t engage in DST weirdness.

If you live in one of the states that has a #LockTheClock bill

How will you know? You’ll have to go to this page and look at the list or the map to see, and then come back here.

  1. Click on the bill or bills for your state.
  2. Keep that tab open, and then open another tab to find out who your state legislator is.
  3. Write or call both of them (except in Nebraska, the only unicameral state) and ask where they stand on #LockTheClock, and fixing Daylight Saving Time.
    (DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED! Most legislators love hearing from constituents with real issues, and it can really make a difference.)
  4. There’s a good chance that they may not know anything about this issue, so feel free to use the resources on this page to help educate them, especially the research page.
  5. Say whatever seems natural to you, but as a starting point, you could say:

     “The changing of the clock every Spring is deadly, with heart attacks, strokes, traffic accidents and workplace accidents all spiking. The change is disruptive to business, painful for families, and difficult for millions. It’s a legitimate public health crisis. Please do whatever you can to help end the clock changing. Thank you very much.”

  6. If they want to get into the other question of if it’s better to be in permanent daylight time or permanent standard time, you can certainly share your opinion if you have one, but say the first thing is to stop the changing, and then the second thing is to figure out which is the proper time zone for our state.
  7. If they seem interested in learning more, feel free to introduce them to me by email.
  8. (Optional) Send me a note if you get any response so I can keep track of it.

 

If your legislator is already a sponsor, OR, if you want to do a bit more

The sponsors of bills to do something — anything — are often among the bravest legislators. This is a non-partisan issue, and it goes right to the heart of what government should and shouldn’t be doing. Our view is that the government shouldn’t be telling us to change the clocks twice per year when the change itself is deadly! So, here’s what you do:

  1. Find the main sponsor or sponsors of a bill from your state.
  2. Contact that legislator and tell them: “Thanks!”
  3. If you can have a phone call with the legislator or a staff member, ask if there’s anything you can do to help.
  4. If they seem really interested, AND they live in a state from one of the first two lists of states above, ask that legislator to contact the U.S. Senator on the Commerce Committee. A state legislator’s voice goes a long way in D.C.
  5. Again, this is optional, but feel free to let me know about it so I can make note of all the legislators trying to help.

 

If you live in Europe

  1. Read the coverage of what’s going on.
  2. Contact me and explain it to me. It looks like Europe has voted to #LockTheClock, but I read here that it is not a done deal. Which is it?

 

If you are a state legislator

  1. Thanks for visiting.
  2. Let me know if you would like to see a session on this at the next NCSL convention, and if you are going.
  3. If you want me to come to your state and testify, let me know. If I can get to your state safely, I’m happy to do it and I’m always happy to do remote testimony. You can ask legislators in the dozen or so states I’ve done that in, and they’ll all tell you it helped.
  4. If you are not already on my Twitter list of lawmakers working on Daylight Saving Time issues, let me know and I’ll add you.

If you are a reporter

  1. To make sure people see your story, when you promote it use the hashtag: #LockTheClock
  2. If you want to see all the research about the topic, I’ve got it for you here.
  3. If you need a quote and you are on a tight deadline, feel free to quote from anywhere in the blog. I only ask that you link to the blog in your story.
  4. If you would like to chat, feel free to contact me.

 

If you still want to do a bit more

  1. Are you really organized, and have a bit of spare time? This is an all-volunteer effort and I could really use some help getting all my contacts and projects organized. Be in touch!
  2. Do you like to write? I’m open to guest posts. Be in touch with your idea and what you’d like to write.
  3. Something I’m missing? If you’ve got an idea, let me know! I’d love to hear it.