Anyone been pulled over with there scanner in the car?

[quicksilva89]

Anyone been pulled over with there scanner in the car? Is it legal to have your police scanner in your car in montgomery county? What do you guys think an officer would say if there was a scanner in the car? I think it is illegal in D.C. correct? Anyone know the laws?

 

[mlevin]

I don't know about specific laws in your area but I was pulled over once (Actually I was the front passenger)when I had the scanner with me. I just turned off the scanner put it under the seat, then when the cop walked back to his car, I turned it back on and listened to him run the tag. Even if you don't put the scanner under the seat you'll probably be all right. It's just a good idea not to agitate the cop. Even if there's no law against it having a scanner with you.

 

[NINN27]

i actually had my whole radio setup in my truck (before i got rid of it and moved the radios inside the house). got pulled over for speeding, state trooper walked up to my truck, looked inside, said "DAMN", and let me go with a warning.

probably the most funniest encounter i had with a traffice stop (been pulled over3 times).

 

[Llwellyn]

Yeah, when you have two or three more radios than they do, they either get glassy-eyed and stare in disbelief, or clap their approval and want to know how to set up their car that way. :lol:

And Mo missed a key word there, he's saying DO NOT agitate the cop. :shock:

 

[mlevin]

Thanx! Don't want ot agitate the cop now would we. I wonder what Eric (Metro 174) has to say about the matter.

 

[ericcarlson]

See this page for laws:
http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/scanner5.html

-Eric

 

[dc2wheel]

Thanx! Don't want to agitate the cop now would we....

yow...if you want to not agitate a cop don't go reaching around/stuffing things under your seat during a traffic stop. I've been drawn down on for reaching to the glove compartment for registration during a stop. If you're not a scumbag don't sweat having a scanner in the car in states where legal...and even in states where you need a ham license [NY], I've had nothing said to me when the scanner is in plain sight & my license not mentioned.
-dc2wheel

 

[LGLHOOK]

I acutally got a scanner taken from me in the state of Texas. I was towing a truck back to Salt Lake City from Dallas/Ft. Worth. It was 2:30 in the morning and i had to stop at a weigh station. He came up to the truck, seen the scanner and asked how hard it would be to take it out. I said i didn't know and he told me i had better get started :evil:

 

[Linn]

Anyone been pulled over with their scanner in the car?

Hey Mo you will get more attention from me for reaching under the seat than having a scanner in the car. Reaching under a seat during a traffic stop is a "furtive movement" and would get you removed from the car and a "frisk" of the area would be done for officer safety. Your being removed from the car could easily be at gunpoint depending on circumstances. If I found the scanner during the "frisk" that would make me wonder what you were up to.

LGLHOOK the last time I looked at the Texas Penal Code there were specific exemptions allowing for scanner listening, and nothing about listening to scanners in the car. I routinely have a scanner on in my personal car and it has never caused me a problem. The part about being told to get rid of the scanner at the weigh station I have a problem with. What did you do with the scanner once you removed it?

About two weeks ago there was a pursuit that lasted 20 or so minutes. It went in circles just outside my city limits and at times seemed to be heading into town. Towards the end of the pursuit a plainclothes narcotics officer got on the radio and asked for one of our units to stop a car that had been following the pursuit. He was concerned that they may be following the pursuit to pick up the bad guy when he bailed.

A few minutes later a car matching the description passed me. I got in behind it and it pulled into a convenience store parking lot. I pulled in behind it and as the driver got out I made contact with him, he denied following the pursuit. I got consent from the driver to look in the car. Then got the passenger out and began looking in the car. I was thinking I might find drugs because the person being chased was a know drug suspect, that was the reason for the stop on him in the first place. I did not find drugs but I found a scanner stuffed between the seats. Normally I could care less if someone has a scanner, thats what made me decide to be a cop. But it was obvious he was lying to me and I finally got him to admit he had been following the pursuit. I started to give him a hard time telling him he could go to jail for interfering with public duties which was very true. I also told him he needed to do something with the scanner before he left. I was implying putting it in the trunk or back seat. He walked to the trash can and threw it away. Then he left and I along with the officers that had stopped by left. I hope he went back and got it.


Linn

 

[bnglbill]

I have been pulled over in Maryland with a scanner in the car and turned on both when I was a cop and now as a civillian. Funny thing is I got let off when I was a cop and got a ticket as a civillian (LOL). Neither time did the trooper even care that I had a scanner or even say anything about it. It is perfectly legal in MD.

 

[n4voxgill]

"put it under the seat," that's the best way I know to be brought out of the car at gun point, searched and handcuffed so the officer can see if it was drugs or a weapon you were concealing.

 

[mlevin]

Well the cops must've not been on his toes 'cuase he didn't notice a thing. Thanks for the advice BTW

 

[K5MAR]

One time I got pulled over, the officer asked for the usual DL & insurance information. He was standing by my window and started to call in my DL for the standard check when he suddenly asked the dispatcher to stand by. Then he asked my if that was a scanner mounted under my dash, to which I replied yes. He then walked around to the back of my car and asked the dispatcher to "go to 3", then he did his check. Heh-heh! Guess he didn't really understand what a "scanner" is!

Mark S.

 

[LGLHOOK]

Linn,
I don't know the Texas state statutes, i am from Utah. But I drive a heavy duty tow-truck and in Utah it is perfectly legal to have a scanner. Now I know that I must obide by whatever states "rules" I am in.
I had towed a Tractor-trailer to San Antonio, dropped it and went to Dallas/Ft. Worth and picked up a burned CR England trailer to haul back here to Salt Lake City, UT. I will have to look on the map but I can't remember what weigh station it was even at. I pulled in and stopped on the scale and he come out of the shack and climbed on the step of my rig. He asked for my permits and all that and then proceeded to tell me that is was illegal for a commercial vehicle to have a scanner, even though it was not even on at that point. I didn't know any better so I removed it and he confenscated it and sent me on my way. I can see what you are talking about "chasing" but i didn't even have it on for hell's sakes. That just kinda left a sour taste in my mouth about the state of Texas.

 

[INDY72]

That brings up a valid question: We can all find scanner laws for civilians,.. but are there seperate laws for commercial vehicles??????

Are there specific laws enforced by DMV/DOT in various states regarding scanners in commercial vehicles such as 18 wheelers????

Anyone find an answer, let us know.

 

[Dougie]

i was pulled over in parkville and said to myself, hmm i didnt do anything that i knew of. so i turned to parkville channel when the officer came up to my vehicle and on purpose
i listened to my 29 27. and he was very cool which he seen it and didnt say a thing

 

[trimmerj]

Several weeks ago I got pulled over, the cop asked if I was doing traffic reports. I told him I was a causal radio monitor. He gave me a warning and sent me on my way.

 

[greg_miotke]

Been Pulled over So Many Times in the State of Michigan walked Away with no tickets or warning,They Can't do Much to you Anymore in Michigan
The Scanner Law is Out Dated and Most Judges will not do anything....

 

[ffjeff1984]

IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, YOU MAY CARRY A POLICE SCANNER IN
YOUR VEHICLE...

ONE TIME 3 YEARS AGO JUST AFTER I JOINED THE VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPARTMENT I WAS PULLED OVER ON RT 90 BY A STATE
TROOPER FOR SPEEDING...THE TROOPER NOTICED THAT I HAD A
TRUNKING SCANNER SCREWED AND WIRED UNDER THE DASH OF
MY TRUCK AND HE TOLD ME THAT'S A PRETTY HI-TECH SCANNER
I SAID TO THE TROOPER DO YOU WANT IT...HE SAID NO THEN I ASKED
IS IT ILLEGAL FOR A CIVILIAN TO HAVE A SCANNER...HE REPLIED,NO
THEN HE SAID I'M A SCANNER FANATIC AND HE WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT KIND IT WAS AND WHERE TO GET THE BEST DEAL...I TOLD HIM
RADIO SHACK PRO SERIES AND YOU CAN GET THEM AT RADIO SHACK...
SO THEN HE GAVE ME HIS CARD AND WE KEPT A GOOD REPORE
SINCE THEN...ALSO IM GETTING READY TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER

 

[MississippiPI]

Scanner in car in Fla/ No-No

I was pulled over in Florida when the trooper noticed the antenna on the back of the car, of course he noticed the Firefighter tag as well--he was nice and all but told me in no uncertain terms that scanners were not allowed and that I could get into trouble. I explained that I am not only a Private Investigator but a volunteer firefighter as well and dont only have scanners but radios that will talk; he just told me to be careful and bid me a good day. All that said, there are states that don't allow scanners in vehicles unless certain regulations are followed, Florida will not even allow a portable inside the car if it's accessible to power.

Be safe--if anyone wamts the website on state scanner laws, email privately plz.