arkansas law and some othere states

[decadude]

I read on the forum that arkansas law is no restriction except in the use of a crime in another posting.

Does anyone know what states have restriction?

My goal is to have my unit in my car and on while im driving. I seen where some people in the forum have them mounted in their cars I would rather listen to the scanner in a vehicle than the radio.

I reside in NW arkansas bentonville to be exact.

I am from kentucky originally and drive through missouri and kentucky a couple times a year

thanks to all who reply

it would be cool to have a link to a quick overview of the summary restrictions for each state

also if someone has a link to particular laws in arkansas missouri and kentucky regarding police scanners that would be good too.....I heard having a print out is a good idea seeing that many officers of law do not know the laws governing scanners so it would be a good idea to keep a print out in your glove box....ulimately id like to have my scanner mounted in my car

 

[ST-Bob]

Ummm. Google "Mobile Scanner Laws". I'm sure you'll find your answer.

 

[K9WG]

Indiana


IC 35-44-3-12
Unlawful use of a police radio; exemptions; "police radio" defined
Sec. 12. (a) A person who knowingly or intentionally:
(1) possesses a police radio;
(2) transmits over a frequency assigned for police emergency purposes; or
(3) possesses or uses a police radio:
(A) while committing a crime;
(B) to further the commission of a crime; or
(C) to avoid detection by a law enforcement agency;
commits unlawful use of a police radio, a Class B misdemeanor.
(b) Subsection (a)(1) and (a)(2) do not apply to:
(1) a governmental entity;
(2) a regularly employed law enforcement officer;
(3) a common carrier of persons for hire whose vehicles are used in emergency service;
(4) a public service or utility company whose vehicles are used in emergency service;
(5) a person who has written permission from the chief executive officer of a law enforcement agency to possess a police radio;
(6) a person who holds an amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission if the person is not transmitting over a frequency assigned for police emergency purposes;
(7) a person who uses a police radio only in the person's dwelling or place of business;
(8) a person:
(A) who is regularly engaged in newsgathering activities;
(B) who is employed by a newspaper qualified to receive legal advertisements under IC 5-3-1, a wire service, or a licensed commercial or public radio or television station; and
(C) whose name is furnished by his employer to the chief executive officer of a law enforcement agency in the county in which the employer's principal office is located;
(9) a person engaged in the business of manufacturing or selling police radios; or
(10) a person who possesses or uses a police radio during the normal course of the person's lawful business.
(c) As used in this section, "police radio" means a radio that is capable of sending or receiving signals transmitted on frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission for police emergency purposes and that:
(1) can be installed, maintained, or operated in a vehicle; or
(2) can be operated while it is being carried by an individual.
The term does not include a radio designed for use only in a dwelling.

 

[vinzep491]

I know NY has a vehicle restriction.

I believe Illinois has restrictions too, but don't quote me.

Also know that Florida has restrictions.
Maybe people from these areas could comment?

 

[ST-Bob]

You want to use your scanner mobile without worry; study up and get your Ham license. Due to an FCC published opinion, all state laws which prohibit the ordinary citizen from using a radio capable of receiving public-safety frequencies must include an exception for holders of a valid FCC-issued radio license such as a Ham operators or station license.

Many jurisdictions have poorly implemented this directive but if it comes right down to it; in court the holder of a valid FCC-issued radio license of any class or category is technically exempt from any lower jurisdiction's regulation over reception of FCC-licensed radio transmissions. The control of the air-waves is the exclusive domain of the FCC in the United States and they're not afraid to state so and issue official opinions and memos to that affect.

Any prudent judge would do well to pay heed to the Federal Government's authority.

 

[vinzep491]

You want to use your scanner mobile without worry; study up and get your Ham license. Due to an FCC published opinion, all state laws which prohibit the ordinary citizen from using a radio capable of receiving public-safety frequencies must include an exception for holders of a valid FCC-issued radio license such as a Ham operators or station license.

Many jurisdictions have poorly implemented this directive but if it comes right down to it; in court the holder of a valid FCC-issued radio license of any class or category is technically exempt from any lower jurisdiction's regulation over reception of FCC-licensed radio transmissions. The control of the air-waves is the exclusive domain of the FCC in the United States and they're not afraid to state so and issue official opinions and memos to that affect.

Any prudent judge would do well to pay heed to the Federal Government's authority.

Very ture. That being said, I still think it would be good to compiled a list (maybe a RR wiki artice) about the state-by-state laws for those who dont want to, cant, or have not yet recieved a ham license or other equivilent.

 

[ST-Bob]

Gee, I wonder if anyone might have ever compiled such a list... I wonder what Google may find.

Sheesh!!!

 

[vinzep491]

I havent searched, but I suggest the origianl poster to hook us all up with a list...

No doubt google is our friend in this, I personally just dont have the need to make this list at the moment.

 

[ST-Bob]

Why duplicate effort? For that matter, why make a wiki page or even continue this thread? The answer has already been given. There are existing sources easily accessible if the original poster or anyone else who wishes to find it with a simple Google search using the terms "Mobile Scanner Laws".

I, for one, am done trying to use sarcasm and wit to prod lazy people into using their heads on this subject. Sink or swim - your choice. If you can take the time to log onto the RR forum and ask the question, you should certainly be quite capable of doing an Internet search to find the answer. Why should anyone help you find something you're perfectly capable of finding yourself?

 

[vinzep491]

I agree with ya, Man.

I'm always the first person to say "goodle is your friend" when people ask stupid questions.

That being said, I still think it would be a good resource for the wiki, but I, like you, am not gunna be the one to do it. The original poster needs to use their brain and do a search.

 

[vansigint98661]

State Scanner Laws

Really guys?! Really!!

Seriously, is this supposed to be the premier scanner radio site or not? I believe the last post indicated he thought it would be a good wiki topic, and I certainly agree. I for one thought that RR was supposed to be a forum where the uneducated could ask the educated for feedback, opinion, thoughts, and yes even perhaps some direction without having to fend off sarcasm or out-and-out belittlement. I just felt it was un-necessary.

And, on top of this, there are those who might not believe that google is the panecia of the ages. I for one am sick of inserting a complete web address and having google chime in with 999,999 options just so it can say it was able to do so in the first 10 seconds. I would much rather it just go to the site address I inserted.

While I might agree that finding out the laws in ones own jurisdiction might be the responsibility of the prudent resident, that is said because both my wife and I are legal assistants and have access to the law books. If I want to know about Washington, I pull up the appropriate RCWs or WACs, and my wife across the river in Oregon can get the ORSs. But we also travel, and google might not have all of the answers or more probably CONFLICTING answers for the average person to have to sort out. I suspect that there are multiple sites with lists, but not all inclusive or subject to immediate update.

Last fall for example, we were trying to go to Canada, and with over an hour of internet search I never found the definitive answer. I found conflicting ones, and most likely that as long as Customs knew you were doing it, it was OK, however, no one was apparently willing to specify. But, for most states of the union, I concur that there are indeed lists available.

All that being said, wouldn't it have been far more polite to simply direct him to a source if known or make the suggestion without sarcasm or inferring he was somehow lazier than you. And, as far as that goes, everyone who felt compelled to belittle the initial writer each seemed to say the same thing which was they didn't have the time or "need" to do it themselves, so would they not be just as "lazy"?

It seems to me a simple mixture of the golden rule and what our mother's used to say about if you can't say something nice, just keep quiet might have been in order. Or, simply try to be helpful, which I was under the delusion that these forums were supposed to do. You wouldn't know it by a couple comments on this thread.

That's just my humble opinion.

 

[ST-Bob]

I apologize to the original poster and to all of you for continuing to push-on with the issue after my first,brief, accurate, and I thought - helpful - response. I can see this is a touchy subject and I'll avoid it in the future.

Sorry

 

[n5ims]

Went to Google and entered "mobile scanner laws" and got this as the first link Mobile Scanner & RADAR Detector Laws In The U.S. (look for the Index about 2/3 the way down the page for links to their federal and state scanner laws).

Also went to the RR WIKI and searched for "scanner laws" and got this page Scanner Laws - The RadioReference Wiki which points the reader to the same page found on Google (must be a good page then, I'd guess).

The OP specifically ask for info on "arkansas missouri and kentucky" (info from the site found on Google and the RR WIKI):
Arkansas - (none indicated)
Missouri - (none indicated)
Kentucky - Mobile Scanner & RADAR-Detector Laws In The U.S. - Kentucky Scanner Law

To ST-Bob, your advice was indeed good and quickly would provide the OP with the desired.

 

[btritch]

U.S. Scanner Laws Here Ya Go.. State By State..

 

[vinzep491]

Isnt it funny how such a simple question can turn into such a stupid, unrelated debate.

Gotta love the world wide web.

 

[decadude]

thanks guy

all good advice and I can say I am offended in no way.

very good info so according to the map since I do travel to Kentucky and would like to have a scanner in my car then according to the laws mobile scanners are 100% illegal for Kentucky. At least going by the map in one link.

The beautiful thing about forums is there is knowledge bouncing in all directions from one question spawned something I would have not known or known to ask

"study up and get your Ham license"

It appears if the site I went to is true and since I do travel to Kentucky then I would have to get the license in order to not have to worry about getting in trouble in my home state.

It appears arkansas and missouri is fine. Either that or just take my scanner out of my car when traveling to Kentucky. I may look into the certification though.

 

[vinzep491]

Happy you got the answers you were looking for deca