Car Scanners

[Julian1]

It is not illegal in "most states". Several states, yes. Yes, some states are jerks.

Common sense solves most problems before they happen.
Don't drive wrecklessly or do something that would draw attention to yourself. DO NOT tail or follow an officer...stupid things like that. And if an officer asks, don't freak out. Be honest, that as a law abiding citizen you like listening to the professionals in emergency services. Be polite and don't worry.

It is no worse to install one in a car than to carry a handheld in one.
Concealment of the handheld not withstanding.

I've spent many an hour at the steering wheel enjoying my scanner. That's where I do most of my scanning.

To each his or her own.

Best Regards to All..........

 

[CORN]

Bingo. You said it. Don't break traffic laws. I've been mobile scanning since I was a teenager. 20 + years and have never had a problem.

 

[greg_miotke]

True,Then Like Most States That Have a Law,Frist Thing a Ofiicer will look is the INside of your Car and When Officer see a A Ham or Scanner Radio That Look like a Two Way your Get Questioned 100% of the Time is States That Ban scanners in Cars,and 100% of the Time if you are Not POlice or Fire YOUR BUSTED,Even if YOU HAVE A HAM LIC!!!

 

[Voyager]

True,Then Like Most States That Have a Law,Frist Thing a Ofiicer will look is the INside of your Car and When Officer see a A Ham or Scanner Radio That Look like a Two Way your Get Questioned 100% of the Time is States That Ban scanners in Cars,and 100% of the Time if you are Not POlice or Fire YOUR BUSTED,Even if YOU HAVE A HAM LIC!!!

You're NOT 'busted' just because you aren't affiliated with a PS agency. In fact, having your ham license should exempt you from most (if not all) state laws due to federal preemption (a state cannot revolk your federal license to have radio equipment).

See other thread where you discuss this.

Joe M.

 

[INDY72]

Unless you are using siad equipment in commission of a crime. And the only way to have a HAM ticket revoked as I understand it, is to iether use the HAM radio to violate a FCC regulation, use the HAM radio to make a profit, or use the HAM radio to assist in the commission of a crime.

 

[STiMULi]

True,Then Like Most States That Have a Law,Frist Thing a Ofiicer will look is the INside of your Car and When Officer see a A Ham or Scanner Radio That Look like a Two Way your Get Questioned 100% of the Time is States That Ban scanners in Cars,and 100% of the Time if you are Not POlice or Fire YOUR BUSTED,Even if YOU HAVE A HAM LIC!!!

Greg, Greg, Greg... I see you are still at it...


Frist things Frist

It doesn't matter which thread you post it in your perception is still wrong. The USA is not based on your perception of one socialist states laws.

Get your Amateur License and then... on second thought don't get your license.

Here is a link for those of you who missed the last thread that Greg was trying to pursuade...

http://grove-ent.com/LLawbook.html

 

[STiMULi]

Here is an excerpt from an LA county law...

Exepmtions...

"...Any vehicle owned or operated by a person or association of persons licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate a fixed or mobile shortwave transmission station, one of the authorized purposes of which is to communicate by radio with such vehicle or with other vehicles owned or operated by such person or association. The owner of such vehicle coming within the foregoing exemption shall inform the sheriff of such use and give him the license number of the vehicle. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor;"

I'll send him a QSL card as a post card and let him know I am just passing through

Sending him a QSL registered would be funny!

 

[CORN]

Dudes IQ must not be that great or his keyboard is messed up.

I'll continue to use my scanner anywhere I please. YEE HAA!!!

 

[suttles1972]

I am a firefighter in the state of Tennessee. Tennessee has it, where anyone who's employed by a paid or volunteer fire department and can prove such employment, can receive state firefighter license plate tags. Now I realize that scanners in vehicles are only subject to Hams and Peace Officers in many states. But what about Public Safety workers outside of that state?
I vacation annually. And each year, I'll travel by vehicle, to areas in a 1 day travel radius of Tennessee. And I carry a 296D. However, I limited my listening to fire departments, for means of helping myself become more fluent to the operational tactics of the job. And each state's municipal FD does a great job in showing me that. But the question is, "Is it still illegal to have a scanner in my vehicle being an out of town, public safety worker?" This is especially important for the State of Virginia. I'll be vacationing in Virginia Beach this coming year and need to know if I'm ok in this state. :wink:

 

[INDY72]

VA as far as I know has no laws saying that you have to have a permit, or HAM ticket for a scanner. MI I know you must have a permit to basically even own a scanner, and there are other states/municipalities that require permits, but if I recall VA is not one of them. In the 24 hr radius of TN, most of those areas are scanner friendly..... not sure if MI is within the 24 hr ring of TN.. but if you go near there, be sure you have sent in, and recieved back an approved scanner permit. As far as MS, your clear, LA your clear for most of the State. AR you are clear, AL your clear. NC your AOK, KY, I believe your ok.... there is a listing somewhere of the laws in all 50 states, but I can't remember where it is.

 

[TippeTrunker2]

So, how do all those NASCAR Fans get to use their scanners at a Michigan track? Is there some kind of exemption for having big colorful numbers on the back window of your pick-em-up? :lol:

 

[STiMULi]

Good Point!

I can see all those MSP officers on special detail laying in wait for "one of them Red-necked Scanner users!" enroute

 

[STiMULi]

BTW Greg was banned earlier today. RIP. Dufus...

 

[grem467]

anyone can apply for a MI scanner permit, i live in FL and i have one for the times that i may visit my friends there or go watch a race.

 

[suttles1972]

Thank you all for your reply. Farewell Greg.

 

[K5MAR]

....there is a listing somewhere of the laws in all 50 states, but I can't remember where it is.

Here's the website:
http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/

Mark S.

 

[scanhoog]

The rules in Michigan seem to prohibit use of scanners in cars, not outright ownership or use outside of vehicles.

A technicians license or above exempts you and "written permission" for vehicular use appears easy to get.

 

[TippeTrunker2]

Many years ago (1973 to be more precise) when I was on a government mission to Nebraska, I registered my vehichle in Omaha, and asked for a Ham Plate. They were very obliging. It only cost me $4.00 to cover the cost of the plate. They told me at that time, the reason for no additional charges, was that the plate would be used to identify my vehicle as capable of providing emergency communications for any authority (commadere,I believe was the exact word). Here in Indiana we are exempt from the "Vanity" plate fee on Amateur Plates. Never been stopped, or asked in over 40 years about all those antennas or radios on the dash in Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Florida, South Carolina, Japan and most states in between (Don't tell) :wink: .

 

[Eng74]

If I remember right I do not think that Racing Scanners or the other one go to MI for the races there.

 

[SAR923]

Here's the real deal if you're not a ham or don't have some professional or volunteer capacity that explains why you have radios and scanners:

1. Don't have your car or truck covered with antennas. An antenna or two is no big deal but having eight antennas mounted on the vehicle is sure to attract attention.

2. Don't try and make your vehicle look like an official vehicle. Folks driving aound in a Crown Vicky wirh spotlights, tinted windows and antennas all over are likely to get their plates run by an officer with time on his hands. If it doesn't come back to something that sounds official, you're likely to get stopped regardless of the scanner laws.

3. Don't have emergency lights you're not authorized to have. Most cops aren't dumb and having a bunch of lights mounted on your vehicle, even the clear LED lights, are likely to get you stopped to see if you're a person who's either trying to play cop or rob and rape women by posing as an officer.

4. Don't be someone who's always showing up at the scenes of incidents. After a few times, you're going to questioned about why you always seem to be around when something big goes down and illegal scanners are likely to be the least of your problems then. The reason why we have scanners is to listen, not run out and observe what's happening or, even worse, being there to "help".

5. If you're going to use commercial equipment for monitoring, at least make sure the mikes are removed. It makes cops real nervous to see the same radios if they have with a mike attached. If you're not authorized to transmit on their frequencies, they are automatically going to be more hostile.

6. Finally, if you get stopped, turn off all the damned radios. If the cop hear's the same broadcasts coming from your vehicle that he's hearing from his portable, he's going to wonder why you're listening to their freqencies, especially if a crime just occurred a few minutes ago and in the same area you are you're being stopped.

Most cops have a lot better things to do than hand out tickets for "illegal" scanners. Follow the traffic laws, do the things I suggested above, and be calm and courteous if you are stopped. 99% of the time, the worst you'll get is a warning and, if you're lucky, you get a cop who's also a scanner head and might even be interested in how well you like your equipment.