Encryption

[RenoHuskerDu]

Q1) Folks here say it's illegal to decrypt. Anybody know the law? Knowledge is power.

Q2) Is this list up to date? I saw no date on it.
https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Encrypted_Agencies#Texas

I'd rather move than live in an area where I can't hear what's going on. Ex: Leaving school one night, I heard an officer in distress (elec substation explosion) and was able to divert 3 blocks and render aid 5 mins before other officers could arrive.

 

[RayAir]

Q1) Folks here say it's illegal to decrypt. Anybody know the law? Knowledge is power.

Q2) Is this list up to date? I saw no date on it.
https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Encrypted_Agencies#Texas

I'd rather move than live in an area where I can't hear what's going on. Ex: Leaving school one night, I heard an officer in distress (elec substation explosion) and was able to divert 3 blocks and render aid 5 mins before other officers could arrive.

So, if you move to an area that isn't currently encrypted who's to say they won't be a few years from now? Will you keep moving?

Answer to Q1: With properly implemented modern encryption no one is going to be decrypting anything unless they have an authorized radio. Even if they didn't, how would they accomplish this task anyway? Very unlikely, if not practically impossible to do so.

Answer to Q2: Ask in the Texas forum.

 

[mmckenna]

Q1) Folks here say it's illegal to decrypt. Anybody know the law? Knowledge is power.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2511

I'd rather move than live in an area where I can't hear what's going on.

I agree with RayAir,
If you can make that decision, then good for you, however I think you'll find that you may have to move a lot in the future. As analog slowly falls out of favor and digital takes over, it's way too easy to enable encryption. Best advice would be to travel light and make sure you have lots of fiends to help you move.

Ex: Leaving school one night, I heard an officer in distress (elec substation explosion) and was able to divert 3 blocks and render aid 5 mins before other officers could arrive.

That's great, I'm sure they appreciated it.

 

[Skypilot007]

You also may want to think twice about rendering aid to the police. You don't know the circumstances of what is happening just by listening to a scanner. They may not want or need your help. You also open yourself up to possible litigation when the person involved sues the police and every one else involved in said incident in which you rendered aid to the police. This happens more often than you think. The lawyers involved will pursue all participants, police and civilians, and if found liable it could be a very costly mistake on your part.

 

[lucky43113]

You also may want to think twice about rendering aid to the police. You don't know the circumstances of what is happening just by listening to a scanner. They may not want or need your help. You also open yourself up to possible litigation when the person involved sues the police and every one else involved in said incident in which you rendered aid to the police. This happens more often than you think. The lawyers involved will pursue all participants, police and civilians, and if found liable it could be a very costly mistake on your part.

if you can offer medical ad then i would do it

 

[DaveNF2G]

You also may want to think twice about rendering aid to the police. You don't know the circumstances of what is happening just by listening to a scanner. They may not want or need your help. You also open yourself up to possible litigation when the person involved sues the police and every one else involved in said incident in which you rendered aid to the police. This happens more often than you think. The lawyers involved will pursue all participants, police and civilians, and if found liable it could be a very costly mistake on your part.

Many states have "good samaritan" laws that shield civilians from liability.

Under the circumstances described here, it was obviously medical aid to an injured officer.

 

[Embalmer-Mortician]

Amazing how these threads go south so quick.

 

[buddrousa]

The difference is SELF DISPATCHING vers witnessing an accident but I think the encryption question was answered.