Legalities of a scanner in the car

BinaryMode

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I've been trying to find a definitive source and any legal text as to whether it's legal to have a scanner in the car in Colorado or not. I'm pretty sure it's not illegal, but want to make sure. Anyone know where I can see the specific text?
 

RaleighGuy

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I've been trying to find a definitive source and any legal text as to whether it's legal to have a scanner in the car in Colorado or not. I'm pretty sure it's not illegal, but want to make sure. Anyone know where I can see the specific text?


Check your state laws, a simple Google search should come up with answers. And, while scanners may be legal while driving, LE can also treat the usage (not listening, but changing banks or using keys on scanner) as distracted driving.
 

mmckenna

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I have...

I'm looking for the actual law...

Right, like he said above. You won't find a law that says it's legal to have an alligator riding a unicycle in your car while flipping pancakes, either.

You will only find a law telling you it is illegal. Most of us are not lawyers, so asking for legal advice is going to be a coin toss on this site, with a heavy lean towards BS. The only way to get an accurate answer would be to ask a lawyer, or (easier) call your local law enforcement agency and ask them.

If said agency implies in any way, shape or form, that it is illegal, as them to give you the statute in the state vehicle code that says that. If they cannot, it's BS.
 

BinaryMode

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Gotcha. Thanks.

Just wanted to have something in the glove box. LOL But I WILL e-mail my police department and keep THAT in the glove box. HEHE. I'll keep a copy in my password manager as well...
 

RaleighGuy

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Gotcha. Thanks.

Just wanted to have something in the glove box. LOL But I WILL e-mail my police department and keep THAT in the glove box. HEHE. I'll keep a copy in my password manager as well...

As I said above, while the usage of a scanner may be legal, law enforcement may also find a dozen other reasons to cite or arrest you if you want to play lawyer and pull an email or statute out of the glove box. Likewise, while usage of a scanner in a shopping mall is legal, they can still trespass you if the volume is bringing attention to yourself. A little common sense usage, no matter where you are, is really a good idea to prevent yourself from becoming a suspicious person worth being detained, questioned, or more.
 

KevinC

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Gotcha. Thanks.

Just wanted to have something in the glove box. LOL But I WILL e-mail my police department and keep THAT in the glove box. HEHE. I'll keep a copy in my password manager as well...
Please do be careful reaching for things in your glovebox during a traffic stop.

And I find it easier to not get stopped in the first place. :)
 

BinaryMode

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As I said above, while the usage of a scanner may be legal, law enforcement may also find a dozen other reasons to cite or arrest you if you want to play lawyer and pull an email or statute out of the glove box. Likewise, while usage of a scanner in a shopping mall is legal, they can still trespass you if the volume is bringing attention to yourself. A little common sense usage, no matter where you are, is really a good idea to prevent yourself from becoming a suspicious person worth being detained, questioned, or more.

Please do be careful reaching for things in your glovebox during a traffic stop.

And I find it easier to not get stopped in the first place. :)


Of course! I've interacted with LEOs many times... Not for the wrong reasons. Just normal stops.
 
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BinaryMode

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Well, there you go. And Troop could be the Attorney General of Colorado and this thread would still continue with someone disputing it.

Funny you mention that because I did contact the county DA. LOL! Have yet to get a response... :D
 

BinaryMode

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MountainMoose

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Gotcha. Thanks.

Just wanted to have something in the glove box. LOL But I WILL e-mail my police department and keep THAT in the glove box. HEHE. I'll keep a copy in my password manager as well...
WHY? would you go looking for something that isn't there? Something in the glove box? Emailing your PD? just why? that's asking for someone to look at you. I have been scanning for YEARS and never once worried or thought about this. I've had a scanner in my car in multiple states and places and NEVER one issue.
 

Benkasey

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The legality depends on what state you are in and what county. In California, car police scanners are legal everywhere except Los Angeles county, which, of course, is the highest crime county in the state. But, there is an exception made if you have a ham radio license. I dunno, maybe they think hams won't commit crimes and listen in on the police, whereas non-hams will. So I would check what the laws are for the county you are driving in. Even then, I would keep the scanner under the seat, and have an audio kill switch if you are stopped. Or at least put the scanner under a magazine or something so it isn't obvious. It might be legal, but that doesn't mean they won't hassle you.

From a police perspective, it's really embarassing to hear all the calls coming in about things like shoplifting. "The store wants to prosecute.". Yeah, we know what THAT means. I chatted with an officer about shoplifting going on at the store he was at (Walgreen's) during a shoplifting incident. He was proud that our city wasn't as bad as the city next door. Um, well, it may not be as bad today, but check back with me next year. Crime spreads from high crime areas to low crime areas until they too, are high crime areas. It's like metastatic cancer.
 

MiCon

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Many years ago, when I would plan my cross-country driving vacations, I would write to the Governor's office of each state that I would be driving through, and ask about the legality of using a scanner in my car. This yielded varying results. Mostly, my letter was forwarded to, and answered by, the person in charge of the state police, or the state attorney general. In some cases it was illegal, but they would grant me a temporary permit for the specific time I was in their state.
This was thirty years ago. Today you can do a Google search and find whatever info you need.

Laws change. It's now legal in some states where it used to be banned. Do a little research.

Good luck.
 
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