Is is not a violation of Federal Law ( ?? Title 18 USC ) to use a radio scanner to aid in the commission of a crime?
FF - Medic !!!
It may not be a federal charge but in most jurisdictions it is a state or local charge.
In my 40+ years around scanners and law enforcement there is a small percentage of criminal use of scanners, compared to the positive uses, such as citizens aiding law enforcement because of something they heard on a scanner, then spotted the suspect. Remember, this is how the Washington, DC snipers were caught.
I have been providing a very popular police feed for over two years and there have been no documented cases of anyone using the feed for illegal purposes, and I am in regular contact with supportive police officials.
I believe encryption is due to 1, the availability of the technology and Motorola's use of it as a selling point, and 2, the fact that some agencies prefer to hide their activity from the taxpayers. There are many agencies that officially provide their communications to the public on Broadcastify.
Maybe they need to do a better job doing background checks on their government employees.