NYS Mobile Scanner Permit

[KD2DXF]

does anyone know how to obtain a mobile scanner permit. i am a mmember os Skywark and go from county to county, and am wondering how to obtain a state wide permit. ive tried finding websites and other literature, but with no avail. i currently have a Uniden BCT 15X installed in my truck, i just want to make it legal to have it.

 

[one11sgt]

does anyone know how to obtain a mobile scanner permit. i am a mmember os Skywark and go from county to county, and am wondering how to obtain a state wide permit. ive tried finding websites and other literature, but with no avail. i currently have a Uniden BCT 15X installed in my truck, i just want to make it legal to have it.

The easiest way to accomplish your overall goal is probably to get take the test and get an Amateur Radio License. Then replace your scanner with a ham radio that will also allow you to receive the Skywarn frequencies you need. You are then exempt from the scanner law.
In my entire career in Law Enforcement, I have never seen a scanner permit actually issued. Additionally, I don't believe there are statewide permits. The NYS VTL allows the head of the Police Agency, in who's jurisdiction your operating, to issue you a permit for use in that jurisdiction.

The only other way I can suggest, and this is the subject of much debate, is to use a portable scanner. The VTL uses the word EQUIPS in relation to a mobile scanner. It has been the argument that EQUIPS means to permanently affix a scanner to you vehicle. A portable scanner does not qualify. For a portable scanner to qualify, the word EQUIPS would need to be replaced with the word POSSESSES. Again this is the subject of much debate and would probably be determined in a court after your arrested rather than by a Police Officer on the street. So its still a gamble.

My best suggestion, take the test and get your HAM license, not only will you be exempt from the law, but there are skywarn nets on local repeaters and you will be able to provide real-time info to them too and probably enjoy what you do even more.

 

[62Truck]

I'd second what the sgt said, it's a lot more fun when you are actually involved and giving real time reports.

 

[SteveC0625]

For a better understanding of scanners in vehicles, please read the thread in the "sticky" section here in the NYS forum regarding this topic. It has been debated, discussed, or argued ad nauseum.

http://forums.radioreference.com/ne...ase-read-mobile-scanning- new-york-state.html

There is no statewide permit system and, as the sarge already pointed out, a police chief can issue a permit that is only valid within his jurisdiction which renders it pretty much useless unless you never drive outside that community.

I've been involved in some form of public safety or another since shortly after I got out of the Army in 1969. In all that time, I have never heard of a scanner permit being issued.

 

[radionerd13669]

Is skywarn active in Lewis County?

I would say what the rest have said get your ham lic.

 

[KD2DXF]

yes SKYWARN is active in lewis county, and thanks for the tip every one

 

[newsnick175]

I believe the VTL only refers to a radio capable of recieving a frequencies used by police. I don't believe it states just in the area of the granting agency. That being true, then it's good for any police frequency in the state. For the past 20 years I've been issued a permit from Suffolk County so that would cover me for the 3 bands they use [vhf, uhf & 800]. By the way, I'm using this authority as part of my efforts to allow the monitoring of encrypted channels that were once in the clear.

 

[IW_RADIO]

I agree with the 2 previous postings. Study and get your Amateur Radio Technician Class license. Once you have it, you are then exempt. Many local PD jurisdictions make it very difficult to get a Mobile scanner permit especially in the post 9/11 world we now live in.

 

[noseymedic]

Scanner in NYS

Guys... it's New York. It's sort of like the Catholic Church. If it looks, feels, or tases good, it is forbidden. You all keep electing those Democrats to office and they keep taking your rights away. That's why I moved out of NY. The problem is that so have a bunch of other NYers. And now they're trying to turn VA into NY.

I agree with the Sgt's statement but with a couple of caveates. You could probably talk to your sheriff about a letter, if you can come up with a good enough reason. Let's say that you do get the letter from the sheriff. You go to another county, and have been doing so for years without any problems. Until one day you run into "Billy Badge" fresh out of the academy. So new that the ink is still wet on his ID card. guess what's about to happen. You may be a firefighter and a paramedic, have saved his mothers life, etc... But Billy Badge wants to make his mark and decides to do it with you.

There are some weird ideas and interpretations out there. Trust me. I owned a Radio shop and had a loaner handheld that I got back from a PD client. I ended up having to hire a lawyer, and I never did get the radio back.

Even though the law (10 years ago, may have changed since) says that as a HAM you can have a radio capable of receiving... I have heard of HAMs being prosecuted. So no matter what you do in NY, you have to be careful.

And like the others said, get your HAM ticket. There is no morse code anymore, and all that you'd need is a Novice license. You should almost be able to pass that one walking into the test cold. There are a number of websites that have practice tests. Just keep taking them until you become proficient enough to pass each one at that level. Good luck.

 

[one11sgt]

I believe the VTL only refers to a radio capable of recieving a frequencies used by police. I don't believe it states just in the area of the granting agency. That being true, then it's good for any police frequency in the state. For the past 20 years I've been issued a permit from Suffolk County so that would cover me for the 3 bands they use [vhf, uhf & 800]. By the way, I'm using this authority as part of my efforts to allow the monitoring of encrypted channels that were once in the clear.

Its not what frequencies you can monitor.....its where you can have the scanner in your car. You can listen to whatever you want in suffolk county. Your permit is not good outside that county in another agencies jurisdiction. That is what we mean.

 

[sc800]

I. Many local PD jurisdictions make it very difficult to get a Mobile scanner permit especially in the post 9/11 world we now live in.

I have a feeling that if you went to the town or "governing board" as the law reads and ask for a mobile scanner permit, they would look at you like you have three heads and asked for a mobile flux capacitor permit. I would wager most government officials don't even know a mobile scanner permit exists, most of the police officers I know don't even know that exists.

But anyway, I think those permits are more for people who have a valid NEED for a scanner but are not covered by the law (ie. Vol. Fire/EMS, on-call DPW/Utility supervisors, security companies that are contracted to patrol town/village property, and maybe news media) as opposed to Joe Citizen who wants to listen in.

Not saying that the law is right, but until it gets changed it is what it is.

 

[radioman2001]

In all my years of communications repair, only once did I receive a permit. It was from a small town in Northern Westchester County. The Chief was very restrictive with the wording, to include for the use of radio repair for testing. I doubt anyone will ever get a permit, until and unless all Police agencies go encrypted, then it won't matter.

 

[sc800]

I do wish that the towns would issue the permits though and make it official, rather than this under the table "Don't worry, no one will bother you about, and if they do have them call me" stuff they do now.

 

[comspec]

OH NO NOT THIS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


As for Permits. Every law enforcement agency I spoke with has indicated to me that the purpose of permits is solely for bobafide members of the news media. And yes, I have heard of members of the media being granted access to certain encrypted channels (general dispatch frequencies) and being able to get pre-programmed OpenSky radios (technically not encrypted, but might as well be)

I will not restart the debate again and allow all the arm chair lawyers to come out of the woodwork, read the sticky.

Suffice it to say, however, that the NYS Law is very poorly written and inconsistently enforced. Anyone on this board who claims to know what the law says, permits, prohibits or who is exempt is just plain wrong. I don't think the guy who wrote this law even knows what it says.

 

[n2ize]

I agree with the 2 previous postings. Study and get your Amateur Radio Technician Class license. Once you have it, you are then exempt. Many local PD jurisdictions make it very difficult to get a Mobile scanner permit especially in the post 9/11 world we now live in.

Yeah, but whats to stop them from arresting you anyhow ?

 

[DaveNF2G]

You could probably talk to your sheriff about a letter, if you can come up with a good enough reason.

Under New York law, the sheriff is not empowered to issue a permit. A sheriff's department is not legally defined as a "police department."

http://nf2g.com/scannist/VTL397.html

 

[newsnick175]

This farce of a law seams to allow portable scanners in your car [because it only refers to installed radios] and it gives no standards for granting a permit. I'm sure it will never be changed because of the times we live in. This issue falls under the well known saying: Even when your right, your wrong.

 

[bezking]

To the OP, just get your ham ticket. It will be so much easier...