TSA is a joke indeed! http://forums.radioreference.com/news-events/279738-have-no-fear-tsa-here.html
possesion of 'scanner' at airport a federal offense: per police officer
- Thread starter mdfillipp
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In this time after 9/11 anything that might look suspicious will be cause for concern for the police/security officials. I was work an RFI problem at Newark a couple of years ago. I got stopped by a Port Authority official in the Port area taking spectrum analyzer measurements. I was in a US Government vehicle with US Government tags. My vehicle also had multiple antennas on it. He stop me for 10 minutes I missed several opportunities to DF on the source. I had, like everyday I was up there told the Port Authority shift commander and dispatcher where I would be through out the day. But still I was questioned.
During the same time period a contractor working for another FAA group was installing sensors on the airport's perimeter fencing. He was stopped and I had to go over to the location a vouch for him.
We both, as well as the other people working on the interference all had federally issued ID badges.
I was involved in another questioning by a NJ State trooper. Luckily I had talked to the trooper post commander in charge but he still insisted on checking my info.
Again if anyone looks just the slightest bit suspicious you can expect a visit from law enforcement. As for the use of a scanner on or near airport property, I think the officer was just reaching for an excuse to give you a warning. My advice would be to just "go with the flow" and leave the area when you are released.
During the same time period a contractor working for another FAA group was installing sensors on the airport's perimeter fencing. He was stopped and I had to go over to the location a vouch for him.
We both, as well as the other people working on the interference all had federally issued ID badges.
I was involved in another questioning by a NJ State trooper. Luckily I had talked to the trooper post commander in charge but he still insisted on checking my info.
Again if anyone looks just the slightest bit suspicious you can expect a visit from law enforcement. As for the use of a scanner on or near airport property, I think the officer was just reaching for an excuse to give you a warning. My advice would be to just "go with the flow" and leave the area when you are released.
rapidcharger
Member
Scanners now?
I thought it was just cameras and taking pictures within 7 miles of the airport that was a felony.
I thought it was just cameras and taking pictures within 7 miles of the airport that was a felony.
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You laugh. There was a woman on Long Island who was arrested for taking a picture of a decommissioned Huey helicopter on a pedestal at the entrance of an airport. The charges were eventually dismissed, but she has sued the county and several officials in the town where this happened. They originally were going to charge her with some sort of terroristic act.
Not to mention the number of train buffs that have been harassed or even arrested for taking pictures of trains while they were standing on public property.
My god have times have changed. It's this terrorist mentality on all this idiots heads. There's a video on YouTube taken from a guy filming the weird murals over at KDEN. I wonder if airport security rent-a-cops stopped him too?
rapidcharger
Member
You're only hurting people that work at the airlines like me...The tsa treats crewmembers like dirt too...
rapidcharger
Member
Flying has become so expensive, time consuming and not worth the aggravation (at least here) and little of that has to do with TSA in my opinion.
elk2370bruce
Member
True. The TSA is an equal opportunity offender in many of the airports that I go through. Its not all that much better in airports in other countries. I travel with my scanner and two HT's most of the time and I've not been hassled. If I am questioned, I reply in a friendly manner and cooperate. No big deal. "Its not personal - only business".
Spot on Bruce.
I don't take radios outside NA/Carib though to reduce the hassle potential. Hell, I can't understand what they are saying anyway...much less figure out a bandplan,
Now when I get my amateur license this will likely change.
I don't take radios outside NA/Carib though to reduce the hassle potential. Hell, I can't understand what they are saying anyway...much less figure out a bandplan,
Now when I get my amateur license this will likely change.
Something to have in mind when you leave the civilization of North America...
In Europe (where I come from) a mere amateur license won't save you from the police which can legally arrest you and forfeit your equipment because they think you are listening to police/fire/ems/military. And don't bother trying to explain how you are a licensed ham. No police officer speaks English...
Proceed with caution and remember US law enforcement and justice system standards are much different than anywhere else in the world
In Europe (where I come from) a mere amateur license won't save you from the police which can legally arrest you and forfeit your equipment because they think you are listening to police/fire/ems/military. And don't bother trying to explain how you are a licensed ham. No police officer speaks English...
Proceed with caution and remember US law enforcement and justice system standards are much different than anywhere else in the world
Not to mention if you have a radio in hand at customs they could give you hell for it...
I always make sure my radio does not power up to the "FEDERAL" bank when traveling should they want me to turn it on. It gets swabbed at the most once a year.
lep
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Interesting comments. Since the year 2000, I have flown from the USA to Europe more than 14 times through Paris (CDG) .[BTW there are people at the DL/AF gates for departing flights to USA with TSA lapel buttons] Often I have had a Uniden portable scanner in my briefcase and no one has said the slighted thing about it. My typical trip was connections to GVA on AF. I have never had any problem finding Swiss police who are fluent in English. Many EU countries utilize an agency known as EU Control for their ATC. As most know ENG is the official language of international aviation so there is plenty of opportunity to listen from my hotel room. Most controllers in the US speak ENG only, most outside the USA are multilingual.
In summary, this thread is mostly a non-issue IMHOP. Many TSA rules seem arbitrary but a thread on rr.com is not likely to make much difference, Travel with a scanner if you want but use common sense and you will likely to have no problem whatsoever. If you are a US or Canadian amateur radio licensee and travel to EU, get a CEPT license from your national IARU society, it is a passport sized official document with your photo and pages in the official languages of Treaty,
In summary, this thread is mostly a non-issue IMHOP. Many TSA rules seem arbitrary but a thread on rr.com is not likely to make much difference, Travel with a scanner if you want but use common sense and you will likely to have no problem whatsoever. If you are a US or Canadian amateur radio licensee and travel to EU, get a CEPT license from your national IARU society, it is a passport sized official document with your photo and pages in the official languages of Treaty,
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