RIDE-ALONG. Does anyone know the most active SEATTLE police precinct . . ?

[AuntBee09]

Does anyone know the most active SEATTLE police precinct?

http://www.cityofseattle.net/Police/Maps/precincts.htm

because I'm going to go for a "ride-along" hopefully with the seattle pd, but don't know which precinct I would see the most action in. So if anyone knows or has a good guess, I would really like it because that's the one I'll choose. thanx

ttyl

 

[SouthSoundScanner]

From the Crime stats, I'd say the West Precinct would be the busiest. Try going on a Friday or Saturday night.

Also, this should be posted in the Washington forum.

 

[AuntBee09]

o, ok thanx. i'm new at this lol. i'll post it on the washington forum next time

 

[blake23]

Being a local scanner listener in Seattle, I would have to say West Precinct would be my pick. Very diverse area of downtown. And I would agree definitly go on a Friday or Saturday night swing shift would be the best time. Have a great time!!!

Richard

 

[AuntBee09]

thanx. i'll post how it goes when i fianlly do it.

 

[lowboy654]

Hi Mr. AuntBee, so whats you your deal, looking for a ride along your all over U Tube, I don't understand your need to record what you listen to on your scanner and rebroadcast it on the Internet, What is the point, there has to be a better outlet for what you want to achieve then replaying what you have heard and seen, then to just replay it on the Internet are you a news reporter on the sidelines and no job or a up and coming police officer.

"Whats Your Deal"

 

[AuntBee09]

nm, i screwed up on this message. lol, i suc at this. don't mind me and my noobish foolishness

 

[AuntBee09]

it's "AuntBee09" lol

Hi Mr. AuntBee, so whats you your deal, looking for a ride along your all over U Tube, I don't understand your need to record what you listen to on your scanner and rebroadcast it on the Internet, What is the point, there has to be a better outlet for what you want to achieve then replaying what you have heard and seen, then to just replay it on the Internet are you a news reporter on the sidelines and no job or a up and coming police officer.

"Whats Your Deal"

right now, i just video tape stuff i hear on my scanner for fun. i have sold some of my footage to local news stations before, so i guess you can say i'm a free lance photographer (called a stringer). i'm a senior in high school and when i graduate, i'm going to major in braodcasting (when i go to college) and hope to be involved with some type public service (likely in the area of law enforcement).
it's hard to explain, but video taping and seeing people do crazy stuff and getting arrest ect is really fun. it gets your adrinaline going to speed to a car crash and get close to the scene (almost being part of something dramatic). i am involved with my community by doing this also: i talk to people about current events (like witnesses and stuff), i call reporters on their cells to se if i can sell them my footage, and i talk to my city's public information police officer alot to get the whole story of events. i guess i just like writing about stuff like that too. a big hobby of mine is video editing, so i also like that aspect.
there's many others out there like me. this is wat i'd lov to do: http://rmgnews.com/index2.htm

hope that explains my insanity lol

 

[DickH]

... hope that explains my insanity lol

You might have to explain it to someone else someday. Just in case you don't know, there is something called the (Federal) Communications Act of 1934. To summarize, you can, of course, listen to anything you want to on your scanner, but you must NOT repeat it to someone else. That's called something like 3rd party disclosure and it is against federal law to do so.

 

[lowboy654]

Dick H hit the nail on the head, You are walking a very thin line.

 

[AuntBee09]

then what about the news?

You might have to explain it to someone else someday. Just in case you don't know, there is something called the (Federal) Communications Act of 1934. To summarize, you can, of course, listen to anything you want to on your scanner, but you must NOT repeat it to someone else. That's called something like 3rd party disclosure and it is against federal law to do so.

doesn't that only apply to telephone (and private) conversations? i know the media gets most of its information from scanners and then they replay the info to the viewers . . . aren't i just doing the same thing? during breaking news, they replay almost the exact information they here on their scanners to the audiance. and what about the TV show COPS: you hear a bunch of police radio activity when you watch that show . . . and they're repeating it to a national audiance. also, it doesn't say anything about the not repeating the stuff i hear on my scanner in my scanner manual (under the "FCC NOTICE" and "SCANNING LEGALLY").

and i should point out: i generally don't tape my actual scanner (cuz i think that's wat it sounds like in my responce above). i drive to the location i hear on my scanner and video tape stuff there.

i'm not trying to be all agianst you, but i think i raise good questions. if i am doing something wrong, i want to know about it before it's too late. so thanx for bring this to my attention because i'm going to read up on this. thanx

 

[DickH]

doesn't that only apply to telephone (and private) conversations? i know the media gets most of its information from scanners and then they replay the info to the viewers . . . aren't i just doing the same thing? during breaking news, they replay almost the exact information they here on their scanners to the audiance. and what about the TV show COPS: you hear a bunch of police radio activity when you watch that show . . . and they're repeating it to a national audiance. also, it doesn't say anything about the not repeating the stuff i hear on my scanner in my scanner manual (under the "FCC NOTICE" and "SCANNING LEGALLY").

and i should point out: i generally don't tape my actual scanner (cuz i think that's wat it sounds like in my responce above). i drive to the location i hear on my scanner and video tape stuff there.

i'm not trying to be all agianst you, but i think i raise good questions. if i am doing something wrong, i want to know about it before it's too late. so thanx for bring this to my attention because i'm going to read up on this. thanx

No, it applies to all radio communications. There are new laws specifically for telephones.
The media either has specific or implied consent from public safety.
Another part of that law I forgot to mention is you can not use any info obtained for your own personal gain. I think that covers what you are doing.
Another consideration is chasing calls, which is frowned upon by public safety. We don't need more people getting in the way while we're trying to get to a scene. We have enough problems with neighborhood bystanders. Others just add to the congestion and confusion.

 

[AuntBee09]

i didn't know that. thanx for telling me.

No, it applies to all radio communications. There are new laws specifically for telephones.
The media either has specific or implied consent from public safety.
Another part of that law I forgot to mention is you can not use any info obtained for your own personal gain. I think that covers what you are doing.
Another consideration is chasing calls, which is frowned upon by public safety. We don't need more people getting in the way while we're trying to get to a scene. We have enough problems with neighborhood bystanders. Others just add to the congestion and confusion.

thanx for the info. i think it's stupid how my scanner manual doesn't even mention it. because i had no idea it was illigal. isn't there a case being decided right now about this very subject: like somebody picked up a politician's phone call and released it . . . i'm pretty sure i heard this on NPR. anyways, i don't think the gov. inforces this law you enformed me to much (it's hard to enforce and has little to gain by doing so).

thanx agian for telling me. it's wierd cuz i stop by my police community center everyonce and awhile to check up on programs and stuff, and there is not info there warning scanner users about the law. ttyl

 

[Stavro35]

Devils advocate here. How can a law written in 1934 apply to scanner radio's today?
There were no scanner's then..
If it's a big deal how come scanner feeds aren't being taken down left and right by federal court ruling's?
What about a freelance photographer that happens to be right across the street from the scence of an accident or crime? Are they to be locked up for having one of their images on the front page of the evening news or their footage appear on the evening news?

 

[DickH]

Devils advocate here. How can a law written in 1934 apply to scanner radio's today?

Either you have difficulty reading or difficulty understanding what you read. The Communications Act of 1934 applies to RADIO communications. And I believe scanners are radios. Like other laws written decades ago or a hundred years ago, whether it is enforced or not has nothing to do with this discussion.

 

[n7lxi]

As a former news stringer, I can assure you that nobody is enforcing the "not for personal gain" clause in The Communications Act of 1934.

TV and radio stations use scanners to assign crews to cover news stories and events as they unfold. Is that illegal? Obviously, the TV stations gain from that use. Every newsroom I've been in has scanners and two ways blaring... Someone should tell those guys to turn that stuff off. When I was working late nights my scanner was the most valuable tool I had next to my camera.

Now... as far as being a "legit" stringer, the OP may be a little shaky. A high school senior who tapes stuff "for fun" is a bit different then a stringer who shoots on broadcast quality Beta SP (as I did) or on DV with a pro camera. There is a huge difference between being a stringer and "selling a few shots to TV stations in the past".

When you're a legit photog, the Police and Firefighters get used to your showing up on scene. Trust me, if you're supoposed to be there the cops notice quickly and will escort you out of the way.

And lastly, it's a hard way to make a living. The hours suck and most of the good stuff usually happens in the middle of a huge rainstorm... and the best shots come as your battery is on it's last legs.

 

[AuntBee09]

As a former news stringer, I can assure you that nobody is enforcing the "not for personal gain" clause in The Communications Act of 1934.

TV and radio stations use scanners to assign crews to cover news stories and events as they unfold. Is that illegal? Obviously, the TV stations gain from that use. Every newsroom I've been in has scanners and two ways blaring... Someone should tell those guys to turn that stuff off. When I was working late nights my scanner was the most valuable tool I had next to my camera.

Now... as far as being a "legit" stringer, the OP may be a little shaky. A high school senior who tapes stuff "for fun" is a bit different then a stringer who shoots on broadcast quality Beta SP (as I did) or on DV with a pro camera. There is a huge difference between being a stringer and "selling a few shots to TV stations in the past".

When you're a legit photog, the Police and Firefighters get used to your showing up on scene. Trust me, if you're supoposed to be there the cops notice quickly and will escort you out of the way.

And lastly, it's a hard way to make a living. The hours suck and most of the good stuff usually happens in the middle of a huge rainstorm... and the best shots come as your battery is on it's last legs.

yah, i'm not an extreme stringer, just sometimes film stuff i hear on my scanner; i don't want anyone to think i do this for a living or am pretending to be a really cool stringer. here is my video cam http://myspace-937.vo.llnwd.net/01103/73/94/1103644937_l.jpg
i think it has good enough quality for teh news lol, being an HD Sony HDR HC1 with a zoom mike (shotgun mike) and a two hour plus battery pack.

and i know two kiro 7 report's cell numbers (amy clancy and kyle moore) from some previous news stuff i caught on video tape and they told me to call them when ever i get good footage. you can see some of the stuff i've shot at http://www.youtube.com/user/AuntBee09

i was thinking about that law about how you can't use the scanner for personal gain, it may only apply to politics and business. meaning: a politicain can't listen to his rival's phone conversations and then tell everyone about how corrupt he is. it probably doesn't apply to media. idk, just a thought. i haven't read the law like "DickH" has, so he probably knows more.

one last thing n7lxi, were you a stringer in seattle/washinton? i'm wondering about the camera laws here: is it right that police can tell you to turn off cameras that record sound, but what if i can turn off the sound on my camera and still record? i need to know this because some i've had some problems with filming the state patrol (they didn't tell me to turn it off, but they were annoyed by my filming). local city police are really nice to me tho. have any general tips for stringing? haha thanx

thanx for your responce.

 

[vs1988]

Auntbee

Have you signed up for that ridealong yet? I'm in the Police Explorers in my town and do ridealongs with officers. Anybody who rides is not allowed to have any type of recording device (camcorder, camera, voice recorder etc.). You may want to check with the PD before you go on your ridealong.

 

[Stick0413]

You might have to explain it to someone else someday. Just in case you don't know, there is something called the (Federal) Communications Act of 1934. To summarize, you can, of course, listen to anything you want to on your scanner, but you must NOT repeat it to someone else. That's called something like 3rd party disclosure and it is against federal law to do so.

I am going to play the devils advocate here too. I know of websites that actually have archives of scanner recordings. And if you cant repeat what you hear to anyone else I guess this website is also kinda on the illegal side. At least on the incidents and breaking news sections and the "Funniest thing ever heard on scanner" thread in the Tavern.

 

[AuntBee09]

Auntbee

Have you signed up for that ridealong yet? I'm in the Police Explorers in my town and do ridealongs with officers. Anybody who rides is not allowed to have any type of recording device (camcorder, camera, voice recorder etc.). You may want to check with the PD before you go on your ridealong.

yah, i know, it's too bad they don't allow stuff to be recorded, but o well. i emailed the seattle pd (about a month ago) and that's what they said. i haven't signed up for the ridealong yet because school has been keeping me busy but i still want to even if i can't video tape stuff. i'm interested in law enforcement as a job and i think a ride along would be helpful in deciding if that's a good direction for me. thanks for making sure i knew that.