Traveling To New York State Scanner Law

[frank-ortiz]

Hi everyone,

I don't know if this is in the correct section or not if it isn't please excuse me on that.
My question is in September I will be traveling to New York State to Westchester County, I am flying in to Westchester County Airport in the city of White Plains, N.Y. which is also in Westchester County.

I am departing out of West Palm Beach International airport on JetBlue, my question is will I have a problem traveling to the above areas with my GRE PSR-800 scanner legally? I really want to take my scanner with me so I can use it while I am there? I don't want the airlines or TSA to take my device from me and keep it.
It will be carried in my carry on bag with me so It doesn't get damaged from checking it with my other luggage.

I have looked around online about this and the laws for New York State in the county I am going to be in and I can not find any straight forward information about it at all.

What should I do in this situation? I really want to bring my PSR-800 with me but also I don't want them to confiscate it either and then be out $500.

Any help is truly appreciated in this matter

Thanks
Frank

 

[popnokick]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B206 Safari/7534.48.3)

Last I knew (but check for yourself) you cannot use a scanner in a motor vehicle in NYS. There are multiple threads on this in the RR NY state forum. And you can't use it inflight. Other than those restrictions, plan on bringing it with you and using it. This country may be getting close to banning scanners and other radio receivers (in some opinions) but we're not there yet. As much as NY would like to emulate govt policies in Cuba, Communist China, the old Soviet regime, and others that restrict radio ownership/use... We're not there.... Yet.

 

[w2xq]

The Mobile Scanner & RADAR Detector Laws In The U.S. is oft-recommended. Pick the 4th menu button on the left. HTH.

 

[frank-ortiz]

The Mobile Scanner & RADAR Detector Laws In The U.S. is oft-recommended. Pick the 4th menu button on the left. HTH.

According to that link you provided I can't bring it with me
"Possession illegal for anyone without permit"

I dont want them to take my scanner which would suck.

 

[Mtnrider]

Fed EX or UPS it to where your going?

 

[GTR8000]

I'm not an attorney, so any advice I'm about to give is based on living in NY my entire life, and I'm not going to be held liable for anything that happens with your scanner if you listen to me.

Unless you're causing trouble with your scanner, or committing a crime while in possession of a scanner, no one is going to bother you.

Yes, having a scanner in a vehicle in NYS is questionable, and if a cop wants to break your balls, he can. But, if you put the scanner away in a bag or the glove compartment while driving, you're not going to get hassled. This is not a concealed firearm you're carrying here.

There is absolutely nothing illegal about possessing a scanner in NYS, and you can freely walk around with one listening to it. You can use it in your hotel, or on the street, etc. Again, the only sticking point is the arcane mobile scanning law, so it's probably best to keep it turned off and out of sight while in a vehicle.

Other than that, don't sweat it. The information on that Mobile Scanner & RADAR Detector Laws In The U.S. website seems very alarmist and paranoid, all due respect to whoever wrote it. It makes it sound like the very sight of a scanner on your person within NYS will get you the death penalty. That is simply not true, they sell scanners in every Radio Shack in NYS, so that should be proof alone that possessing and using a scanner in NYS is not illegal.

Take your scanner with you, just be smart about it. Don't use it on the plane, and don't use it in a vehicle when you get to NY, and you'll be just fine. There are tens of thousands of us in NYS who have been using scanners for decades, including many cops themselves.

 

[frank-ortiz]

My concern also is when I go through airport TSA at West Palm Beach International airport as well as when I go through WestChester County airport that they will ask to see what it is and then take it from me. But I would never use a scanner in any aircraft or even in the airport terminal.

 

[GTR8000]

I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that the laws in NY are "strict". There is one law that refers to scanners (and it doesn't even mention the word "scanner"), and all it says is "don't use it in a vehicle".

But hey, it's not my $500 on the line, so if you have your doubts, then leave it at home.

 

[frank-ortiz]

I'm going to take it with me, but it will be in my carry on bag with my IPAD. Will TSA agents give me an issue if they see it in my bag?

 

[GTR8000]

That I can't speak to, but I haven't heard of anyone getting hassled as long as they're not using it in-flight. Search the forums, you may find a more direct answer to that question in a different thread.

 

[frank-ortiz]

Have to traveled with your handheld scanner and carried it on a carry on bag and went through TSA without them asking what the scanner was?

 

[JoeyC]

My concern also is when I go through airport TSA at West Palm Beach International airport as well as when I go through WestChester County airport that they will ask to see what it is and then take it from me. But I would never use a scanner in any aircraft or even in the airport terminal.

TSA is not concerned with scanners or any radio. They are not on the prohibited list and will not take it from you. Should any one of them ask to see it could be because it is overlying something else in the x-ray. To avoid any confusion, I always put mine in the bin with the wallet and keys out in plain view.

 

[62Truck]

I'm going to take it with me, but it will be in my carry on bag with my IPAD. Will TSA agents give me an issue if they see it in my bag?

On a trip to Florida about a year ago I had 3 radios and a laptop in my carry on, they didn't bother me one bit.

 

[SCPD]

I've flown through Laguardia and JFK with multiple scanners and laptop as carry-on items. TSA checked my items for bomb residue and handed them back to me.

 

[W1KNE]

Same here, flew to Florida with BC396XT, HD Radio portable, SW Portable, portable TV, a bunch of cabling. Threw it all in my laptop bag. No one even gave me a look about it. No hassels at all.

 

[DaveNF2G]

NYC scanner regs are stricter. For details visit

No Scanner For You?

This link tells you how to obtain a free detailed analysis of NYS scanner laws.

 

[nyjason13]

I actually got a ticket for this once... The scanner was in my car on my seat, my car was locked and parked (albeit illegally), and wasn't hooked up to anything. But he confiscated it and off it went.

Luckily I have some connections in the area and got my scanner back and the case dismissed. I guess NYS campus police have nothing better to do

 

[dave3825]

Threads regarding scanners on planes.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sca...cp.r_qf.&fp=48577dbfdd8cbd4f&biw=1280&bih=484

Delta says you can not "use" radio receivers while in flight as seen here.

Delta In-flight Information about Portable Electronic Devices

I have brought mine on flights but I never tried to use them. I thru it into my camera bag.

Just a heads up. They have always made me take my laptop out for further inspection so if your looking to be discreet, do not put your scanner with your laptop..

 

[frank-ortiz]

Threads regarding scanners on planes.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sca...cp.r_qf.&fp=48577dbfdd8cbd4f&biw=1280&bih=484

Delta says you can not "use" radio receivers while in flight as seen here.

Delta In-flight Information about Portable Electronic Devices

I have brought mine on flights but I never tried to use them. I thru it into my camera bag.

Just a heads up. They have always made me take my laptop out for further inspection so if your looking to be discreet, do not put your scanner with your laptop..

I would never use my scanner in flight, the only thing I use in flight after 10,000 feet clearance is my iphone in airplane mode using the music player or if I were going to play a game.

 

[frank-ortiz]

As I mentioned all I want to do is bring my scanner with me to NY and not be hassled about it or have them try to confiscated from me at the TSA check point entering and coming back home to FL. I will not be using it in a vehicle, I will have it on my person using a headset to listen in.