JoeyC
Senior Member
TSA: Prohibited Items
otherwise talk to a NY attorney. You are making more out of this than needs be.
otherwise talk to a NY attorney. You are making more out of this than needs be.
Traveling To New York State Scanner Law
- Thread starter frank-ortiz
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KB7MIB
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Set it to the local NWS weather channel so *if* on the off chance the TSA asks you to prove it works, all you have to do is turn it on. Then toss it in your carry-on bag, and enjoy your trip.
Set it to the local NWS weather channel so *if* on the off chance the TSA asks you to prove it works, all you have to do is turn it on. Then toss it in your carry-on bag, and enjoy your trip.
I'm not making this more than it needs to be, I am just confused and asking questions from people who have traveled with scanners and if they had issues that's why these forums are here for right? I have read online but the laws are misleading.
JS11581
Member
JoeyC just mad cause his wife cheated on him
JoeyC
Senior Member
Yes the forums are the place for this type of questioning, but you asked whether the airlines or TSA would take your scanner while flying and at least 4 people have told you there is no problem. Several people have chimed in with other information about scanning mobile, etc. I've given you the official word from TSA via their website on the matter and someone else pointed you in the direction of tons of threads that have asked the same questions in the past.
You asked for help in the matter and people are giving you their experiences. I am not sure you would ever get the definitive answer you wish. If 100 people traveled with a scanner at least one or two are going to tell you they had some kind of problem. You can continue with the uncertainty, but it doesn't seem like you will ever be convinced. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's reality.
You asked for help in the matter and people are giving you their experiences. I am not sure you would ever get the definitive answer you wish. If 100 people traveled with a scanner at least one or two are going to tell you they had some kind of problem. You can continue with the uncertainty, but it doesn't seem like you will ever be convinced. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's reality.
People on here have been giving good advice, other people that see this thread will give there input on this which is appreciated. I'm going to take my scanner and have weather frequencies in there do if they do ask I will say its a weather reciever.
with regards to the laptop bag. They ask you to remove the laptop yes, but my laptop bag, like most, have other compartments, which is where I threw the radio. I did pull my laptop out, but left the other electronics in the bag, and both in Providence and in Orlando, no one said a thing.
I understand your concerns, it's a $500 device that you would obviously rather not get hassled about or worse, including having it confiscated or being detained yourself. I get it. I won't go so far as to say you're making a big deal over nothing, because all it takes is one TSA agent or cop who is ignorant of the law, or has a hard on for scanners, and all of a sudden your trip to NY turns into a nightmare.
My advice was "be smart about it", which by the way includes being honest if asked what it is. Saying "Oh it's a weather receiver" is not being completely truthful, and if the TSA agent/cop knows exactly what it is, but asks as a sort of test to gauge your honesty, you're going to have a problem if you get caught in a lie. If you want to downplay it, just saying something like "Oh it's a scanner, you know to listen to the fire dept and stuff". Law enforcement generally doesn't consider monitoring the fire dept to be any kind of threat, as opposed to if you had their frequencies scanning and he was hearing himself come blaring out of the speaker whenever he keyed his mic.
NY is really not such a Gestapo police state like one (out of state) poster suggested in his little tangent. If you get asked what it is, just be cool, honest, and no one will bust your balls.
My advice was "be smart about it", which by the way includes being honest if asked what it is. Saying "Oh it's a weather receiver" is not being completely truthful, and if the TSA agent/cop knows exactly what it is, but asks as a sort of test to gauge your honesty, you're going to have a problem if you get caught in a lie. If you want to downplay it, just saying something like "Oh it's a scanner, you know to listen to the fire dept and stuff". Law enforcement generally doesn't consider monitoring the fire dept to be any kind of threat, as opposed to if you had their frequencies scanning and he was hearing himself come blaring out of the speaker whenever he keyed his mic.
NY is really not such a Gestapo police state like one (out of state) poster suggested in his little tangent. If you get asked what it is, just be cool, honest, and no one will bust your balls.
The TSA boobs never even asked me every time I flew. Pack it in your regular bag if you're not comfortable with the carry on
I took a scanner through WestChester a couple years ago, no questions asked.
I traveled for over a year 1-2 flights a week and never once got asked about my scanner in my computer bag.
The TSA isn't going to care about your scanner. Make sure you have fresh batteries in it, program in some weather channels, and be prepared to show them that it's a functional piece of consumer electronics. Many of those TSA employees are fire buffs or some other type of scanner hobbyist, so don't be surprised if you get chatted up about your scanner. If you act all paranoid and hinky, then expect to get messed with.
When in NY state, don't throw your scanner on the seat next to you when driving because if you get pulled over you will likely get it taken from you and charged with violating the mobile scanner law. Stick it in your luggage, put the luggage in the trunk of the car, and if you get pulled over you won't have any problems. If your driving is so horrible that you get pulled over in the first place, then you have a whole other set of issues going on.
When in NY state, don't throw your scanner on the seat next to you when driving because if you get pulled over you will likely get it taken from you and charged with violating the mobile scanner law. Stick it in your luggage, put the luggage in the trunk of the car, and if you get pulled over you won't have any problems. If your driving is so horrible that you get pulled over in the first place, then you have a whole other set of issues going on.
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I'll just carry it in my iPad bag,and when I'm walking I'll clip it to my belt with my shirt over it with my headphones plugged in it.
I have traveled back and forth to West Palm Beach with my PSR-500 and have never been questioned about it.
I work for TSA. Scanners are not a problem in your carry-on bag going through the security checkpoint.
jimlawrence
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Let me just add my voice to the dozens who have spoken out ahead of me. I have traveled all over the U.S., in Canada and in Central America and the Caribbean over the past 4+ years and NEVER, EVER had any problem in the U.S. or in any nation because I've had radios/scanner in my carry-on. Your mileage may vary.
In New York State, and this is from experience and research, you are exempt from scanner restrictions if you hold a valid FCC Amateur Radio, General Radiotelephone, or Marine License.
As for TSA...I went through O'Hare security recently with two HT's, a scanner, a laptop, and a magmount antenna in my carry-on. Never said a damn word. Then again...he did look lazy.
As for TSA...I went through O'Hare security recently with two HT's, a scanner, a laptop, and a magmount antenna in my carry-on. Never said a damn word. Then again...he did look lazy.
KB7MIB
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It was my understanding, from a previous thread, that the Amateur exemption in NYS applied ONLY to incidental out-of-band coverage of Amateur VHF/UHF handheld and mobile radios, and NOT to an actual scanner radio in a vehicle.
It was my understanding, from a previous thread, that the Amateur exemption in NYS applied ONLY to incidental out-of-band coverage of Amateur VHF/UHF handheld and mobile radios, and NOT to an actual scanner radio in a vehicle.
KB7MIB
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A Ham radio operator is still prohibited from having an actual scanner in their vehicle, even though their single- or multi-band VHF/UHF Ham radios may have out-of-band coverage, is what I understood the law to be.
A Ham radio operator is still prohibited from having an actual scanner in their vehicle, even though their single- or multi-band VHF/UHF Ham radios may have out-of-band coverage, is what I understood the law to be.
Are we seriously going to rehash the whole "scanners in NYS" thing again? This topic has been absolutely beat to death around here over the years. Please, let's not do it again, there is a sticky thread right at the top of this forum with info on scanning in NYS.
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