So.
A user sent me a PM about my story, "Robin, The Nighthawk in "Fire on the 14th" (see https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/comment/559402#comment-559402). In her PM, she said that police scanners are actually legal. That was coz, in the story, Tracey, one of the characters, said her police scanner was illegal.
I'm always open to new information. So I thought about it. Thing is, what I knew was that police scanners are in what people would call a "gray area," i.e. it might not be illegal to own and use one in most places, but if you mis-use them, then you might be in trouble.
It's not the fact of owning such a scanner or listening to it that can be dangerous or illegal, but it's in how you use the information you hear over that scanner - for example, if you're trying to avoid getting caught for stealing something and using the info you heard over the scanner to avoid the dragnet that's been set out for you, such a thing would make you liable for "obstruction of justice" and other related offenses (such as the actual theft lol). Therefore, practically speaking, it's like what Mr. Laukonnen said in his post: "police scanners are only legal until they're illegal." If you know what I mean.
In this connection, though owning a scanner is legal in most parts of the country, there are some places where they have made it illegal - both police scanners and police scanner apps.
You might want to check out this Lifewire article by Jeremy Laukonnen: https://www.lifewire.com/are-radio-scanner-apps-illegal-534495
Anyway, in the DannyVerse, I've made it such that, in Danny's hometown (wherever that is), owning a police scanner, or a police scanner app is illegal.
Now, you may ask, why am I even publicly commenting about this?
The thing is, after this person sent me this innocuous PM, she then blocked me (eh?) and I am now unable to respond to her message. Gosh...
I guess that wasn't copacetic - it's like... well, I guess I don't need to explain, do I? I wonder why she thought she needed to block me. After all, her PM was such an innocuous one, and it wasn't even an angry message nor was it combative.
Anyway, putting up a public post here was all that I could do to reply/react (To keep things private, which is what she probably prefers, I'm not disclosing her user name. Besides, that's just being copacetic.). Anyway, I'm sorry that she felt she had to block replies from me.
Anyway, I guess I feel a little offended. But I'm not angry. These things happen from time to time, after all, and it's really a small thing. But to keep things on an even keel, I have also blocked any messages from her.
Guys, the beauty of PMs is that they're private, and therefore, you need not be afraid of saying anything, especially if what you're saying is pretty harmless, and you say it politely. Most people don't bite - not if you're being polite.
Anyway, like I said, these things happen. Oh, well.
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Comments
Oh let me scan police bands so i can hear the cops at work
Oh let me scan police bands so i can hear he cops at work
Don't block me out
Be my friend send PM's but don't treat me like a jerk
Don't block me out
It makes me wonder what i said that wasn't copacetic
To be blocked from any response makes me feel frenetic
The dispatcher on my radio's called the paramedics
Don't block me out
(Mama don't you block me out...)
~well i wrote something today now i can go watch cartoons. hugs, veronica
Well shit, I guess it really CAN happen here..,
.
Scan cops no more
He in Queensland Australia you can no longer scan the police radio as thay have gone to digadle radios that need decoda so if you try to tune in you get computer tons
In NJ using a Scanner or
In NJ using a Scanner or Scanner app is not illegal, however if you use the scanner or app to elude/flee the police, you are using the scanner in an illegal way.
Most jurisdictions are putting money into upgrading and going with high encryption that is really hard to break as opposed to making ownership and use illegal in general. On that note, unauthorized listening to encrypted frequencies should you be able to break the encryption key, IS illegal.
-Piper
P.S. Nice stock image of the Uniden Home Patrol 2 (HP2)... Here's Mine.
Receiving stuff, the FCC, and other stuff...
First of all, I am not a lawyer. But I have been a ham for a long time, and interested in all things electronic and communications for even longer.
You are allowed to receive whatever you want. Decrypting is is a different matter because of the DMCA. Essentially, if someone enciphers something for copyright purposes, it is illegal to try to decipher it. I'm not sure how that works with police communications.
A long time ago, it was ruled unconstitutional to keep us from receiving radio signals. It has been done in other countries, but not America.
What DID happen in the eighties is that someone found a work around. They created a law that a scanner that receives cell phone frequencies can't be type accepted. This doesn't stop you from otherwise acquiring one or making your own.
(By the way, we're talking about the old analog cell phone bands around 300 and 900 MHz. I don't know what the status is on the newer 3G/4G/whatever bands.)
The FCC may have tried to ban us from listening to those frequencies, but they simply don't have the authority. That would account to unelected officials legislating.
They did that recently with the ham community. They tried to ban the sale and use of all radios that are capable of operating outside of the ham frequencies. Long story short, that nonsense went away. So I can still still use my ham radios (all of which will go outside of the ham bands,) and I can still buy a cheap $29.95 Baofeng radio that hits the majority of the bands between the top of the aircraft band and the bottom of the UHF TV band. In other words, the FCC got slapped down.
(Insert long grumble here about government overreach.)
Somehow, banning police scanners in automobiles was allowed. But bona fide cops can have them, as can hams. This is because the amateur radio service provides emergency communication.
Since my two VHF/UHF radios will not only receive, but also transmit on emergency frequencies, banning them would be really inconvenient.
Unintentional block
I've had a number of people show up on my blocked list that I did not intentionally put there. I assumed I somehow put them there with my clumsy typing or occasionally hitting control rather than shift. Maybe this happens to others.
Blocked users
Exactly the same thing happened to me, my guess is also accidentally pressing an incorrect link. I wouldn't take it personal.
Xtrim
police scanners & scanners in general
Years ago (like in the 1980's) the FCC weighed in on this issue. Their ruling at that time was only the AM, FM, and TV bands were permitted for people to disclose or act on what they heard on those radios (or on a scanner when listening to those bands). All other communications were held to be private (even though they were on the "public" airways). As such all use of a multi-band radio or scanner was 'legal' ONLY if the person using it did not disclose nor gain benefit from what they heard.
That would possible cover the issue here. NOTE: if those rulings have been changed - I have been out of the loop long enough to not know of any recent (since 1998) changes to that ruling.
Just my two cents .... POOKA
It's out of date or altered.
It's out of date or altered. FCC doesn't govern usage in that way, only the actual access and allocation of frequencies. It's a state issue about usage of the information, not federal. Thus the 35 states allowing open use of scanners and 10 that only bar the usage of them in crimes.
Before I get told otherwise every TV photographer working has several in their possession, it's actually how most know about incidents like police activity, fires, car accidents etc. I have been a public safety photographer for 15 years and have met many of the Boston media photographers through the same incidents, they openly showcase their scanners and talk shop with others about them. The media don't get told right away by the departments, the photographers listen for any incidents that go out over the scanners
I'm told STFU more times in a day than most people get told in a lifetime
PMing someone and then blocking them is WRONG
Bobbie-c was presented with a situation only (insert your own definition here) does to another person. Being her gracious self she didn't out the person but not wanting to receive the same treatment a second time she added her own block to the person who had initiated the offensive block. And yes it was offensive.
She brought the subject to the public form (blog) where everyone can look it over, make a judgement, comment, and hopefully discuss it without malice. After all the lady had just been slammed and she has a personal right to mention it to all of us who float in the same waters. What each takes away from the blog speaks volumes about who they are.
Now what was that other subject mentioned I failed to notice? Scanners? Oh yeah, if memory serves me, it usually fails me, the Supreme Court wadded in on this same concept when satellite dishes were new. Got mixed up with several articles of the Constitution and became the can kicked down the road. If the data falls upon you or your property one has a right to do with it as they wish personally and not for commercial gain. The satellites started scrambling their signals. Fat lot of good that did. So to squealch the data flow to no payers the scramblers became illegal. Problem solved. Not so fast as plans for descramblers became available.Illegal to publish plans for same was the next step ran smack into the First Amendment.
Anyone who thinks data being sent out over the air or any other way isn't compromised doesn't live in the same world I live in. Who cares less about the law than the ones breaking it for illegal gain? Laws don't stop the crooks, never have, never will. I want those who are driving to raise their hand if they have NEVER broke a law? Tires on the yellow line? Rolling stop at the stop sign? Speed up when the light turns yellow? Maybe you didn't go as far to be speeding a hundred forty in a sixty five speed limit? Or maybe you have?
I'm not even sure we even have to get out of bed in the morning to be breaking some law? What is the way most put it? Not don't do it just "Don't get caught."
hugs people
always,
Barb
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
I don't get...
the point of sending someone a PM and then blocking them from replying.
It is the internet version of knocking on someones door and then running away.
You must not play online mmo
You must not play online mmo's. Pretty standard for some squeaker to rage at someone and block them so they "win" their own personal argument.
I think wow is the worst at this. Get loot and dont want to give it to that guy? Incoming wall of text while you cant whisper them back.
Um, what are
I know mm's are american smarties, but mmo's?
Massive Multiplayer Online
Massive Multiplayer Online gaming. World of Warcraft (WoW) is one such game as with Eve, Starwars and others.
There is a feature called chat in WoW that allows people to talk in the game if in a guild that players can talk in if they are a member of that guild whereas there are Whispers (just what it means) used to talk to another player and open chat but most don't as it becomes a cesspool for belittling, narcissism and trolling.
scanner?
First thing I thought was that her scanner had decrypting software to allow her to listen in on encrypted channels, which would have made it illegal.
We the willing, led by the unsure. Have been doing so much with so little for so long,
We are now qualified to do anything with nothing.
Kay-Double E Four Eight OH
to Car Sixty-Five <<<< Real call letters when my sister and brother were on the local volunteer ambulance squad in the late 70's - my mother had the scanner on 24/7 so we heard that thousands of times. I will eschew using a PM to deliver the following message, however. >>>> Your writing is terrific as are you!
Love, Andrea Lena
This is tiresome...
I just did a search, and according to that Police Scanners are legal to own anywhere in America. Some channels are blocked.
scanner
As a ham (licensed amateur radio operator,) I can operate an emergency band scanner in my car. My handheld portable radio will actually transmit on those frequencies, though it would have to be an emergency to do it legally.
Stationary, Vs mobile
I seem to remember my cousin telling me that where he lived, having a police scanner in a home, or a business was perfectly legal, whereas, having an operational scanner in vehicle was illegal. Can't remember now just where that was, but it was somewhere in the mid-west, Nebraska or Kansas maybe.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin ein femininer Mann
Story modified.
Hey, everyone.
Just corrected that part my story. Here's the original text:
"Don't tell mom but I got an illegal police scanner." She sped up the ramp, then out onto the street, and then started to drive towards the Jackson Residential Building. "It's what I used upstairs earlier."
Here's the paragraph now:
"Don't tell mom but I got a police scanner," she said. "She won't be too happy about it." She sped up the ramp, then out onto the street, and then started to drive towards the Jackson Residential Building. "It's what I used upstairs earlier."
So. I guess all this talk about scanners is moot now, right? Lol.
Thank you all for your information, anyway. It's too bad that this could not have been relayed via a PM instead of in a public forum, just like the lady who was good enough to have sent me the original PM did, to try and save me some embarrassment, I suppose. It was too bad that she and I couldn't have talked some more because she blocked me. That miffed me a bit. I couldn't even thank her for being considerate, too.
And that was the point of my blogpost. Not the darned scanner...
Oh, well...
click here to read all of my blogs,
click here to read my stories in BCTS, and
click here to see my profile & know more about me.
Blocked freq's
Most scanners can't scan cell phone frequency's. If you have one that does, you can't listen in. By order of the FCC.
FYI there are a bunch of
FYI there are a bunch of frequencies available to listen to via the internet. Ex. https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/
Some more info
So. Someone just sent me this.
- - - - -
Bobbi, just to clarify, almost all states do not prohibit polce scanners, but there are some that do:
New York State Law that says scannrs in cars are illegal https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/vehicle-and-traffic-law/vat-sec...
Similar Minnesota State Law https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/299C.37
Similar Florida State Law http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Displ...
Similar Kentucky State Law (srry this is just a PDF from a law firm. It's frm 1994, but it's supposed to still be in the books) https://www.qsl.net/ag4ty/kyscanlaw.txt
Minutes of a mtg from Indiana's state officials (this is from 2011. Don't know if this is still enforcd) http://www.in.gov/legislative/interim/committee/minutes/CCEC...
I may have missed some, but these were all that I could find.
As for these states - California, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia - they have laws/rules/statutes against using a scanner in committing, OR while commiting, a crime.
In all other places, the cricumstances of any situation where a legal case involvs a police scanner, or somthing similar are reviewed in a case-by-case basis. But, in general, police scanners, scanner apps etc etc are not restricted for ownership or use.
Hope this clarifies.
- - - - -
click here to read all of my blogs,
click here to read my stories in BCTS, and
click here to see my profile & know more about me.
A way to think of it...
A way to think of it...
"As for these states - California, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia - they have laws/rules/statutes against using a scanner in committing, OR while commiting, a crime."
A scanner is like a hammer. Legal to possess, and to use to bash nails (maybe even your thumbnail, if you're like me). But an illegal weapon if you use it to bash someone else.
Bobbie, I would also be bothered if someone did the message/block thing to me. I can't imagine why anyone would intentionally do it to you!
Kris
{I leave a trail of Kudos as I browse the site. Be careful where you step!}
Police band scanners
Banning a piece of passive kit is not easy if not almost impossible , therefore the use of laws concerning scanners and crime. However if anyone including the police choose to transmit in plain language all be it "copese" they both deserve and are legal to be listened to. However in UK ,the police and it is probably the same in the USA especially for swat FBI etc transmit encrypted and to listen in you need the crypto keys possession of those is keys is a very serious offence
Bobbie-C *Odd?!*
I can't send you a PM either I just ran across this blog, as I don't read but 1-2% of the blogs posted. I found one place that seems to have blocked you and hopefully cleared it. Time to check your end, I guess.
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
From several years in the future
Actually, I blocked you long before this story and the note I sent you. You tore several strips off me in a not very subtle or polite attack after I dared to point out several mistakes you'd made online. But I won't get into that.
This one time, though, I decided to privately let you know about a factual error, one that ought to be corrected. Then it was back to the ignore list. As this diatribe shows, you're not really happy get corrections even privately, as you saw the need to complain about it publicly.
Yes, you are still on my block list. I think the reason is obvious enough.