Scanner in vehicle

[rescapt18]

Almost every good buff I know has one in their car/truck. Has anyone run into any problems with the PD?

[volffemt]

99.999% of cops are cool w/it if you're in a FD or EMS. If not, then a flag is raised. I don't know what the exact law in NYS is w/scanners in vehicles (I believe it's not allowed in most cases, except public safety, neighborhood watches etc)

Be smart w/it. Don't go buffing police scenes, or get too close, getting in the way etc. My biggest pet peeve is, if you get pulled over, turn it off.

But like I said, most cops are cool w/it if you're FD, EMS.

[rescapt18]

I had a problem with a cop once and only once. It is still not legal except for hams and then the law is hazy. Just wanted to know of others experiences. I think I would def. remove it while traveling throught the city

[ESU2422]

Unless you're actually using that scanner in the commission of a crime I don't think anyone would bother you. The only other circumstance where I could imagine a cop giving you a hard time would be if you're busting the cops nuts or giving him an attitude.

[Luke]

Unless you are a hammy, cop or have peace officer status, by law, a scanner or device capable of monitoring such transmissions is illegal. I have not heard of anyone getting into trouble with PD.

Here is a link for the scanner law here in NY

www.fordyce.org/scanning/scanning_info/nyslaw.html

[gointowork]

i was buffing a fire and i was stopped by a cop who was directing traffic and he threatened me by saying "do you have any police frequencies in that scanner?" is said no (and of course i do) and then he said " you wouldn't want me looking through that would you?" i said no

and all of this was for no reason, i didn't try going through him while he was directing traffic or make an illegal turn...he was just being a dick

it was really weird..and it pissed me off

[rescapt18]

I do have a ham license, however as I read the law, I would have to have a radio only capable of transmitting and recieving ham frequencies. The transmitting part is understandable, but there isnt a ham radio made that doesnt receive out of band transmissions. Except my old htx-202.

[FIRE07]

i thought that the law was updated to include "active members of public safety agencies," such as FFs

[ESU2422]

I'll dig out my VTL and look it up, you may be right, it might have been changed. Give me a day to check.

[Fire51Marshal]

I just looked at the VTL online and it doesn't appear to have changed to include public safety agencies.

[jrsl2362]

ive never had a problem or know anyone who has run into any problems with the PD about having a scanner. i think if you come off with an attitude or dont cooperate with them im sure they would have no problem bustin balls about you having one.

[Fire51Marshal]

I do know a guy that had his car impounded just for the fact he had a scanner in it. Well, I'm sure there was more to the story, but this was out east on the island and the guy is a FF.

[FIRE07]

maybe a cop on a power trip or something. id imagine most cops looking the other way. after all, the VTL gives volly FFs power to have "one flashing, blinking, or oscillating blue light," but look how many have blue/clear combos, and cars with better lighting packages than most unmarked RMPs, yet few are fined for that.

[ESU2422]

Officially, according to the VTL it is a misdemeanor to have a radio receiver capable of receiving police frequencies in your vehicle. The exceptions are licensed ham radio operators and police vehicles. That is what the law reads. How it is interpreted or enforced is something else. When it comes to VTL violations all police officers have "discretion". If we enforced every single section of the VTL for every driver for every possible offense we'd kill an entire rain forest trying to keep up with making the paper. If you're not doing something to draw the attention of the police I'd say you have nothing to worry about. If for some reason you do get pulled over, turn the scanner off.

[newsnick175]

The real hang-up about this is there is no problem with standing on any corner with a scanner in your hand, listening to the cops, only when you step into a car, then you are in violation. You've commited no crime, but your gulity anyway. In this day and age it would be no effort to have accomplises monitor the cops and "nextel' you in your car with the information needed to comit a crime undetected. Having a phone in a car is not a violation. The VTL should be amended to 'while in the commission of a crime' Nick

[ESU2422]

You're right, some of it needs to be updated. That's all laws, not just the VTL. I would venture to say 99.9% of the time you'd never have trouble, but just be aware it is a law that is still on the books. If someone makes an issue out of it just be aware, that's all.

[FIRE07]

what if you don't program in the police frequencies (as if anybody wouldnt ;D)

[ESU2422]

The wording in the VTL states "capable of receiving" , that depends on how you interpret it. I have never heard anyone actually being cited for it, with the exception of a few burglars caught listening to the PD and many years ago there was a guy in Syosset who used to heckle the cops on the CB, he was caught listening to Highway and giving the truck drivers info over the CB that was being given to the Hwy cops, like warrants and license checks. This was before the MDT's. The average driver shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[w2lie]

ex8018 said:

there isnt a ham radio made that doesnt receive out of band transmissions. Except my old htx-202.

HUH

Did you try looking at a dual band radio?? 2m/440? My TH78a will go down to the into the 80Mhz, and up to 300 MHZ on the VHF side, and from 400 to the UHF-T band, then 800Mhz ! Of course, its modified- and sucks out of band

Its pretty easy to find a dual band rig that goes outside the band. its just a matter of how far outside the band! Its is hard to find a rig that will do 46Mhz (being HF).

You could always buy a commercial rig and use that for your out of band. They don't have all the bells and whistles of a regular ham radio, but they do rec'v out of band nicely!

just my 2c.

[bearcat210]

I have had scanners with PD freq's in my car since I became a fireman many years ago. I have never been hassled by anyone. I do sometimes buff police calls, but I keep a reasonable distance, don't interfere in any way, etc. I agree with those who said above that as long as you don't abuse the privilege, you shouldn't have a problem, especially if there's a blue light on your dash. My dept. in particular has a good relationship with the local Precinct, and State & Village PD that we operate with, which probably helps too.

[Thunderfoot]

bearcat210 said:

I have had scanners with PD freq's in my car since I became a fireman many years ago. I have never been hassled by anyone. I do sometimes buff police calls, but I keep a reasonable distance, don't interfere in any way, etc. I agree with those who said above that as long as you don't abuse the privilege, you shouldn't have a problem, especially if there's a blue light on your dash. My dept. in particular has a good relationship with the local Precinct, and State & Village PD that we operate with, which probably helps too.

You're an old man driving a Honda Accord...of course you're not going to get hassled

[LIFireEMS]

I also thought there was differentiation between hand-held and mobile-mounted devices. And, not for nothing, what was it before PD went Truncked? at that point ALL scanners were capable of RX pd channels.