Photojournalist in Chicago burbs needa a scanner

[sszyszka]

Hi everyone, hope you can help me out here.

I am starting to freelance as a photojournalist in the Chicago suburbs and one paper wants me to start keeping track of spot news events, crashes, fires, etc. that happen in my community. For that I need a scanner.

What would be recommended for no higher than 250 bucks?

I know very little about this stuff so excuse me if I'm not providing enough info. If I'm leaving stuff out let me know what you need to know and I'll try to answer as best as I can.

While we're at it though, those of you that are seasoned law enforcement vets, what can I do to prevent frustration on the part of the responding units when on a crime scene? I think we all understand that we both need to do our jobs, so I want to know what I can do to prevent any potential conflicts.

Thanks in advance guys.

-Seb

[darrell]

it depends on the radio systems used by CPD and surrounding departments. if they use digital then your max of $250 will be more like $600.

[Norm357]

Check with your local Radio Shack. They will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

[michiganstud]

Find out what frequency they are on first. If they don't tell you then go to your nearest radio shack and most of those guys know the local frequencies to everything. They will also stear you in the right direction of a scanner. Get a hand held so that you can take in the house or office, and in your car IF (and only if) you have a permit to do so. (this can be obtained from your state, I had to apply to MSP for mine).

As far as when you get on the scene, mostly just stay out of our way. Say it is an accident....get on scene, park way out of the way of ambulances (maybe a near by parking lot) and walk to the scene. Just take your pictures and maybe talk to some people, don't bother the officer, especially if he is helping extricate someone. Talk to one of the lonely fireman that is standing around, they often are starved to get their names in the paper. After you have judged the scene and it is settled down you can ask the officer (maybe when he is in the car writing). You will develop a repor with your police, I know most of the area reporters and they know that if they come up to me all they have to do is ask nicely and i'll tell them if I have time or not.

Just be smart, don't go in to shootings and major crimes in progress, and most of all be safe.

[michiganstud]

Check with your local Radio Shack. They will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

HEY! you must have posted that while I was typin mine. No fair :cool:

[Joeyd6]

Below is NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law 397. Read it carefully. You can see that having ascanner in your behicle in NY unless your are peace or police officer, or have apermit from the local government, can be arrested for such. As you can see intent of your use is not a consideration. I would check with your local PD in your area/state to see if any such rules apply there.

"A person,not a police officer or peace officer, [and] acting pursuant to his special duties, who equips a motor vehicle with a radio receiving set capable of receiving signals on the frequencies allocated for police use or knowingly uses a motor vehicle so equipped or who in any way knowingly interferes with the transmission of radio messages by the police without having first secured a permit so to do from the person authorized to issue such a permit by the local governing body or board of the city, town or village in which such person resides, or where such person resides outside of a city or village in a county having a county police department by the board of supervisors of such county, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both."

[sszyszka]

Thanks guys. Will go to some stores and see what they say.

Michiganstud, thanks for the advice. It's what I was thinking, but it's always good to have it reaffirmed.

-Seb

[the other Jon]

Below is NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law 397. Read it carefully. You can see that having ascanner in your behicle in NY unless your are peace or police officer, or have apermit from the local government, can be arrested for such. As you can see intent of your use is not a consideration. I would check with your local PD in your area/state to see if any such rules apply there.

"A person,not a police officer or peace officer, [and] acting pursuant to his special duties, who equips a motor vehicle with a radio receiving set capable of receiving signals on the frequencies allocated for police use or knowingly uses a motor vehicle so equipped or who in any way knowingly interferes with the transmission of radio messages by the police without having first secured a permit so to do from the person authorized to issue such a permit by the local governing body or board of the city, town or village in which such person resides, or where such person resides outside of a city or village in a county having a county police department by the board of supervisors of such county, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both."

it says the car cant be equiped with one so does that mean you could still carry one of those portable scanners? i think its that way here in florida.

[gdowkpc]

The guy is in Illinois and every state varies greatly, so there is no point giving scanner law advice unless you are specifically referring to Illinois.

According to this web-site: http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/index.html there are no laws restricting the use of scanners in Illinois when intercepting emergency service transmissions.

[Newbie31]

You will prolly need a scanner that can decode digital radio systems since a lot of the chicago suburbs are going in that direction. If nothing else I would at least get one that can track trunked radio systems. I recommend the Radio Shack Pro-95 since it has a alpha tags to lable talkgroups, another quality radio would be the Bearcat BC245XLT. You could get either for under $250.