Going to purchace a scanner...

[wpzh973]

if everyone is worried about having a scanner in your car
get a Federal Amatauer Radio license, all states, wether illegal for regular people in cars grants the ham radio operators immunity to use them in their cars, i love scanners, iam in security, sometimes i do have to drive my own car, but having a scanner a on a quiet night for you makes the time go by faster. Iam sure if scanners get into the wrongs hands of some people it is not good, example, chasing ambulances, etc, which i do not do, but like i said , iam real big into radio communications and even hold a valid FCC license as well, also in my car, i got 3 other radios that iam legally able to use, not including the security radio, but thats just for business use only, but anyways, scanners are great, infact, i even monitored the security company before i applied with them to see what kinds of things they encounter and the such,

[Metallic4]

Many many many possible scenarios. Just before I start, *I'm not generalizing all you security guards out there. I know there are good and bad ones.*
These were some incidents happening around here:

-Security guard in his car going to a work site, hears report of armed subject on scanner, attempts to apprehend, and because of this the subject subsequently breaks the police perimeter.

-Security guard hears report of DUI, decides to investigate, finds vehicle, attempts to stop it by driving in front of it and stopping; gets rear-ended.

-Security guard happens to hear report of robbery at gas station, shows up to offer assistance, and while walking ends all hopes of a K-9 track.

Mainly, a scanner in a security car just brings on unwanted interference with the work of the PD. Some security guards are overzealous and try to play top cop.

[wpzh973]

Well the scanner is in my own vehicle, not a company security car.
secondly this isnt the movies where security guards try to act like top cops,
when your on your property protecting it, and something on the scanner comes on and its just a few blocks away, u still cant go to anyways, u cant leave your property, iam sure there are some guards out there that think they are cops, just like how some cops portray themselves as something that theyre not. There is bad apples in a full barrel of good apples too, i totally understand that, however, scanners come in very handy, like for example, iam watching over some parking ramps late at night and the cops come on and are chasing a suspect and have lost sight of the person, next thing i know, here comes this guy walking into my parking ramp or any other place we are protecting, remember, cops have lost sight of this person, so u call the police and tell them u see the person and give them your location, aim sure the police would very much appreciate it, anyways with my company alot of people come from military backgrounds,etc we also have a great relationship with the local police, infact just this weekend, a PD unit saw me walking around the outside of a hotel i was guarding, and what does he do, he drove up and chatted with me for about 30 mins. iam sure no security officer would want to ruin the good relationship that we have the local PD.
I love scanners, what can i say? iam not however the guy who sits all night in front of a scanner and just listens to everything they say. i have my base scanner antenna up 20 ft on my house, and the scanner itself is in my computer room, so when iam using my computer i usaually have it on, i got another one in my car, i do hold a valid FCC license, the scanner is not the only radio equipment i have in my car either. let me just stress, Police scanners are NOT always used to listen to the police/fire/EMS, etc
i have used my scanner to listen to other freqs that iam licensed to use to see if there was any activity, and some guys in our radio club use scanners
to monitor freqs that we are able to use as per license, but dont have them programmed into the radio itself. as long as you dont follow the police/fire/ems its ok, Iam also a EMT student at a local hospital, it gives me a great way to learn how the EMTs give their radio patient reports to the hospital. i dont know why people feel soo threatend that people use scanners to listen to police and other groups. first off the police/fire and some EMS units are funded by taxpayers, i dont see a problem with people wanting to hear what is happening in their community, there is absoultly nothing wrong with it at all. I

[Norm357]

Some security guards are overzealous and try to play top cop.

No doubt, and some cops are just assholes who think they are better than anyone else because they have a badge.

[Darin]

No doubt, and some cops are just assholes who think they are better than anyone else because they have a badge.

Your just mad because they call you CIVILIAN! BWAAAHHHHAAAAAAAA

[darrell]

It's damn near impossible to get a permit in Michigan. The State Police is very very hesitant on giving them out. But if you are a Ham Radio Operator then it's ok.

[Joeyd6]

if everyone is worried about having a scanner in your car
get a Federal Amatauer Radio license, all states, wether illegal for regular people in cars grants the ham radio operators immunity to use them in their cars, i love scanners, iam in security, sometimes i do have to drive my own car, but having a scanner a on a quiet night for you makes the time go by faster. Iam sure if scanners get into the wrongs hands of some people it is not good, example, chasing ambulances, etc, which i do not do, but like i said , iam real big into radio communications and even hold a valid FCC license as well, also in my car, i got 3 other radios that iam legally able to use, not including the security radio, but thats just for business use only, but anyways, scanners are great, infact, i even monitored the security company before i applied with them to see what kinds of things they encounter and the such,

Not sure what you meant by this. But if you have a scanner in NY, and it is programmed with any police department frequencies, and you hold a FCC "HAM" or Amateur License, you are still getting summonsed (unless you are a cop or have a permit from the City which is almost impossible to get unless you prove a specific need). Section 397 of the VTL only exempts Ham/Amateur operators from the law if the scanner is only programmed with the frequencies on thier license. That means as a operator, you can have a scanner programmed only with the frequencies you are allowed to operate. You plug in PD stuff on any other channels and you are in direct violation.

We have services here in NY that will page you or text message you "police incidents." They have scanner buffs who often show up at a scene and call the dipatch center and give them a summary to page. I had a buff show up who created a headache for me. When all was said and done, he left. followed. He then heard our next priority call and did a few lane changes with no blinkers and failed to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. So I pulled him over. During our interaction I clearly heard myself come across his speaker of his scanner as I advised my dispatch. When questioned he provided me with his FCC HAM license and call sign info. I wrote him for the scanner and for the traffic violations. He became irrate and disorderly. I locked him up. I then vouchered the scanner after listing all the channels and frequencies. A little research and I found out what each was for. He fought it hired a lawyer. The DA had a deposition from the FCC confirm hims license frequencies and that the license does not permit any use of other frequencies. I won the case. Judge ruled I was correct in my interpretation of the law.

[wpzh973]

NY is probably the only state i can think of that has rules like that
Most states that prohibt scanners in vehciles do allow ham radio ops to have them, in my state there is no law about having scanners in a vehicle, except in use for a crime. people like that ruin the hobby for everyone else that follows them,

[wpzh973]

According to NY state law, u can confiscate, but the property must be returned to the person as per NY States Attorney
5. Confiscated Equipment.

1976, Op.Atty.Gen. (Inf.) 255.

The Attorney General issued the opinion that a confiscated radio
is not contraband and must be returned to the individual in
original condition even if that person has been convicted under
section 397.

So at any rate, the person will get his scanner back anyways..
The NY state law regarding this is very vague

People v. Beatson

Here is the information about a story widely reported on various websites including http://www.afn.org/ and within the Amateur Radio community. In 1997 David was charged with violating New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section 397 which is a misdemeanor, for having a portable scanner with him in his car. All charges against David were dismissed later that year by Judge Barbra Kahn of the First District Court, who ruled that Licensed Amateur Radio operators are exempt from this section, she also ordered the District Attorney to work with the Police Department to get his scanner returned to him as soon as possible. David was represented by Larry Spada; of Spada Ardam & Ershowsky, he also received some help from three volunteer attorneys referred to him by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).

David tried to file a complaint against Suffolk County Police Officer Poole, during the traffic stop PO Poole was abusive towards David using fowl language, he also accused David of being a taxi driver he had arrested previously for violating section 397, even though David had actually never had any contact with this officer, nor had he ever been charged with a crime before. The officer seized David's radio and did not issue a property receipt, David showed the officer his Amateur Radio License, David also had Amateur Radio License Plates on his car, his license plates and registration showed his Call Sign at the time which was N2SNB, the officer did not care he took the radio and than told David to leave, David than questioned the officer about a property receipt, that is when PO Poole became enraged and issued the receipt and charged David with violating section 397.

Later that day David tried to file a complaint about PO Poole's behavior, including contacting the Police Chief, all attempts failed no one at the Suffolk County Police Department was interested in hearing his side of the story, so after the charges were dismissed David sued both Police Officer Poole of the 4th Precinct, and Suffolk County for false arrest, damage to the scanner which occurred while in the custody of the Police Department, and for distress caused by PO Poole's inappropriate and unprofessional treatment of David at the time of the incident, this prompted an inquiry from the Internal Affairs Department, however both parties settled the case with David before any hearings on the matter where ever conducted.

(People v. Beatson [1997], Suffolk County First District Docket # 44993-97S, Judge Barbara Kahn)

So according to that, it did not mention, if the guy had police freqs in his scanner, iam assuming he did, and look what happened, I dunno though like i said NY state law regarding scanners is soo very poorly written when it comes to holding a FCC ham license. There is only 1 federal entity that regulates communication devices, which is the FCC, not the state of NY
correct me if iam wrong

[Joeyd6]

He can get it back.......never meant to imply otherwise....but not till after we had court. I confiscated it as "arrest evidence" so he could not touch it till the trial was over. But we make it a pain to get. You have to go to the arresting precinct to get a form and then to police headquarters (another place not within walking disatance) go through 3 security check points, and a metal detector and wait in line and see the property clerk who makes you wait some more and then you leave with it. He was without it for 8 months so I know I definately caused him major problems for a little while! :D

That case in Suffolk County sounds like the officer dropped the ball. We never take any property without giving a reciept. And NY does not regulate communication devices. The FCC does as you said. NY only regulates that if you are not a police officer or lack a permit from the city, you may not have a scanner in your car IF it has police frequencies PROGRAMMED in. You can listen to FD, sanitation, security businesses, taxis or anything else. Just not PD. Besides....I will only know you are doing it if you are doing something stupid and I make contact and you have it on. Turn it off and I will never know or inquire. You will just get a summons for your infraction.

-Good post...I left you some positive feedback points!

[txinvestigator1]

during the traffic stop PO Poole was abusive towards David using fowl language,

Did he quack at the guy? Ohh, I "quack" myself up. :D

[Norm357]

Did he quack at the guy?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[wpzh973]

Joeyd6, thanks for the feedback, iam all for officer safety and like i said some people ruin the hobby for others, u know, like the scanner buff that went to a scene, etc which is a big no no, which most professional scanner monitors will tell you as u most likely already know.
some people make the best scanner users look bad u know

thanks

[Stump]

My two cents:

It is SO irritating to us when someone who listens to the scanner tries to talk in "cop lingo" with us. I've had people call up and use the strangest phrases because they think they are cool and they want to sound like cops.
I have a towtruck company that will call up the dispatchers when he hears about an accident in the area they cover, just to try to get a head start on doing the tow. We were working a 5 car mva with 3 people dead and this tow truck driver pulls up onscene, blocking the paramedics and generally being in the way.
I also have security guards from our local malls, schools and hospitals that are especially annoying using the cop talk. The other thing they do is when a cop asks me to notify one of them, I'll call them and they'll say "We know all about it because we were listening to the scanner". Well, lovely, but you don't know that I just had a 10 minute conversation with the cop on the phone, or computer talking about other issues.

PLUS: I've had citizens show up at their businesses' burglary alarms (when they hear it on the scanner) when the cops are inside checking out an open door, and these people walk in the door and almost get shot by the cops.

Scanners are fun because you know what is going on in your area, so I think that people are entitled to have them, but that does not make you a member of the police department.

[wpzh973]

I agree, there are some people that should not be allowed to use a scanner
But for me its a hobby, very similair to what some peoples hobbies like restoring classic cars for example

But if u owned a business and u heard your burgler alarm go off, wouldnt u respond to it on scene, and most likely you would have to anyways because the police need a keyholder to get into the business