Scanners in cars

[ems-buff 81]

Ok here the thing i know some people here and where i Volly at have some sort of scanner in the car. What i like to know is. Is it legit can you carry a scanner in your car if you listen to only your department that you work for. like for me i would listen to my EMS/ FIRE DEPaRTMENT WHEN I'M aT HOME . If i'm in my car then i would put in the fire repetater so that i can be a buff not to respond to anything but just to hear whats going on. So is it legit can somewhat get away with it. What makes me differant then the Ham people i mean i carry my EMS I.D. so would the police get me some slack if i'm not listen to PD channels

if anyone can help me thank you in advance

[Guest S2758]

Technically speaking, it is illegal. And possessing a scanner in your car is not just an infraction, it's a Misdemeanor. Which in theory would mean probably several court appearences and even needing a Lawyer. But I believe most cops know that volunteer fire/EMS carry them and cut them slack. I am not personally aware of any volunteer being charged with possessing the scanner in a car. I am, however, aware of members of the general public being charged with it.

[TRUCK6018 50]

I am not personally aware of any volunteer being charged with possessing the scanner in a car.

I am.

The law states you're not allowed any radio monitering equiptment capable of receiving police frequencies. With that said, regardless of what you're listening to, just possession of the scanner is illegal.

[Guest S2758]

Truck- Read my reply again. I did in fact state it was illegal. I am fairly familiar with the vehicle and traffic law.

I went on to say, I am not personally aware of any volunteers being charged with possessing a scanner. I did not say it never happened, only that I'm not personally familiar with such a case.

[TRUCK6018 50]

Sorry S2758, only the first part of my post was aimmed towards you regarding vollys being charged.

The rest of the post was just adding to what you said in reply to the original post.

[ems-buff 81]

well thank you both very much for your help

[X2321 133]

Can someone please tell me where in the V & T law it states that you can not have a scanner in your car. The only thing that I can find is that if you have a scanner in your car while committing a crime, the charges can be bumped up.

[Guest S2758]

Section 397 of the NYS V&T Law.

[mlcougar2001 8]

§ 397. Equipping motor vehicles with radio receiving sets capable of

receiving signals on the frequencies allocated for police use. A

person, not a police officer or peace officer, 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. Nothing in

this section contained shall be construed to apply to any person who

holds a valid amateur radio operator's license issued by the federal

communications commission and who operates a duly licensed portable

mobile transmitter and in connection therewith a receiver or receiving

set on frequencies exclusively allocated by the federal communications

commission to duly licensed radio amateurs.

Personally I have a scanner with an antenna in my car with all sorts of frequencies from police fire and EMS. It's Mounted in my middle console so unless you know it's there because I show you or you hear it you would never know it was there. Above is the law but one of my friends was charged with having an scanner in his car after he helped a cop find a perp. The ADA found out he was a Volly and was trying to help the police and the cop was just a d**k (one cop not all cops) so the case was dismissed in the interest of justice and we all still have our scanners. Having a scanner in my car has helped me get a valuable jump on some calls when listening to the police frequencie in PC. I really don't have any other police frequency except Greenwich because I work there because they talk to much but if i did it would be kind of rediculous. I have over a hundred different fire frequencies but it dosen't matter because thats not illegal.

[mlcougar2001 8]

http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi

You can look up any V&T law Here.

[GoshenFD 0]

I have a scanner that I keep equiped in my car year round. I volunteer in Orange County but the majority of the year I am in the Buffalo area. I still keep the scanner in the car, but don't use it when I am out of Orange County.

What are the chances that I would be harrased for having the scanner in the car because even though I am a volunteer firefighter I am far away from my response area?

It wouldn't be much a problem to disconnect it, but I keep it in mostly as a convienience so I don't have to bother putting it back in when I do go home and answer calls with my department.

[JCESU 20]

You may be pleasently suprised to find out that your local legislature (assembly/senate)may help you if you approach him/her regarding this topic. I have had many positive experiences over the years...some bad as well. In NJ you are allowed to have a scanner in your vehicle so long as you are not comitting a crime. Then it becomes a crime in and of itself. I think legit EMS personnel should be allowed to buff any job they want to or listen in on etc. As far as I am concerned if I don't want a transmission to be sent unsecure then I won't. If anyone is a Union rep and needs a little guidance on how to geta bill introduced or sponsored just drop me a line...I'd be glad to help you out.

Rick

[Guest paramedico987]

important to note, if you have a ham radio licence of any level you are allowed to carry the scanner in the car with you. you just technically can't listen to anything outside you licence's frequency limits.