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WARNING, Don't Carry a Scanner into Michigan!!!

I think that is wrong
Part of reason for ham radio
is for emergency operations and as such that includes scanners
i have already been down this road legally in NY and NJ
 
The thing to do is to proceed carefully. Keep a copy of the Federal Exemption in your glovebox. Study your OWN state's interpretation of the statute. Even go so far as to discuss it with the state police or local authorities. No matter WHAT YOU think it is, IF the local Bubba with the doughnut belly interprets it to mean that your ham transceiver is a "scanner", is it worth the hassle to get it back or to have to prove the point? Yes, it MAY protect your transceiver---even your scanner depending on the local interpretation of the Federal law. If the locals interpret it to mean that even a licensed amateur may NOT possess a dedicated (Bearcat or whatever) scanner for the purpose of receiving police calls[even tho you may only be using it to scan amateur frequencies], you may be S O L!!!!! Don't automatically assume that the Federal law gives you the "right" to have a mobile scanner just because of your ham ticket! You might get a surprise!!! And don't let the cops catch you listening to police calls on our Icom 706 either. Better safe than sorry! :drool:


CWM
 
I was pulled over a few days ago with my Icom on the local PD freq.

I corrected one of them on the color of my vehicle after he radioed it in.

Probably not the brightest thing to do, but they were OK, no hassle and a warning ticket on what I was pulled over for.
 
I agree this isn't fair, nor should restrictions be permitted on receivers.

However for anyone not already aware, even if 'legal' in your area, scanners are magnets for unwarranted 'attention' from the police and have been for a long time.

NJ years ago had no prohibition beyond use of a scanner in the commision of a crime (post 9/11 in our Brave New World, they may have further restrictions). I had handhelds or mobiles in my cars all the time. I was also a member of a first aid squad and a fire department. Did it matter when I got pulled over or otherwise checked out? No.

Every time any of the officers noticed the scanner, the can of worms would open. Most of them didn't even realize they were legal to purchase for the unwashed public and thought I somehow had them illegally.

I had one turned on inadvertently to the frequency of an officer that had pulled me over and didn't realize it was still on when he approached my window. When he keyed up to call something in, he got an earful of feedback from my dash speaker. The guy completely flipped out.

He tore the antenna from the fender of my car and tried to rip the scanner out of my dashboard but couldn't get a good enough grip on it because I had it mounted with steel strapping inside.

Was any of that 'legal'? Of course not....but it isn't a matter of legal or not when you are on the side of the road with a guy carrying a gun whose story in the end is the only one that matters.

Just .02, I don't recommend anyone carry a scanner unless they are aware of the added 'attention' they will get if anyone notices it. If you do carry one, do so inconspicuosly and don't have it blaring openly in public if you have police frequencies in the scan bank.

Oh and my history with scanners goes back over 20yrs at this point, so the harassment isn't exactly a new problem, it's just far worse with the further erosions of our personal freedoms the last decade.
 
I am thankful that my state HAS no such foolishness. But I am careful if I visit other states (Indiana, Kentucky, New York come to mind). Now. I, like many others, am a licensed amateur. I also carry the amateur exemption law in my glovebox. I am also a member of the USAF Auxiliary (CAP) where we are "authorized" (not licensed since this is under MILITARY authority, not FCC) under USAF Freq/Mgt and NTIA). Some of my equipment "scans" certain USAF, some Forestry (my state) and US Coast Guard frequencies. But I have NO "scanners" per se. If an ignorant local yokel with a badge and a gun begins to rip out radios, destroy antennas, damage my vehicle he's not ONLY going to have trouble on the civilian front, but he's gonna face some problems from the USAF Internal Investigations people because THAT equipment was purchased with DoD funds!!! :angry: Then there is the visit to Federal Court on the "scanner" statute on its own merits! That alone is enough to make Mr. schweinhund copper wish he'd not done that. I WILL take it to the max, assuring that Mr hick cop faces the maximum difficulty there be! :angry:

This has already happened to hams (and one Civil Air Patrol member), and the cops destroyed the ham's transceiver. TeeHee! I hear it put a major chafing on their butts when they were FORCED to replace the radios.

Again, the statute protects your HAM transceiver from destruction or seizure, but will not protect you WRT a "scanner". If you are in one of the anal retentive states with "scanner laws", they CAN, and might, take your Bearcat along with your Icom if they are ignorant of the statute. A few states have relaxed their statutes when they became aware of the Federal exemption so as not to get into trouble themselves over it. Just depends.


73

CWM
 
" The CB ANTENNA on your car or truck is also a magnet for you to be stopped!! "

I really doubt that one bit. I don't see what the big dealis about scanner laws. Indiana has had a law on the books for as long as i remember. First scanner I bought in 1987 came with paperwork that said CHECK LOCAL LAWS BEFORE YOU CARRY THIS IN YOUR VEHICLE. Since a burglar could use one to listen to police traffic it kinda makes sense. In Indiana you can get a scanner permit so again,big deal.
 
Michigan recently changed the law that this thread refers to.

I found this on the internet but was skeptical.

So I called Michigan State Police Headquarters in Lansing and spoke to Sargent Jackson.

He told me the new law states that you may posses a scanner as long as you are not a convicted felon, on parole for a felony, or in the act of committing a crime.

You used to be able to apply for a permit to carry one in your vehicle but that is no longer needed.



As for the state police administering the air waves instead of the FCC.

That was signed into law by Slick Willie to alleviate the budget on the FCC having to employ more field agents. I cant remember the act number but it gave local authorities the power to enforce FCC regulations.

So it basically re allocated the funding of enforcement from the Federal to State level.


They do real good to...

Buddy of mine who doesn't run any more than a peaked and tuned base on an old astroplane had his neighbor call the police for TVI.

A county sheriff deputy came out to the house. Inspected his station then went to talk to the lady.

He came back laughing.

The lady was using rabbit ears on a 64 inch HDTV.

The cop said for being that dumb she deserved to have the TVI.

She tried the FCC, they sent my friend a questionnaire about his station. Then asked him to call a phone number and leave a verbal description of his station. That was it.
 
To all:

Well allow me to play devil's advocate for a moment, what is the intended purpose of this law, and how or what would you advise as its replacement?

I think that such a law in Israel would not be condemned as strongly, so perhaps we must rise to that level of terror before any means would be accepted? I believe at some point not only would we accept limitation, but probably demand it of our government.

Maybe as of now many find measures unnecessary, but maybe not so if the level of attacks should rise to that of which Israel endures?

If it got to that level, would we then accuse our government of being inept, being reactionary instead of being precautionary?
 
This is so stupid! Any thing transmitted over the airwaves is a listening free for all. If you do not want your conversation heard over the airwaves then scramble or encode the frequency. This is why we pay for cell phones - privacy. The only reason those states are doing what they are doing is because they are to F'in cheap to up date their radio communication equipment. They figure they can make money off the system this way. The funny thing that I see about it is, I bet there are no cell phone restrictions while driving in those states. This country is going to hell in a hand basket, what's next we'll have to pay for each breath we take.
O.K. here's a???????? Does any one know what NAZI stands for? THINK ABOUT IT!!!
If I get stopped for a scanner in my car you better bet that the FCC will hear about.

FCC + LAW ENFORCEMENT = NO FREEDOM
 
I know michigan, kentucky, and florida will not allow a scanner in your vehicle unless you are a ham, there may be other states as well. I took the test and got my amateur license in 95 so that i could take one with me to florida to watch the launch of the sarex mission satellite. I seldom use it to talk to other hams though, i enjoy shortwave listening more most of the time. The only exception is when i find some hams talking about circuitry and electronics.I use to love to listen to the hams on 40 meters am when i was a kid, they would talk for hours about tube circuits and equipment construction. Most of the hams nowdays just buy the latest japanese radio and commercial antenna, or if they do build their radios they just don't talk about it as much as the oldtimers did.
 
As a storm spotter/chaser for the National Weather Service and a Ham, carrying my General license copy in my wallet is a necessity.

Many other storm chasers that I know have a few scanners in their vehicles. Often, the spotter/chaser are a part of the warning process and often are the first ones on the scene at a weather related catastrophe. Tornadoes, floods, and massive hail damage often see Hams responding to the reporting of these events; they will often use their 2 meter radio and/or their cell phones to contact emergency personnel and let them know what has taken place.

Of course, Hams aren't permitted to operate on police/fire/ambulance; but they can talk on the NWS band and offer timely info. Scanners help give them clues as to where to go, as they also have laptops that have radar programs carefully watching the storm. The radar is a program called GR3, and it works on data acquired thru a cell phone internet connection. These pieces of gear are all pretty much a standard - including the Ham license and the scanners.
 
Last edited:
formulamojo said:
Michigan recently changed the law that this thread refers to.

I found this on the internet but was skeptical.

So I called Michigan State Police Headquarters in Lansing and spoke to Sargent Jackson.

He told me the new law states that you may posses a scanner as long as you are not a convicted felon, on parole for a felony, or in the act of committing a crime.

You used to be able to apply for a permit to carry one in your vehicle but that is no longer needed.



As for the state police administering the air waves instead of the FCC.

That was signed into law by Slick Willie to alleviate the budget on the FCC having to employ more field agents. I cant remember the act number but it gave local authorities the power to enforce FCC regulations.

So it basically re allocated the funding of enforcement from the Federal to State level.


They do real good to...

Buddy of mine who doesn't run any more than a peaked and tuned base on an old astroplane had his neighbor call the police for TVI.

A county sheriff deputy came out to the house. Inspected his station then went to talk to the lady.

He came back laughing.

The lady was using rabbit ears on a 64 inch HDTV.

The cop said for being that dumb she deserved to have the TVI.

She tried the FCC, they sent my friend a questionnaire about his station. Then asked him to call a phone number and leave a verbal description of his station. That was it.
Click to expand...



Got pulled over by a state trooper while storm spotting for NWS with my scanner clipped to my visor. He looked at it, looked at me, asked what I was doinf out on the roads at 3:30 am on a Tuesday Morning. Told him and he told me if I saw a Tornado that I better run drive like hell away from it then told me to be careful and to have a nice day.

I gave him my free coffee coupon for the local gas station...

I hate coffee.
 
formulamojo said:
Got pulled over by a state trooper while storm spotting for NWS with my scanner clipped to my visor. He looked at it, looked at me, asked what I was doinf out on the roads at 3:30 am on a Tuesday Morning. Told him and he told me if I saw a Tornado that I better run drive like hell away from it then told me to be careful and to have a nice day.

I gave him my free coffee coupon for the local gas station...

I hate coffee.[/quote]


I just ordered 4lbs. of zabars
Click to expand...
 

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