Kinda want one in the car and could "they" tell you had one if it was hidden? http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...ial+cord&kw=car+serial+cord&parentPage=search
aside from a couple of keelos and a few illegal immagrants in your trunk this is probablly one of the last things in the world that you want to get caught with..imho.
I don't believe that scanners are illegal in MN. I could certainly be wrong though. You're not jamming anything and as long as you aren't using the channels to communicate I think it's perfectly fine.
There are frequently questions regarding the legality of carrying or operating radios capable of receiving police frequencies in vehicles within the state of Minnesota. In 1993 the FCC preempted all restrictive state and local laws and ruled (FCC PR 91-36) that it is legal for licensed amateur radio operators, who have a copy of their FCC license in their possession, to operate - anywhere in the USA - an amateur radio transceiver capable of receiving police and other emergency services frequencies in their vehicle. Minnesota law is even stronger, in that it covers any radio equipment, not just ham transceivers. In addition to having a copy your amateur radio license, it is also suggested that you carry a copy of Minnesota Statue 299C.37 Police Communication Equipment. Information contributed by Dave, K7CJO. http://www.rarchams.org/scanlaw.htm just to help out
I have a ham license and a scanner in my car. Go buy a study guide, study for ~1 month, and you'll pass and get your tech license. However, Minnesota is transitioning to APOC25 which is digital. To get MSP, Minneapolis police, and others, you need a digital trunking scanner. You need one of these: http://www.uniden.com/products/productlisting.cfm?cat=scanners&filter=Digital I run the handheld BCD396T. The others will be more powerful, but the portable is just less of a PITA (easy to, uhm, hide) and does everything I need. These things are a PITA to program. I use butel's ARC software and radio reference. good stuff. Do note that within an urban area a scanner is probably useless for your purposes. Too much noise. However, in rural areas, they rock. As useful as a radar detector. As for manochromatic's post, its mostly accurate. However, the FCC is somewhat less clear than he implies. NYS has had some issues, as hams are not exempt, however, hams have had some luck in courts, but it can be a PITA. Check local laws. In MN you need a HAm license or permission from local Chief of police. Without this it is illegal to use them in cars. Its also illegal to use them in commission of a crime.
if its a trunx system I'm pretty sure thats some bad joo joo. I bet brian knows something about this though, so I'll wait to hear him shed some light on it. Just my thoughts: You shouldnt be able to pick up any twin cities cops without a trunx system, since they switched to that "encrypted" setup. I have no idea how it works, but I just "heard" that its what every major department uses. Up north just the regular LEGAL scanners pick up all the stations since they dont have moneyz. Now, I just wouldnt get caught with the above, because...wouldnt you automatically assume...?
Project 25 is not encryption. It's just digital trunking and is a public standard. You just need fancier equipment. (Both are just methods to get a better signal or a more useful system) Most police transmissions are basically required to be un-encrypted based on some public interest arguments that may or may not stand up in court. Hwoever, reporters use a lot of scanners, they'd raise a huge stink and make it look like Nazi germany was coming (hence why most laws exempt reporters from scanner laws) Neither trunking or "regular" scanners are more legal or illegal. The statute speaks to devices that can recieve police transmissions, which applies to both. Breaking encryption IS illegal, but trunking is not encryption. If I got a built in system, I'd get HAM plates. Most cops couldn't tell the difference between a scanner and a ham radio. Also hams use scanners for 'legitmate" purposes. KD0AHT bitches
The local ham club over here in Wisconsin had a 2 day course for $50 plus a test fee cram course. I checked out the book from the local library and showed up. The book has all the questions and answers in the back. I took the test in about 10 minutes. Of course my father is a Ham and I was a radio tech in the Air Farce. http://www.pressenter.com/~scvra/ Oh yeah - KC9NIK. Check out my Home station in APRS...
I don't know squat about the legality but if friggin Radioshack is selling it - on the innarwebz nonetheless - I feel pretty good about its legality/usage. YMMV.
Oh and FYI, this si where I tend to get my stuff: http://www.scannermaster.com/ Not always the cheapest, but they ahve a lot of accessories and are easy to work with :biggthumpup:
Bah. That's just corporate counsel trying to justify their paycheck. Originally Posted by radioshack Disclaimer: Warranty is 1 year limited. Mobile use of scanners may be unlawful in some areas or may require a permit. Check with local authorities. *Based on clear, open terrain. Varies depending on condition. Range may be less than the maximum possible. That's like Taco Bell stating that eating their food, like any other food, may give you a foul bowel movement! No sh!+. I dunno. I have exactly one speeding ticket in 20 years of driving, 25 of which (that's right) have been spent speeding. I can live with that.
Pantywaist :laugh: The number of people with theoretically "illegal" scanners is not even a pimple on the ass of the sweltering mass of humanity that is guilty of moving violations on a given day. Take chances. You're more likely to be hit by a flying war pig.
Perhaps, but when its so easy to be 100% legal, why bother. Also, if you get pulled over and the officer can hear his patner talking on the radio (because you forgot/weren't able to turn it off) he's going to be like "huuuuuuuummmmmmm" and write you up. People actually do get charged under this BTW.
Very true, but in most situations, the officer knows if he is giving you a ticket before they even come to your window.
Chet, just buy it and hook it up. If you get pulled over, you just better have a quick toggle for power to it.
I'm not talking about getting written for the speed. I'm talking about the scanner which is a misdemeanor (aka, a real crime). Urban legend? My "urban legends" come from prosecutors I work with. Its easier to hide a portable scanner though. Also, don't buy that scanner. Its nearly useless in MN. Most of state patrol is on project 25 which this can't pick up. Still useful in parts of WI, some counties in rural MN. Note that WSP uses largely cellular transmissions you can't pick up. (And ****ing CHP uses microwave)
Put some "stormchaser" stickers on your windows, add on a couple fake antennae, and tell them you report in storm conditions to NOAA and NWS. :biggrin: I'll let someone else try it first, tho.
agreed. That's like when a cop asks you where you were and/or where you're heading. you have every right to not tell them........
Good luck getting those without a radio license. Do NOT put a scanner in your car until you get a ham radio license. I had a friend that has his license but did not have a copy of the statute that says he can have said equipment and the cop did not know about it so he took EVERYTHING and ticketed him. Not sure why the cop did not call in and get dispatch to read the statute but it took my friend 2-3 weeks to get all his stuff back. He now caries a copy of the statue with him. Even if it is off you are going to be in trouble.
The implication is that you get the HAM plates when you get the license. Oh and I'll bet that officer doesn't do that again. You bring a prosecutor a case with literally no basis, and you're wasting his time. The prosecutor gets mad and if it happens more than once, people get called.
