phl@drusd.UUCP (LavettePH) (08/26/85)
>Police scanners are illegal in many states including NY and NJ >to be used in a moving vehicle. (You can use one in your house). > Meyer Steinberg I think you are a little off on your impression of the illegality of mobile scanners. Thirty-three states have no legislation against them at all. About half of the remainder simply prohibit their use for "illegal purposes." (That is usually interpreted as use in the commission of a felony.) Florida is an oddball state that prohibits *permanent* installation in privately owned vehicles. Their law does not apply if you run the scanner on a seperate battery and use a magnetically mounted antenna. The few remaining states require a permit, but FCC licensed amateurs are usually exempt from the need to have the permit. Both New York and New Jersey fall into this last category. NJ requires a Technician Class or higher grade radio license. The NY license requirement is a little vague in the SCAN summary I have so as little as a Novice Class license might meet the requirements of the NY state law. - Phil