[net.auto] NJ exempts hams from mobile scan

john@hp-pcd.UUCP (john) (01/15/85)

<<<

  Having a monitor that receives the local police freqs would certainly make
life easier for the professional thief. I suspect that this law was passed
mainly to give the police reasonable cause to stop and question suspicious
cars that have antennas on them. If they happen to notice some crowbars and
assorted loot in the back seat then so much the better. Then even having a
permit won't help them.  

  The exclusion of hams makes life a lot easier for both the hams and the local
police who don't have to deal with all that paperwork. It will be interesting
to see how this law is enforced because if the police can stop anyone with
an antenna (But officer! Its only a AM radio antenna) then the concept of no
searches without reasonable cause goes out the window.

  I suppose that this law could be used to harrass innocent people if they 
managed to irritate the local police, but then so could most other laws.Thats
why we have judges and they can throw things out of court.Lets find out first
what you need to do to get a permit. Does this law attempt to prevent people
from having radios or simply try and keep track of who does?


John Eaton
!hplabs!hp-pcd!john