is it legal to talk about what I heard on the scanner?

This is the place to discuss generalized scanner questions and information for San Diego County. Whether it's radios, antennas, or other general scanner related topics, you can talk about it here.
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etotman
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2004 10:16 pm

is it legal to talk about what I heard on the scanner?

Post by etotman »

We all know a lot of interesting things are heard on the airwaves but is it legal to talk about the details, especially here in this public forum?
w6pix
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 4:00 pm

Post by w6pix »

The California penal code (Section 636.5) makes it a crime to divulge any intercepted transmission to anyone known to be a suspect or to use intercepted transmissions to aid in the commission of a crime. It's a misdemeanor.

Here is the complete text of that section:

636.5. Any person not authorized by the sender, who intercepts any
public safety radio service communication, by use of a scanner or any
other means, for the purpose of using that communication to assist
in the commission of a criminal offense or to avoid or escape arrest,
trial, conviction, or punishment or who divulges to any person he or
she knows to be a suspect in the commission of any criminal offense,
the existence, contents, substance, purport, effect or meaning of
that communication concerning the offense with the intent that the
suspect may avoid or escape from arrest, trial, conviction, or
punishment is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Nothing in this section shall preclude prosecution of any person
under Section 31 or 32.
As used in this section, "public safety radio service
communication" means a communication authorized by the Federal
Communications Commission to be transmitted by a station in the
public safety radio service.
w6pix
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 4:00 pm

Post by w6pix »

I guess you didn't Lin3. (understand the intent of my reply) Perhaps I should have clarified the fact that that (double that?) is the only law in California pertaining to scanners, and there is certainly nothing illegal with discussing what we hear on the air with others, just as long as the "others" are not suspects..

I was a little tired when I replied last night.. Just gave it a half/assed answer..

Anyway, Live long and Phosphor
Batman2150
Posts: 58
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 10:43 pm

Hear what?

Post by Batman2150 »

If it were illegal to repeat anything you hear nearly everyone in the news media would be in jail already.

BAT-MAN
amshooter
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 11:13 am

Post by amshooter »

Hey, We check our facts with great care...

D. Rather :D
w6pix
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 4:00 pm

Post by w6pix »

amshooter wrote:Hey, We check our facts with great care...

D. Rather :D
HA! Good One!
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