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Anyone use a radio scanner on the water? I used to have one for land. I could pick up the local fire department, police activity, airplanes, fast food take out windows, etc. Basically, these are radios that scan just about every frequency out there. So if anyone is talking on something that has an antenna you can pick it up. The other day I saw some boat with flashing blue lights pull over another boater and was thinking if I had a scanner i would know what was going on. Anyone using these?
mumbler i dont know where you seen that law but i never heard of it before, myself being in the law enforcement field have never taken 1 from someone that had one in their posession i will go and check my state law book it could be just a local law in your county, i have 1 in my car but not on my boat, to busy fishing to listen to it
I think that's a local regulation passed by lots of NY cities and towns. These ordinances were designed to put an end to cruising tow trucks who pick up vehicle accident calls on the police radio and race to the scenes like vultures. I don't think it's state law, though.
On one hand I like the idea; it's always good to know what's going on in a dangerous envirnment, but then again, I enjoy the solitude that boating brings.
I retired 'on the job' from Suffolk in '90..last assigned as a Sgt to HP in Yaphank... I know there WAS a NYS V&T law 'way back when' before I retired, prohibiting possession of police radio scanners/devices in a motor vehicle.. now this is from my old 1988 NYS V&T law book... Sect 397 .. it's a Misdemeanor not just a b.s. traffic infraction .. no intent needed.. just possession in a motor vehicle
here it is scanned from my old 1988 NYS V&T book http://greengrouper.com/ggserver/Pol...VTlaw1988.jpeg
the V&T definition of a motor vehicle is a motorized vehicle traveling on the roadway.. so boats not included.. like I said unless they changed the V&T laws since '88-89
I know there's also a section under the NYS Penal law that prohibits possession of a police radio device with INTENT to commit a crime under the Burglary,Larceny etc sections.. in/out of a vehicle..
Section 140.40 Unlawful possession of radio devices
As used in this section, the term "radio device" means any device capable of receiving a wireless voice transmission on any frequency allocated for police use, or any device capable of transmitting and receiving a wireless voice transmission. A person is guilty of unlawful possession of a radio device when he possesses a radio device with the intent to use that device in the commission of robbery, burglary, larceny, gambling or a violation of any provision of article two hundred twenty of the penal law.
Unlawful possession of a radio device is a class B misdemeanor.
In florida there is also a law about scanners in vehicles but I could not quote it. Also in florida you are out of luck most of the time because more departments are using 800 mhz systems that can't be heard on a scanner. Scottdale at least you are honest about the money thing. Most are not.
I plug in both the marine (vhf) and the Coast Guard's other radio's frequencies, in addition to the local sheriff's marine patrol, auxiliary patrol and Fish and Game. I even have the Oakland and San Francisco airports frequencies just for fun.
You'll find that they talk more on their other radio's than the vhf (which they know everybody is monitoring).
Over the years, I have heard some interesting stuff. Chases, fires, conversations, etc...)
It's just something to do while waiting for the fish to bite.
In Florida at least the law allows an individual that holds a ham radio license to have a scanner in the vehicle. I use to know the statute back when I started with the ham radio thing about 15 years ago but don't remember anymore. So if you if you have a ham license you might want to check your states laws on that.
vc
I was checking out different frequencies one day and stumbled on a cordless phone conversation. One of the voices sounded familar,It turned out to be my quarterback! I've been coaching H.S. football for 20 years. He was talking to his girlfriend and she asked: "Did you get the beer?" He replied "Yes, it's in my locker,I'll see you after practice." Well as practice ended, I approached him and said: " OK buddy, let's go over to your locker and get the beer!" He was stunned! I added :"You know the rules, automatic two game suspension, if I take it now and if you tell me how you got it then no problem." To this day when I bump into him he alway's asks"How did you know?" And he always thanks me. He now has a great family of his own and owns a succesful buisness. Someday I MIGHT tell him.
would you believe that's the first time in the past 13 years that I opened that V&T book I had buried away... sort of like going back in a time warp..
I almost put in my original post that I was 'on thee real job'.. and would have had I known some NYPD guys were on here... ..my younger brother is retired NYPD 'defective'..oops.. I believe he went out in '93 from the '7-7' in 'Bruklin'.. I was thee only black sheep in our entire family who hadn't continued with our family tradition in NYPD and went out to Suffolk...
now I live by... " I do nothing.. I do it well.. I then move on to doing more of nothing... and if one does nothing one can never be wrong..." I'm enjoying my retirement fishing daily..although fishing suxxx down this part of NC this season..
Police Scanners 
Check it out. 
Boston Whaler, "MUMBLER", 24' Outrage, twin 175 HP Evinrude Ocean Pros. 
Snowball, the cat... 
..my younger brother is retired NYPD 'defective'..oops.. I believe he went out in '93 from the '7-7' in 'Bruklin'.. I was thee only black sheep in our entire family who hadn't continued with our family tradition in NYPD and went out to Suffolk...
