"Little O'Me" wrote in message
rdnews.com...
On Thu, 15 Dec 2005 20:14:44 GMT, "Brian Reay"
wrote:

There was a documentary on the radio in the UK about the amateur
involvement
in "9/11".

In the documentary the statement was made that, in the USA, amateurs are
legally allowed to listen to the radio traffic of the emergency services.

Can anyone confirm this please and may put some details to it?

Some of the other replies may be a little off base. Federal law
prohibits listening to cellular and cordless telephones (yes,
cordless), transmissions by the news services (field to news center,
obviously not the evening TV or radio news broadcasts) and certain
federal frequencies.

States laws for all 50 states prohibit listing to police and other
emergency communications for gain, such as an independent tow truck
driver rushing to a car crash or to tak photographs which will be sold
unless you have the appropriate permit.

Also, state laws prohibit having a radio receiver capable of receiving
police, etc., broadcasts in a vehicle without a permit. Because the
10, 6, 2 and 70cm amateur band radios are capable of receiving police,
etc., communications licensed amateur radio operators are specifically
exempt from having such radios in their vehicles without a permit.

The bottom line is that amateurs are legally allowed to listen, but
not for financial gain. I hope this helps clear up any misinformation
floating around.


Thank you and everyone else who responded.

--
73
Brian, G8OSN
www.g8osn.org.uk