Fla Mobile scanners question
 

Hey guys,
Need a little clarification regarding the use of scanners in cars in
Florida. This is clear to me:

1) You cannot install a scanner in your car.
2) "Install" has been determined by the state attorney general to mean a
radio using power from the car and/or connected to an external antenna.
Meaning of course, handhelds with a rubber duck are fine as long as they run
on internal batteries.

Here is where I'm not sure........ There are a few exceptions to the above
law, one if which is for licensed Amateur (HAM) radio operators. Does this
exception mean a HAM can install a scanner? Or does it mean the HAM can
have a transceiver which also receives police frequencies (but doesn't
transmit on them of course?)

Thanks for any input!

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 17:32:23 -0500, Steve G wrote:

Here is where I'm not sure........ There are a few exceptions to the above
law, one if which is for licensed Amateur (HAM) radio operators. Does
this exception mean a HAM can install a scanner? Or does it mean the HAM
can have a transceiver which also receives police frequencies (but doesn't
transmit on them of course?)

It means that a ham can have a scanner if the Florida law exempts him
from the law. There is a federal premption for hams under federal law,
but the wording discusses the fact that ham radio equipment can overlap
into police frequencies and not that scanning receivers are used by hams
so a lawyer could argue both sides of the coin.