Truth is that it takes a fair amount of complaints, from credible users,
about egregious radio behavior - not just a kid with .5W radio playing
calltones - before the FCC acts. The FCC field enforcement folks just have
too much to do to chase everyone.

For years, they've relied on amateurs to self-police their bands and only
turn to the FCC when the offender will not take the advice to knock it off
or change their ways. It took the FCC 5 years to get down on jack
Gerritsen - even after he disrupted the LA PD radio systems.

However, ham operators should not put their amateur licenses in jeopardy by
operating unlicensed GMRS.. They are expected to know better.

Licenses are now $80 (and going up next year?). It's no wonder the
retailers would rather a prospective consumer not know they will need a
license. I keep hearing Wally-Wonder-Radio ($8/hour 'salespeople') in
Best-Buy and Wal*Mart tell folks that: "Oh, you no longer need the license.
The airwaves are now free."

==========
.._._.


"Sarge" wrote in message
...

"Telamon" wrote in message
Yeah, and those GMRS radios smell really bad. What chance do you think
the FCC will have catching someone running around with a hand held? Not
very good.

well you'll have licensed operators turning you in along with tape
recordings, signal strength reports, freqs and repeaters you frequent
along with times. The FCC will be armed with a lot of info before they
start. Then it won't take long. After the fiasco with CB, they are a
determined bunch.