# handheld scanner troubles

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 10, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756 "2003-06-10T00:44:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/21 "2003-06-10T20:43:51Z")

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And [this:](http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/new_user.html#SEC10)

> [@](#):
>
> In its simplest form, US Federal laws (Communications Act of 1934, Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, Telecommunications Disclosure & Dispute Resolution Act of 1992, Digital Telephony Bill of 1994) make it illegal to :  
> [ul]  
> Repeat what you hear to anyone but the transmitter or intended receiver of the transmission  
> Use what you hear to aid in the commission of a crime (e.g. evading police)  
> Use what you hear for personal gain (e.g. tow trucks listening for accidents to show up opportunistically at the scene)  
> Listen to transmissions relating to the following services :  
> &nbsp&nbsp&nbspcellular phones  
> &nbsp&nbsp&nbspcordless phones  
> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsppublic land mobile systems  
> &nbsp&nbsp&nbspvoice paging services  
> &nbsp&nbsp&nbspsatellite/microwave/studio-to-transmitter links  
> &nbsp&nbsp&nbspbroadcast point-to-point relays.  
> Import a receiver which is capable of tuning cellular telephone frequencies  
> Import frequency converters which can be used to circumvent the blockage of cellular telephone frequency band  
> [/ul]

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**Author:** ![Greekigurli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Greekigurli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekigurli)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/22 "2003-06-10T21:09:49Z")

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Exactly. I never denied that actually using the info was illegal.

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \*  
> \*\*And [this:](http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/new_user.html#SEC10) \*\*

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/23 "2003-06-10T21:17:05Z")

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My point is, although posting such information may not be illegal, the mods take a dim view of posting information that _could_ be used illegally. Like the file-sharing info they disdain so highly. This is no different. And as a licensed amateur operator, I take this sort of thing seriously.

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