If there is any residual doubt as to why I'm proposing an "extreme" solution to government, "Assassination Politics," I think the following is just another good reason to do so. I contend that people like that cop and the judge would be FAR more careful in how they do their job if they were aware they might be angering well over a half a million hams. This kind of abuse will happen as long as there is no mechanism to prevent it.

---------- From: owner-scan-l To: Multiple recipients of list SCAN-L Subject: "Scannist" arrested Date: Sunday, May 26, 1996 1:47PM

Two sad things:

1) Cops in some parts of Kentucky can't tell a scanner when they see one (or don't see one, in this case), and

2) the radio in question IS INCPABLE OF BEING MODIFIED TO RECEIVE OUT OF BAND!!!! Sheesh.

Peter

Excerpted from:

The ARRL Letter Electronic Update May 24, 1996

<...>

TEEN HAM ARRESTED ON SCANNER CHARGES

Greg Godsey, KF4BDY, a 16-year-old ham from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was arrested May 11 by local police who charged him with carrying a scanner that could receive police radio frequencies. His Radio Shack HTX-202 2-meter transceiver was confiscated. At a court appearance May 14, he was bound over for trial on June 4. The judge reportedly didn't hear any arguments concerning whether the law was broken, possibly because the arresting officer wasn't present.

According to reports, Greg, the ARES EC for Christian County, Kentucky, and a ham since last summer, was detained by Hopkinsville Police. The officer indicated that when he arrived, Greg "was talking on a radio that is capable of receiving police frequencies. I verified this by keying my radio, which broke the squelch on [Greg's] radio."

Greg denies the charges and says his radio has not been modified and cannot receive or transmit outside of the 2-meter band. He has sought advice from the ARRL in resolving the matter. ARRL Regulatory Information Branch Supervisor Norman Bliss, WA1CCQ, says the Kentucky law exempts equipment possessed by a licensed Amateur Radio operator that is capable of receiving police frequencies.

<...>

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Jim Bell jimbell@pacifier.com