5
SCANNING LEGALLY
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many different groups includ-
ing police and fire departments, ambulance services, government agen-
cies, private companies, amateur radio services, military operations,
pager services, and wireline (telephone and telegraph) service provid-
ers. It is legal to listen to almost every transmission your scanner can
receive. However, there are some transmissions you should never in-
tentionally listen to. These include:
•
Telephone conversations (either cellular, cordless, or other private
means of telephone signal transmission)
•
Pager transmissions
•
Any scrambled or encrypted transmissions
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), you
are subject to fines and possible imprisonment for intentionally listening
to, using, or divulging the contents of such a transmission unless you
have the consent of a party to the conversation (unless such activity is
otherwise illegal).
Radio Shack encourages responsible, legal scanner use.
20-508.fm Page 5 Wednesday, August 4, 1999 1:50 PM