Garda Scanners illegal?

beaushalloe

could anyone clarify for me, a mate of mine inisists it is legal to have a scanner in your car as long as it is not tuned to the garda frequency. are they right? i was understanding it is completely illegal to have one in your possession.

luder

Not illegal to have in your possession....

Hagar

A lot of people get perfectly innocent pleasure with scanners at airports, sports events etc.

Just like a bread-knife not illegal in itself but if used for unlawful purposes, well that's another matter.

Slig

Hagar wrote: »

A lot of people get perfectly innocent pleasure with scanners at airports, sports events etc.

Just like a bread-knife not illegal in itself but if used for unlawful purposes, well that's another matter.

How could anybody get pleasure from a bread-knife?

bman

Slig wrote: »

How could anybody get pleasure from a bread-knife?

By cutting bread with it, and then eating the aforementioned bread.

lorweld

Afaik It's not illegal to be in possession of a scanner or indeed to listen to the Gardai on it. It is illegal, however, to repeat ar use any information that you hear on the scanner.

SuprSi

bman wrote: »

By cutting bread with it, and then eating the aforementioned bread.

Hehe

deRanged

lorweld wrote: »

Afaik It's not illegal to ... indeed to listen to the Gardai on it

you're wrong there. it is illegal to listen to the Gardai.

scanners themselves are not illegal, however many frequencies are out of bounds to listen to.

Steve

lorweld wrote: »

It is illegal, however, to repeat ar use any information that you hear on the scanner.

Any source for that - curious.

By broadcasting stuff it is in effect being sent to the public domain, can't see how it would be illegal to speak apout it.

I thought the Guards used encryption / secure channels - is this not true?

-Chris-

bman wrote: »

By cutting bread with it, and then eating the aforementioned bread.

lol :D

Slig

What about VHF radios, do they not pick up emergency frequencies?

Steve

deRanged wrote: »

you're wrong there. it is illegal to listen to the Gardai.

Again - under what law?

newbusiness

Not illegal to own, not illegal to listen to Gardai.

However, if you use the scanner in the course of a crime then you can be prosecuted for possession of it.

Bit like knives / work tools / precursor chemicals etc.

rebel.ranter

newbusiness wrote: »

Not illegal to own, not illegal to listen to Gardai.

However, if you use the scanner in the course of a crime then you can be prosecuted for possession of it.

Bit like knives / work tools / precursor chemicals etc.

The Gardai use mobile phones for anything that would be worth listening to. They are currently rolling out a new digital radio system (effectively a private mobile phone network) called TETRA at the minute. As soon as that's fully up & running then you'll be able to hear didley squat on those scanners (Garda comms anyway)

deRanged

SteveC wrote: »

Again - under what law?

all radio telegraphy equipment requires a license, unless it's exempt.

garda freqs are not exempt, so you need a license to listen, you can't get one, so it's not legal to listen.

for a marine VHF license for example, you can then listen to broadcasts but not repeat them. I'll check my license when I get home for the relevant act.

it's nothing at all like butter knives or work tools. you don't need a license to use either of them. you do with radio equipment.

Alun

deRanged wrote: »

all radio telegraphy equipment requires a license, unless it's exempt.

That's just for equipment capable of transmitting though, surely? ComReg are only interested in radio spectrum issues, and possible interference from non-licensed equipment, not the actual content of what's being transmitted.

deRanged

Alun wrote: »

That's just for equipment capable of transmitting though, surely?

I'm not in any way a lawyer, but there's no distinction between a receiver only and a transmitter.

otherwise they'd have to dream up a new reason to charge the tv licence.

Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926 wrote:

the expression "apparatus for wireless telegraphy" means apparatus for sending and receiving or for sending only or for receiving only messages, spoken words, music, images, pictures, prints, or other communications, sounds, signs, or signals by wireless telegraphy and includes any part of such apparatus and any article primarily designed for use as part of such apparatus and not capable of being conveniently used for any other purpose;

link

rebel.ranter

Alun wrote: »

That's just for equipment capable of transmitting though, surely? ComReg are only interested in radio spectrum issues, and possible interference from non-licensed equipment, not the actual content of what's being transmitted.

The wireless telegraphy act only covers transmitting, receiving is a different story. You need a license to transmit not to receive.

Mr Benevolent

Aviation frequencies are the same - it's illegal to listen or transmit without an RT (radiotelegraph) licence. The licence is part of any pilot licence, but it does technically make listening to airport frequencies illegal.

Steve

deRanged wrote: »

all radio telegraphy equipment requires a license, unless it's exempt.

garda freqs are not exempt, so you need a license to listen, you can't get one, so it's not legal to listen.

for a marine VHF license for example, you can then listen to broadcasts but not repeat them. I'll check my license when I get home for the relevant act.

it's nothing at all like butter knives or work tools. you don't need a license to use either of them. you do with radio equipment.

Marine VHF licenses are issued by Maritime Radio Affairs Unit of the Department of Transport & the Marine.

Had a quick dig - from here and here: (S.I. 197 of 2005, S.I. 292 of 2005)

3. Subject to the conditions contained in Articles 4 and 5 of this Order, the following classes of apparatus for wireless telegraphy are hereby declared to be classes of apparatus for wireless telegraphy to which section 3 of the Act of 1926 does not apply: apparatus for wireless telegraphy only capable of reception, which is not a television set, and is inherently incapable of transmission.
4. The classes of apparatus for wireless telegraphy described in Article 3 of this Order, shall fulfil all requirements of the Regulations and shall not cause any harmful interference.
5. Apparatus for wireless telegraphy of the class described in Article 3 of this Order shall not be used to improperly divulge the purport of any message, communication, or signal sent or proposed to be sent by wireless telegraphy.

Exempts all non transmitting devices from needing a license.

Interesting to note Article 5.

lorweld hit the nail on the head earlier.

RoHunter

bman wrote: »

By cutting bread with it, and then eating the aforementioned bread.

ha

davecomedy

hi im looking for radio frequencies, like couriers, aeroplanes etc...can you help??

Hagar

Try this site.

WARNING Listen but do not attempt to broadcast on any of the listed frequencies or you may face prosecution.

TheNog

beaushalloe wrote: »

could anyone clarify for me, a mate of mine inisists it is legal to have a scanner in your car as long as it is not tuned to the garda frequency. are they right? i was understanding it is completely illegal to have one in your possession.

deRanged wrote: »

you're wrong there. it is illegal to listen to the Gardai.

scanners themselves are not illegal, however many frequencies are out of bounds to listen to.

SteveC wrote: »

Any source for that - curious.

By broadcasting stuff it is in effect being sent to the public domain, can't see how it would be illegal to speak apout it.

I thought the Guards used encryption / secure channels - is this not true?

I had a discussion with my sergeant about this exact problem. As far as we know it is not illegal to own a scanner nor is it illegal to listen to GArda frequencies but it is illegal to transmit on a Garda frequency. What law covers this is unknown to me.

When we start using TETRA in the next 2 years the frequencies will be encrypted so it be harder or impossible to listen to any of the emergency services chatter

TigerTim

Anyone recommend a good scanner (not too expensive) for aeroplanes, Garda etc.

T.

lorweld

TigerTim wrote: »

Anyone recommend a good scanner (not too expensive) for aeroplanes, Garda etc.

T.

Try this forum you might get more help http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=922

VH

30 years ago Gardai were able to scramble transmissions at the touch of a button - are they not still?

tracker-man

Confab wrote: »

Aviation frequencies are the same - it's illegal to listen or transmit without an RT (radiotelegraph) licence. The licence is part of any pilot licence, but it does technically make listening to airport frequencies illegal.

Its legal to listen, illegal to transmit. AFAIK

ChapOfDRyans

Its not illegal to have a scanner but you can only really have marine freq in it.The gardi use a form of vhf radios and work off channels.


I had one in my car and they had a checkpoint were the gardi had no breathalizer,so he went over the radio to ask for one when he got some feedback:D:D

msg11

beaushalloe wrote: »

could anyone clarify for me, a mate of mine inisists it is legal to have a scanner in your car as long as it is not tuned to the garda frequency. are they right? i was understanding it is completely illegal to have one in your possession.

As far as I know.

It is illegal too have the garda frequencies tuned into the scanner out in public, if its for personal non illegal use at home, I think it is ok. But, your not allowed record them or pass on information too a party, too which they are dealing with?

msg11

VH wrote: »

30 years ago Gardai were able to scramble transmissions at the touch of a button - are they not still?

Mobile phones for private stuff, the radio is really just for group broadcasts.

D_murph

bman wrote: »

By cutting bread with it, and then eating the aforementioned bread.

LMFAO

Masada

the cops are already have have been using scrambled freq's for a long time, you cant pick up the tranmissions like you used to, instead you can only hear control and alpha siera. you used to be able to listen in on the individual units a few years ago but hasnt been like that for ages.,

CDfm

i heard its illegal for garda cameras to photo a car from the front because of EU invasion of privacy laws and that police in the UK are banned from doing so. IS this true.

Wishbone Ash

vtec wrote: »

you cant pick up the tranmissions like you used to, instead you can only hear control and alpha siera. you used to be able to listen in on the individual units a few years ago but hasnt been like that for ages.,

I must be imagining the transmissions that I hear then from my three wide band recievers!!!!

Masada

Id get that seen to before the voices tell you to do something dangerous!.....



what stations are you getting? i think the tallaght/crumlin and surrounding ones are accessable, most of the north side ones arnt, fitz street, mt joy, white hall etc you cant hear the individual units from there..,

TheNog

vtec wrote: »

Id get that seen to before the voices tell you to do something dangerous!.....



what stations are you getting? i think the tallaght/crumlin and surrounding ones are accessable, most of the north side ones arnt, fitz street, mt joy, white hall etc you cant hear the individual units from there..,

AFAIK the northside stations are using TETRA for the last 2 years now on the pilot scheme

Fyr.Fytr

DMR North central (Fitz st, bridwell, mountjoy, store st etc) and DMR Traffic Corps in the castle are only uniformed units with terta presently.

All others on normal motorola radios and can be picked up on scanners as they're not encrypted, yet.

TETRA will bring and end to garda scanning.

Think its a very grey area where the law is concerned, public and gardai and never sure wether it is legal or not.

All depends on the circumstances really, if your found with it in the car and using it to avoid check points or you just happen to appear at every call the guards go to im sure you could be done, well for the check points anyway of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

1 thing sitting at the side of a runway listening to ATC but i think your just looking for trouble listening to the guards or becoming an ambulance chaser.

Wouldnt reccomend it now myself

Táck

have they implemented that tetra system yet?

by8auj6csd3ioq

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

or you just happen to appear at every call the guards go to

I recall reading of journalists who sleep with the scanners by their beds. And a cop told me boy racers use them to evade patrol cars

TheNog

Táck wrote: »

have they implemented that tetra system yet?

Supposed to be nationwide by the end of next year

Táck

so thats spells the end of anyone listening in? darn it, i've always wanted to listen in to garda talk.

years and years ago when i was a kid there was a burglary on the road and we were playing beside the garda car, and they radio'd in a dead body found in ballymun. twas mad knowing the news before the news!

Marcus.Aurelius

Evalyn Better Flag wrote: »

I recall reading of journalists who sleep with the scanners by their beds. And a cop told me boy racers use them to evade patrol cars

For Traffic Corps that's not going to help them much, chatter is fairly rare from them, most of it in my experience is on the local units going about their 3 relief.

Wishbone Ash

TheNog wrote: »

AFAIK the northside stations are using TETRA for the last 2 years now on the pilot scheme

The northern control channel and the Romeo Brava come in loud and clear but I haven't heard the Hotel A/B/C/D in a while.

Pyro202

What is it??? i dont understand, its just a cop radio?

Anan1

Pyro202 wrote: »

What is it??? i dont understand, its just a cop radio?

Please read the charter and don't resurrect old threads. Thanks.