T
Terri
Guest
Here is the question: Is it illegal to post what you hear on a police scanner on the internet?
I know it is legal to own them and to listen to them in your home, but what about taking the reports and posting them on a chat forum?
The reason I ask is I belong to a local chat forum and one person on there has taken it upon themselves to post a "police blotter" and when she posted information about a murder in our town, it opened up a firestorm because some people were making ugly remarks about the victim. So now it has progressed to the question, is it illegal to post the information you hear on scanners to others?
Any one know?
thanks
OK, just to help with future answers. It is legal to listen where we live, and you do not have to have a permit for inhome scanners (mobile, yes)
Someone quoted the Electronic Communications Act of 1986 as saying "it is illegal to disclose information you hear to others."
That is what brought the question. Does it pertain to posting dispatch calls heard in your home, legally, on the internet for others to comment upon? I went to the website for the act, and honestly, it was difficult to read.
thanks for input so far, but I wanted to steer future answers.
I know it is legal to own them and to listen to them in your home, but what about taking the reports and posting them on a chat forum?
The reason I ask is I belong to a local chat forum and one person on there has taken it upon themselves to post a "police blotter" and when she posted information about a murder in our town, it opened up a firestorm because some people were making ugly remarks about the victim. So now it has progressed to the question, is it illegal to post the information you hear on scanners to others?
Any one know?
thanks
OK, just to help with future answers. It is legal to listen where we live, and you do not have to have a permit for inhome scanners (mobile, yes)
Someone quoted the Electronic Communications Act of 1986 as saying "it is illegal to disclose information you hear to others."
That is what brought the question. Does it pertain to posting dispatch calls heard in your home, legally, on the internet for others to comment upon? I went to the website for the act, and honestly, it was difficult to read.
thanks for input so far, but I wanted to steer future answers.