Police Scanners and Photography - DPChallenge Forums

02/09/2005 05:22:57 PM · #1

Has anyone monitored police scanners in their cities and went to the scene and took photographs? I'd be interested in seeing some shots!

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM

02/09/2005 06:33:41 PM · #2

bump

mpalitang

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

02/09/2005 06:34:53 PM · #3

no, Eric, only YOU would want to catch those bank robbers on film :p

02/09/2005 06:36:13 PM · #4

Originally posted by mpalitang:

no, Eric, only YOU would want to catch those bank robbers on film :p

Great, now my thread is infected with the Monica virus...

02/09/2005 06:36:27 PM · #5

heh I sit here and listen every now and then...It's actually quite addicting.

Fujifilm FinePix S9100/9600

02/09/2005 06:41:33 PM · #6

I just think it would make interesting photography if you can catch something serious going on... Maybe even sell the photos to news agencies...

tanoluv

02/09/2005 06:47:33 PM · #7

I thought about doing that too, but the police, ems, and fire dpts in my area went digital not too long ago, so it is a lot more expensive now(for the scanner and card +/- $700)

02/09/2005 06:50:42 PM · #8

Originally posted by tanoluv:

I thought about doing that too, but the police, ems, and fire dpts in my area went digital not too long ago, so it is a lot more expensive now(for the scanner and card +/- $700)

I have a digital scanner and yes it was expensive. But buying non-digital scanners is like throwing your money in the toilet since most agencies are switching over to digital.

02/10/2005 11:29:00 PM · #9

I would definitely consider it except that I live too far outside of town for it to be practical. My dad was a fireman for as long as I can rememeber, so I grew up with those sounds echoing through the house....

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/10/2005 11:40:47 PM · #10

I don't even think anyone near me is talking about going to digital -- actually, this post is the first I've heard of it.

The fire station and some police departments here have just spent a good bit of money going from high band to ultra high band (140 or so mhz to 460'ish).

The quality I get from the repeaters that run 460 is so much better than the 140 ones. One fire department still runs off low band (I believe it's 33 mhz or so) and I can't even make out what they say.

With the 460 ones, I can make out conversations crystal clear from about 3 or 4 boroughs away.

Makka

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/10/2005 11:48:50 PM · #11

Mr Incredible listens to police scanners....

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

02/10/2005 11:51:47 PM · #12

We used to listen in LA on the police scanners when they'd bust crack houses. Sometimes we'd hear the action from down the street.

02/11/2005 12:07:47 AM · #13

yeah...all the police have "private" channels and stuff -- but they *have* to register them with the FCC or whatever it is, and I found their website where they list everything. So even when the cops here switch to their private channel or "TAC" they call it, I can still listen.

gwphoto

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

02/11/2005 12:07:53 AM · #14

I am an ex-cop and it use to be a felony to have a police scanner in the car with you, so check your local Police Dept.s and make sure you can do that. It is ok to have on in the house, but unless you live in a bad area, your not likley to be near a crime scene.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

02/11/2005 12:09:47 AM · #15

Originally posted by gwphoto:

I don't think being in a bad area has much to do with it. I think people are looking more for fires, large car crashes and stuff like that. Plus, I don't think I'd want to be at a real, active crime scene (like a bank robbery) with my camera anyway heh. :-D

tolovemoon

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

02/11/2005 01:03:58 AM · #16

Why would you get in troube for having a scanner if you arent breaking the law?

I like to listen to them in the morning when things are quiet.. "Good morning central" "Well Good morning to you too central...Imagine that with the southern accent tone :)I dont and probably wont chase accidents in unless it is someone I know and its bad enough they need help...

Its really funny to hear em talk about getting stuck in ice on a road here..We only get a few inches once a year for one long day :)
the 460 is mainly where they are... its just a hobby or like other radio talk...

Justice

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

02/11/2005 12:46:57 PM · #17

I'm a cop in CT. No laws agaist having scanners in the car or at home here. I seldom see photographers at crime/accident scenes at all, but I probably would suggest taking photographs from inside of your vehicle. If you can't get close enough to get a good shot from your car, you probably shouldn't be there.

02/11/2005 12:51:03 PM · #18

Originally posted by Justice:

...I probably would suggest taking photographs from inside of your vehicle. If you can't get close enough to get a good shot from your car, you probably shouldn't be there.

There are some shooters around here who would strongly disagree with ya there, from an editorial point of view anyway.

Message edited by author 2005-02-11 12:51:25.

Racuerex

02/11/2005 12:51:12 PM · #19

I do know in CA it is illegal to use a police scanner for personal gain (IE: Photography, running to the scene and even just watching is a bad idea, you could be taken for police interference)....felony or misdamenor I do not know.

02/11/2005 12:53:01 PM · #20

Originally posted by Racuerex:

How can they possibly enforce that law? Don't the news organizations use them? Seems like stringers should be able to as well.....

Message edited by author 2005-02-11 12:53:10.

02/11/2005 01:14:13 PM · #21

Originally posted by Racuerex:

If this was true, you wouldn't be able to watch the news!

gwphoto

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

02/11/2005 01:36:11 PM · #22

Originally posted by photomayhem:

Originally posted by Racuerex:
I do know in CA it is illegal to use a police scanner for personal gain (IE: Photography, running to the scene and even just watching is a bad idea, you could be taken for police interference)....felony or misdamenor I do not know.

If this was true, you wouldn't be able to watch the news!

Go ahead and take your chances then. The laws are there to protect all of us. The Police have no way of knowing if you are doing anything illegal or not. So in most places you are not allowed to have a police scanner in your vehicle. Like it or not.

02/11/2005 01:50:34 PM · #23

Originally posted by gwphoto:

Originally posted by photomayhem:

Originally posted by Racuerex:
I do know in CA it is illegal to use a police scanner for personal gain (IE: Photography, running to the scene and even just watching is a bad idea, you could be taken for police interference)....felony or misdamenor I do not know.

If this was true, you wouldn't be able to watch the news!

Go ahead and take your chances then. The laws are there to protect all of us. The Police have no way of knowing if you are doing anything illegal or not.

They are supposed to assume I'm not doing anything illegal, unless they can prove otherwise.

If I show up at an accident/fire/crime scene with a camera in hand, all they have to do is ask why I'm there, and then let me do my job....I won't keep them from doing theirs.