http://www.metroactive.com/papers/me...atch-0508.html

San Jose CA - citizens keep tabs on the local police with video cameras
and police scanners.

Openness

This "group" is just a small part of what's out there all over the US.
There is a website that I have actively linked to from my own site for over
a year now. I believe this is a good thing. Police, including in my small
town here, have a tendency to let their power go to their heads... I have
personally encountered, and have heard of, many "power trips" with the local
and state police around here. Somebody needs to put them in their place,
and let them know just who it is they are working for, and just who it is
that is paying their wages...

CopWatch: http://www.copwatch.com/



"Peter Sz" wrote in message
...
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/me...atch-0508.html

San Jose CA - citizens keep tabs on the local police with video cameras
and police scanners.

Openness

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 10:45:45 -0600, "PowerHouse Communications"
wrote:

This "group" is just a small part of what's out there all over the US.
There is a website that I have actively linked to from my own site for over
a year now. I believe this is a good thing. Police, including in my small
town here, have a tendency to let their power go to their heads... I have
personally encountered, and have heard of, many "power trips" with the local
and state police around here. Somebody needs to put them in their place,
and let them know just who it is they are working for, and just who it is
that is paying their wages...

Who they work for and who pays their wages is irrelevant.

They are to uphold the law and obey the law. If they are doing this, they
should have no problem having voyeurs follow them around the city.



CopWatch: http://www.copwatch.com/



"Peter Sz" wrote in message
...
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/me...atch-0508.html

San Jose CA - citizens keep tabs on the local police with video cameras
and police scanners.

Openness

"Mark" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 10:45:45 -0600, "PowerHouse Communications"
wrote:

This "group" is just a small part of what's out there all over the US.
There is a website that I have actively linked to from my own site for
over
a year now. I believe this is a good thing. Police, including in my
small
town here, have a tendency to let their power go to their heads... I
have
personally encountered, and have heard of, many "power trips" with the
local
and state police around here. Somebody needs to put them in their place,
and let them know just who it is they are working for, and just who it is
that is paying their wages...

Who they work for and who pays their wages is irrelevant.

They are to uphold the law and obey the law. If they are doing this, they
should have no problem having voyeurs follow them around the city.



Try telling them that around here... Here's an example:

Being in Michigan, a person needs a permit to possess a scanner in their
vehicle. Local "enforcement" doesn't want you to listen in on their
activities. Of the three people in my family that applied for and received
those permits, I'm the only one that still has one. The other two have had
them revoked due to these "criminals in uniform". I'm thinking that the
only reason I still have mine is that I work 3rd shift and am not out much
during the day, thus not being as "visible" or "accessible" as the other two
are...

Around here they actually make up stories and send them to the
Communications Director in charge of issuing the permits. They make
erroneous claims (see below) that can't be proven either way by either
party, but since they are "the law", their word has more power than the
common citizen, thus no recourse for the innocent. As I have stated and
will continue to state, corruption runs rampant in my area...

1: One was "following emergency calls and showing up at the scene". Funny,
he was in the area, fishing, before the call ever even came in, but it was a
good excuse to pull his license...
2: One was "convicted" of "publishing" because he was found to possess a
notebook with a list of frequencies in it that he had programmed into his
scanner. Another good reason to pull a license...



CopWatch: http://www.copwatch.com/

If the relatives were as paranoid & 'militant' as you seem to be when they
were stopped for whatever reason, it's no wonder the police opted to
strictly & perhaps creatively enforce all applicable laws. I assume your
relatives had the opportunity to go to court over the matters, so either
they failed to do so, or perhaps next you'll ramble on about how all the
courts are corrupt, too.


"FeMaster" FeMaster @ hotmail . com wrote in message
...

Try telling them that around here... Here's an example:

Being in Michigan, a person needs a permit to possess a scanner in their
vehicle. Local "enforcement" doesn't want you to listen in on their
activities. Of the three people in my family that applied for and
received
those permits, I'm the only one that still has one. The other two have
had
them revoked due to these "criminals in uniform".

You know, I could ramble on about how they are corrupt around here, but I
won't. Quite simply, who the hell can afford to "get their day in court"
these days... We're not all made of money you know...


"Casper Milquetoast" wrote in message
...
If the relatives were as paranoid & 'militant' as you seem to be when they
were stopped for whatever reason, it's no wonder the police opted to
strictly & perhaps creatively enforce all applicable laws. I assume your
relatives had the opportunity to go to court over the matters, so either
they failed to do so, or perhaps next you'll ramble on about how all the
courts are corrupt, too.


"FeMaster" FeMaster @ hotmail . com wrote in message
...

Try telling them that around here... Here's an example:

Being in Michigan, a person needs a permit to possess a scanner in their
vehicle. Local "enforcement" doesn't want you to listen in on their
activities. Of the three people in my family that applied for and
received
those permits, I'm the only one that still has one. The other two have
had
them revoked due to these "criminals in uniform".

You know, you shouldn't make "ass"umptions. It really does make and "ass"
out you...

I don't follow around the police. I don't participate in any of the
"activities" on that website. I simply agree with the idea behind what they
do. I have no part of them, aside from the link I give them on my
website...

I do make every attempt to gain proper justice, but it's not easy when the
entire local court system, as well as the lawyers are all "in on it". It's
a smaller city, and the lawyers around here know that if they want to make a
living, you don't go up against anything that has to do with local
government. If they do, they can be assured that they won't be on the
"winning end" of most court hearing.

I have attempted, recently, to fight a bogus seatbelt ticket. Typical made
up story crap by the officer. I made it up to the third level of the local
court system; from informal with the magistrate, to formal with the district
court, then on up to circuit. Problem was, because I can't afford a lawyer,
let alone one from outside the county (since them winning here won't effect
their business practices in their own county as much), I was too late in
getting the proper paperwork submitted to the court system. It ended up
taking too long to do the research on what exactly needed to be done. It's
not easy doing it on your own, I know, I've done it many times before,
generally successfully. This time was one of the exceptions, as I've never
had to take it to circuit court. If it wasn't for the officer lying in
district, it wouldn't have made it that far, this time, either...




"Mark" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 15:01:14 -0600, "FeMaster" FeMaster @ hotmail . com
wrote:

You know, I could ramble on about how they are corrupt around here, but I
won't. Quite simply, who the hell can afford to "get their day in court"
these days... We're not all made of money you know...

You seem to have enough time to follow the police around on calls.
Perhaps
you could put this activity on hold while you spend a couple of hours in
court
explaining your side of the story.

If you choose to roll over and accept whatever "wrongs" you feel you have
been
handed by the police, you are wasting your breath complaining about it.

Fight for what you believe is right, or just live with it.


"Casper Milquetoast" wrote in message
...
If the relatives were as paranoid & 'militant' as you seem to be when
they
were stopped for whatever reason, it's no wonder the police opted to
strictly & perhaps creatively enforce all applicable laws. I assume
your
relatives had the opportunity to go to court over the matters, so
either
they failed to do so, or perhaps next you'll ramble on about how all
the
courts are corrupt, too.


"FeMaster" FeMaster @ hotmail . com wrote in message
...

Try telling them that around here... Here's an example:

Being in Michigan, a person needs a permit to possess a scanner in
their
vehicle. Local "enforcement" doesn't want you to listen in on their
activities. Of the three people in my family that applied for and
received
those permits, I'm the only one that still has one. The other two
have
had
them revoked due to these "criminals in uniform".

"Mark" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 17:18:18 -0600, "FeMaster" FeMaster @ hotmail . com
wrote:


Being in Michigan, a person needs a permit to possess a scanner in their
vehicle. Local "enforcement" doesn't want you to listen in on their
activities. Of the three people in my family that applied for and
received
those permits, I'm the only one that still has one. The other two have
had
them revoked due to these "criminals in uniform". I'm thinking that the
only reason I still have mine is that I work 3rd shift and am not out
much
during the day, thus not being as "visible" or "accessible" as the other
two
are...

Oh, I think there must be some details you are leaving out as to WHY the
others had their permit revoked.

Fight it in court if you feel you have been wronged. Surely if they have
done
nothing wrong, there will be no problem getting the permits back.


Nothing has been left out... It is told as it was.

You can't fight something in court if you can't afford it. One of the
individuals is unemployed, collecting Social Security for a disability, and
can hardly live on what he gets as it is. The other works fast food, as he
is not of the "career" age yet. Are you going to provide the funding for
the hearings and/or trials? Didn't think so...

Around here they actually make up stories and send them to the
Communications Director in charge of issuing the permits.

And it's up to them to actually prove these stories when you drag it
through
court.


See above... They know the individuals can't afford it, so they don't have
any worries about it...

1: One was "following emergency calls and showing up at the scene".
Funny,
he was in the area, fishing, before the call ever even came in, but it
was a
good excuse to pull his license...

Just showing up at calls is not illegal, so long as you don't interfere
with
their job.


Well, maybe where you are, but in Michigan it IS illegal if you posses the
permit (possibly even without it). The very section just above where you
sign the permit application, states:

"I agree not to use the vehicle equipped with a short wave radio receiving
set in the commission of a crime or to assist anyone in doing so. **I agree
not to answer police calls or pursue police vehicles answering radio
dispatches** if a permit is approved for any police frequencies. I have read
and understand Section 605 of the Federal Communication Act of 1934
concerning unauthorized publication of communications. I certify the
foregoing statements are true"

2: One was "convicted" of "publishing" because he was found to possess a
notebook with a list of frequencies in it that he had programmed into his
scanner. Another good reason to pull a license...

I don't know what "convicted of publishing" means, but if someone has been
arrested and found guilty of a certain crime, perhaps Michigan's scanner
law
details this as a reason to no longer have a mobile permit. Do the
research
and if they're in the wrong, oh well......


Neither were arrested, or ticketed, or anything of the such. With incident
#1, only a "verbal warning" was issued, even though there was no reason for
it. With incident #2, the notebook was confiscated, never to be returned...
Nothing was said about revoking the permits, or anything even remotely close
to it, yet about 2 months later, letters from the Communications Division
were received, in both cases, stating that the permits were revoked.
Neither of the parties were in the wrong, and, I have done the research.

Below is Section 605 Subsection "a" of the Federal Communication Act of
1934, which is found on the back of the permit application. This will give
you an idea of what is meant by "publishing". As you can see by the text,
making a list of frequencies is not illegal, only the writing down
(publishing) of the content which has been "heard" from the scanner is
illegal, yet they made claim, regardless, that he was "publishing" police
activities...

*_ [text] _* - Areas that are underlined within the text on the permit
** [text] ** - Areas that are relevant to what I am saying

Sec. 605. Unauthorized Publication or Use of Communications.

(a) Practices Prohibited.

Except as authorized by chapter 119, Title 18, **no person receiving,
assisting in receiving, transmitting, or assisting in transmitting, any
interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio shall divulge or
publish the existence, contents, substance, purport, effect, or meaning
thereof**, except through authorized channels of transmission or reception,
(1) to any person other than the addressee, his agent, or attorney, (2) to a
person employed or authorized to forward such communication to its
destination, (3) to proper accounting or distributing officers of the
various communicating centers over which the communication may be passed,
(4) to the master of a ship under whom he is serving, (5) in response to a
subpoena issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, or (6) on demand of
other lawful authority. *_No person not being authorized by the sender shall
intercept any radio communication and divulge or publish_* the existence,
contents, substance, purport, effect, or meaning of *_such intercepted
communication to any person. No person not being entitled thereto shall_*
receive or assist in receiving any interstate or foreign communication by
radio and *_use such communication (or any information therein contained)
for his own benefit or for the benefit of another not entitled thereto._* No
person having received any intercepted radio communication or having become
acquainted with the contents, substance, purport, effect, or meaning of such
communication (or any part thereof) or use such communication (or any
information therein contained) for his own benefit or for the benefit of
another not entitled thereto. This section shall also apply to the
receiving, divulging, publishing, or utilizing the contents of any radio
communication which is transmitted by any station for the use of the general
public, which relates to ships, aircraft, vehicles, or person in distress,
or which is transmitted by an amateur radio station operator or by a
citizens band radio operator.


If you're in the right, fight it. Either that, or don't complain about
it.

I do what I can with regards to such things, unfortunately, the two that
have been treated unjustly are unable to do so for reasons like those stated
above.

Good riddance...

"Mark" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 1 Mar 2005 15:20:46 -0600, "PowerHouse Communications"
wrote:

You know, you shouldn't make "ass"umptions. It really does make and
"ass"
out you...

Enjoy your fantasy world. You're not worth the sweat off my nuts anymore.

*PLONK*




"Mark" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 15:01:14 -0600, "FeMaster" FeMaster @ hotmail .
com
wrote:

You know, I could ramble on about how they are corrupt around here,
but I
won't. Quite simply, who the hell can afford to "get their day in
court"
these days... We're not all made of money you know...

You seem to have enough time to follow the police around on calls.
Perhaps
you could put this activity on hold while you spend a couple of hours
in
court
explaining your side of the story.

If you choose to roll over and accept whatever "wrongs" you feel you
have
been
handed by the police, you are wasting your breath complaining about it.

Fight for what you believe is right, or just live with it.


"Casper Milquetoast" wrote in message
...
If the relatives were as paranoid & 'militant' as you seem to be
when
they
were stopped for whatever reason, it's no wonder the police opted to
strictly & perhaps creatively enforce all applicable laws. I
assume
your
relatives had the opportunity to go to court over the matters, so
either
they failed to do so, or perhaps next you'll ramble on about how all
the
courts are corrupt, too.


"FeMaster" FeMaster @ hotmail . com wrote in message
...

Try telling them that around here... Here's an example:

Being in Michigan, a person needs a permit to possess a scanner in
their
vehicle. Local "enforcement" doesn't want you to listen in on
their
activities. Of the three people in my family that applied for and
received
those permits, I'm the only one that still has one. The other two
have
had
them revoked due to these "criminals in uniform".

"Mark" wrote in message
...


Amazing that they can't afford a day off from work (which one doesn't even
have to worry about), or find someone to swap days, yet they can afford to
buy
scanners and video equipment to follow police around. Very interesting.


Apparently you can't read... Nobody followed the police around... And what
does "swapping days" have anything to do with not being able to afford
something? Swapping days isn't going to magically raise a persons pay...

Video equipment, where do you get this stuff, pull it out of your ass??
Nobody has any kind of "video equipment", unless you are talking about a TV
and VCR at home...


Well, then, there you go. You got the permit. Knew what the law said,
yet
chose to break it anyway (well, not YOU, but....)

No sympathies here.


Still can't read... Nobody broke ANY law, PERIOD. Nobody followed anybody,
nobody did anything except live a normal, everyday life. Can't comprehend
that or what?

No need to read beyond this either. Federal law may allow specific
freedoms
with regards to scanning (or anything else for that matter). State laws
cannot undo this. In other words, the state level cannot grant more
freedom
than the Federal level - BUT, the state level most certainly can impose
further restrictions - which Michigan appears to have done.


State law doesn't restrict anything any further than Federal law with regard
to the "publishing" and "following" circumstances that I have been
discussing.

I'm not sure why you insist on arguing over this crap. I'm just stating
things that happened that were unjust, yet you seem to insist that they
never happened. You, of all people, would have no clue as to how things
transpired, so why argue the opposition? It's people like you that make
topic discussions like this into worthless threads; you think you know
everything about everything, yet don't have a clue. You just speculate
things, yet spew them forth as if it were fact...