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Author Topic: Local law enforcement and antennas  (Read 5022 times)

Offline casio

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Local law enforcement and antennas
« on: March 22, 2014, 1915 UTC »
I had a visit today by loco law enforcement asking me about my outside radio antenna.
They just wanted to know what it was and what it's purpose was.
I responded by asking them if my outside radio antenna was braking some law or rule and they said it was not. So i kindly declined to tell them its purpose and reminded them of personal property rights and my fourth amendment rights and asked them kindly to leave..

« Last Edit: March 23, 2014, 1132 UTC by Beerus Maximus »
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rdla4

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Re: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2014, 1933 UTC »
Yinz aint one of them thar roosky spys r ye?

Unbelievable!

Offline glimmer twin

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Re: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2014, 2212 UTC »
I've had the same thing happen & just patiently explained what it was. I don't like to antagonize them ...I've regretted doing that in the past. Lots of neighborhood/homeowner associations do have rules against outdoor antennas & unfortunately these are completely legal. During an ice storm a few years ago a passing cop freaked out when he saw me picking up my downed antenna & beating the ice off of it & attempting to re-hang it. I guess he thought it was a power line that had fallen. He was really concerned that I was going to kill myself but when I explained what it was he thought it was pretty cool to be able to hear stations from all over the world.
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Offline jFarley

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Re: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2014, 2226 UTC »
In my neighborhood, we have large back yards, and such things are legal.  My preferred antenna site is in full view of the neighborhood pariah's deck...by intent.  Payback.
Joe Farley, Near Chicago
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Offline glimmer twin

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Re: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2014, 2246 UTC »
I'm not a lawyer but wouldn't an outdoor antenna  fall under the "Plain View  Doctrine" or whatever you call the shocking lack of a right to privacy that we have these days?
KCMO  Icom R 75 , SDR-IQ, Grundig Satellit 750 ,Tecsun PL 880, Tecsun PL660 , Tecsun PL380 & PL360  10 meter random wire  w/ RF systems MLB    Alpha Delta SWL DX sloper  
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Offline ff

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Re: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2014, 2306 UTC »
My preferred antenna site is in full view of the neighborhood pariah's deck...by intent.  Payback.

LOL - goodonya Joe!  If someday he harasses you, mebbe you could remind him that those pesky hams and CBers use wire antennas and beams, but you use those loops to communicate with your Venusian friends... the ones with the probes... BIG probes...  I imagine he'd at least leave quickly... for one reason or another.
Hailing from the upstate boondocks region of the progressive paradise which once was New York State

Offline casio

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Re: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2014, 0437 UTC »
Yinz aint one of them thar roosky spys r ye?

Unbelievable!

No... Not roosky
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Offline casio

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Re: Local law enforcement and antennas
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2014, 1445 UTC »
There was one of them white FCC vans outside my apartment complex today...
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Offline glimmer twin

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Re: Local law enforcement and antennas
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2014, 1541 UTC »
You aren't even close to violating any kind of FCC rule if all you're doing is listening. Since you refused to talk to the cops they might have passed it along to the FCC who are now trying to determine if you are transmitting. I've learned from my own youthful hyjinx that it isn't good to antagonize the cops but as long as you have nothing else to worry about....more power to ya, stick it to the man.
KCMO  Icom R 75 , SDR-IQ, Grundig Satellit 750 ,Tecsun PL 880, Tecsun PL660 , Tecsun PL380 & PL360  10 meter random wire  w/ RF systems MLB    Alpha Delta SWL DX sloper  
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Offline casio

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Re: Local law enforcement and antennas
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2014, 1648 UTC »
yeah.. its been outside all day. its got like something on it roof... they will sit outside for a day or two then go away. its unmarked but i know what the FCC vans look like because i seen photos online
« Last Edit: March 25, 2014, 1650 UTC by casio »
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Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Local law enforcement and antennas
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2014, 1652 UTC »
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
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Offline casio

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Re: Local law enforcement and antennas
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2014, 1710 UTC »
the thing on its roof looks like a cap of a mushroom but its flatter and made of plastic... my geuss is its some kind of antenna..
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Offline casio

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Re: Local law enforcement and antennas
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2014, 1759 UTC »

this is what i put up
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Offline atrainradio

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Re: Local law enforcement and antennas
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2014, 2108 UTC »
They are freaking out over that? God that's nothing. I got an SolarCon 2000 26 foot telescopic CB antenna on my roof which is 62 feet from the ground. You could probably see the damn thing from a couple miles away.
KD2VEG
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Offline moof

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Re: Local law enforcement and antennas
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2014, 2138 UTC »
Call the po po and say there is a strange van that keeps watching you. Walk over while on the phone and ask if you can help them with anything.
Stare back with binoculars.  Post a pic. Make contact with truckers on 19 and shoot the shizz.  Give them something to listen to under 4 watts.  Bore them to death.

 

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