Some drivers do whatever they can to drive as quickly as they reasonably can on the roads. As a result, it has become popular among street racers and those who do not mind dipping into the realm of illegal modifications to purchase and install police scanners or radar systems. Although there are not general laws that govern the use of these systems across all American jurisdictions, there are some widely implemented limitations that protect law enforcement officials and fair business practices.
There are certain areas that directly prohibit the use of these devices. In these jurisdictions, it is illegal to use a police scanner or a radar device entirely without being a proper exception, regardless of the intention of the device. There may be exemptions for cab drivers and truck driving companies that use these devices to share information about routes or customers.
Generally speaking, there are certain restrictions even in jurisdictions that allow the use of scanners and radar devices. In particular, scanners can occasionally pick up signals such as private cell phones, creating situations that breach privacy laws. According to most restrictions, it is illegal to own, operate, or sell scanners that are capable of listening in on cell phones or wireless home phones. As breaching cell phone privacy is considered a federal law, the act itself is considered illegal across the United States.
For many jurisdictions, it is also illegal to break into encrypted channels to listen in on information that is not supposed to be available to the public. This means that those listening in for police information in order to help them achieve a criminal end, such as speeding, are often breaking multiple laws.
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