Original source: Florida Statutes online (2016)
Title XLVI - CRIMES
Chapter 843 - Obstructing Justice

843.16  Unlawful  to  install  or  transport  radio  equipment  using  assigned
frequency of  state  or  law  enforcement  officers;  definitions;  exceptions; 
penalties.---

(1)  A person, firm, or corporation may not install  or  transport  in  any  motor 
vehicle or business establishment, except an  emergency  vehicle  or  crime  watch 
vehicle as herein defined or a place  established  by  municipal,  county,  state, 
or federal authority for governmental purposes,  any  frequency  modulation  radio 
receiving equipment so adjusted or tuned as to  receive  messages  or  signals  on
frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission  to  police  or  law
enforcement officers or fire rescue personnel of any city or county of  the  state 
or to the state or  any  of  its  agencies.  Provided,  nothing  herein  shall  be 
construed to affect any radio  station  licensed  by  the  Federal  Communications 
System or to affect any  recognized  newspaper  or  news  publication  engaged  in 
covering the news on a full-time basis or any alarm  system  contractor  certified 
pursuant to part II of chapter 489, operating a central monitoring system.

(2)  As used in this section, the term: 

  (a)  "Emergency vehicle" shall specifically mean: 

      1.  Any motor vehicle used by any law enforcement officer or employee  of
      any city, any county, the state, the Federal Bureau of Investigation,  or 
      the Armed Forces of the United States while on official business; 

      2.  Any fire department vehicle of any city or county  of  the  state  or 
      any state fire department vehicle; 

      3.  Any  motor  vehicle  designated  as  an  emergency  vehicle  by   the 
      Department of Highway Safety and Motor  Vehicles  when  said  vehicle  is 
      to be assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the state; 

      4.  Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by  the  sheriff 
      or fire chief of any county in the state  when  said  vehicle  is  to  be 
      assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the said county; 

      5.  Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the chief  of 
      police or fire chief of any city in the state when said vehicle is to  be 
      assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the said city. 

  (b)  "Crime watch vehicle"  means  any  motor  vehicle  used  by  any  person 
  participating in a citizen crime watch or  neighborhood  watch  program  when 
  such program and use are approved in writing by the  appropriate  sheriff  or 
  chief of police where the vehicle will be used and the  vehicle  is  assigned 
  the use of frequencies assigned to the county or city.  Such  approval  shall 
  be renewed annually.

(3)  This section does not apply to the following:

  (a)  Any holder of a valid amateur radio operator or station  license  issued
  by the Federal Communications Commission.

  (b)  Any recognized newspaper or news publication  engaged  in  covering  the
  news on a full-time basis.

  (c)  Any alarm system contractor certified pursuant to  part  II  of  chapter 
  489, operating a central monitoring system.

  (d)  Any sworm law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10  or  emergency
  service employee as defined in s. 496.404 while using personal transportation
  to and from work.

  (e)  An  employee  of  a  government  agency  that  holds  a  valid   Federal 
  Communications Commission station license or that has a  valid  agreement  or 
  contract allowing access to another agency's radio station.

(4)  Any person, firm, or corporation violating any  of  the  provisions  of  this
section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as  provided  in  s.
775.082 or s. 775.083. 

History.--ss. 1-4, ch. 26886, 1951; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106;  s.  1049,  ch. 
71-136; s. 1, ch. 86-55; s. 1, ch. 90-62; s. 95, ch. 2005-164; s. 1, ch.  2008-70. 


Retranscribed by: Todd L. Sherman/KB4MHH
Last verified: January 16, 2016.

Mobile Scanner & RADAR-Detector Laws In The U.S.
Todd L. Sherman/KB4MHH, Owner/Webmaster
Gainesville, Alachua Co., Fla.
E-mail: afn09444@afn.org
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