Only Criminals and Nosy People Use Scanners
This claim is not supported by evidence.
The Claim
Police scanner listeners are either criminals trying to evade law enforcement or voyeuristic busybodies with nothing better to do.
The Evidence
Scanner users serve critical public interest functions.
- Professional journalists: RTDNA (Radio Television Digital News Association) ranks encryption as their #1 concern
- Safety advocates: Groups like Walk Bike Berkeley use scanner data to document crashes and improve traffic safety
- Emergency volunteers: Community emergency response teams coordinate with professional responders
- Families: Parents monitoring school lockdowns, residents tracking wildfires, people locating loved ones during incidents
The Reality
Real people who use scanners for legitimate purposes:
- Highland Park shooting survivors: Used scanners to find safe routes and locate family members during active shooter event
- Colorado residents: Monitored wildfire evacuations and active shooter situations before encryption went into effect
- Traffic safety researchers: Document accident patterns to advocate for infrastructure improvements
- Accountability advocates: Monitor police activity during protests and community events to ensure proper conduct
- Local reporters: Small news outlets that can't afford full-time police reporters rely on scanners for breaking news
Dismissing scanner users as criminals or voyeurs ignores the vast majority of legitimate, public-interest uses that benefit entire communities.
Bottom Line
When police departments make this claim, ask them for evidence. The documented facts don't support it.
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