Is It Legal to Listen to Police Scanners?
Yes, police scanners are completely legal in the United States. But there's a catch: while listening is legal, encryption is making it increasingly impossible. Here's everything you need to know.
The Short Answer: Yes, It's Legal
In the United States, owning and using a police scanner is 100% legal. You don't need a license, registration, or permit. Radio frequencies used by police, fire, and EMS are public airwaves—you have every right to listen.
This has been true for decades, and it remains true today. The legality isn't the problem—it's encryption that's taking away your ability to listen.
What's Legal: Complete List
Completely Legal Activities
- Owning a police scanner — No license, permit, or registration required in any state
- Listening to unencrypted police radio — Public airwaves are public property
- Listening to fire and EMS channels — Same principle applies
- Using scanner apps — Broadcastify, Scanner Radio, and similar apps are legal
- Listening at home or while stationary — No restrictions on where you listen
- Using scanners for journalism — Protected First Amendment activity
- Listening while driving — Legal in most states (see exceptions below)
- Sharing general information heard on scanners — Not illegal to discuss
- Recording scanner audio for personal use — Legal in most circumstances
What's Illegal: The Limits
Activities That Cross the Line
- Attempting to decrypt encrypted police radio — Federal crime under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (up to 5 years in prison, $250,000 fine)
- Intercepting cellular phone calls — Different from radio; strictly illegal
- Using scanner information to commit or aid crimes — Obviously illegal
- Interfering with police operations — Using scanner info to obstruct justice
- Broadcasting on police frequencies — Transmitting without authorization (different from listening)
Key Distinction
Receiving unencrypted radio transmissions is always legal. Decrypting encrypted transmissions is always illegal. The encryption itself is the legal barrier—which is why police increasingly use it.
State-by-State Vehicle Restrictions
A handful of states have laws restricting scanner use in vehicles. These laws are rarely enforced but worth knowing about:
States With Vehicle Restrictions
- Florida — Illegal to use scanner to aid crime; permit required for mobile use
- Indiana — Cannot use scanner during commission of a crime
- Kentucky — Illegal to use scanner to evade police
- Minnesota — Illegal to use scanner to aid crime
- New York — Illegal without permit in vehicles (rarely enforced)
In practice, these laws are almost never enforced against law-abiding citizens. They're typically used as additional charges against people already committing crimes.
States With No Restrictions
The vast majority of states—including California, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Georgia—have no restrictions on police scanner ownership or use.
You can own, use, and carry a scanner anywhere without any permit or registration.
The Catch: Legal But Impossible
Encryption: The Real Barrier
Here's the frustrating reality: while listening to police scanners is legal, more and more departments are encrypting their communications—making it physically impossible to listen.
The police have found a way to eliminate public monitoring without changing the law. Instead of making scanners illegal (which would face legal challenges), they've made scanners useless by encrypting transmissions.
Why Police Are Encrypting (And Why It Matters)
What They Claim
- "Officer safety" — Criminals use scanners to ambush police
- "Victim privacy" — Sensitive info goes over radio
- "Operational security" — Investigations compromised
What Evidence Shows
- Zero documented cases of scanner-related officer harm
- Hybrid systems exist — Privacy without blanket encryption
- Post-2020 surge — Encryption accelerated after protests exposed misconduct
- Accountability threat — Real motivation is controlling the narrative
The truth is that encryption eliminates one of the last tools for independent oversight of police. When scanners go dark, the only version of events you hear is the one police choose to release.
Read the full evidence →Your Rights—And How to Protect Them
You Have the Right to Know What Police Are Doing
Police work for the public. Their activities—with narrow exceptions for sensitive operations—should be transparent. For decades, scanner access provided that transparency.
Encryption removes this without any public input. In most cities, the decision to encrypt was made by police departments themselves, without city council votes or public hearings.
What You Can Do
- Find out if your department is encrypted — Check your local feeds
- Contact your city council — Demand transparency policies
- Request public records — Ask for evidence justifying encryption
- Support legislation — Back laws requiring hybrid systems or transparency
- Spread awareness — Most people don't know this is happening
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license for a police scanner?
No. Police scanners are legal to own and operate in all 50 states without any license or permit.
Can I use a scanner in my car?
In most states, yes. A few states have restrictions (see above), but even these are rarely enforced against law-abiding citizens.
Is it legal to record scanner audio?
Generally yes, for personal use. Many scanner streams on Broadcastify are recorded. Check local laws for broadcasting/republishing.
Can I listen to encrypted police channels?
No. Encrypted channels cannot be decoded legally, and no technology exists to break modern AES-256 encryption anyway.
Are scanner apps legal?
Yes. Apps like Broadcastify and Scanner Radio stream unencrypted public safety radio legally.
Why can't I find my local police on scanner apps?
Your department has likely encrypted. This means no one—not the app, not hobbyists—can monitor their communications anymore.
Take Action for Transparency
Your voice matters. Here are concrete ways to advocate for open police communications in your community.
Contact Your Representatives
Use our templates to email your local officials about police radio encryption policies.
Get StartedRead Case Studies
See how encryption has affected real communities - from Highland Park to Chicago.
View CasesSpread Awareness
Share evidence about police radio encryption with your network and community.
Public Testimony
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Prepare to Speak