Police Scanner Laws in Minnesota (2026): Is It Legal?
Minnesota has minor restrictions on police scanner use — but scanners are still legal to own. Here's exactly what the law says, how it's enforced in practice, and what you need to know before using a scanner in Minnesota.
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The law in Minnesota
Minnesota has two relevant statutes. Minnesota Statute 609.856 makes it a crime, punishable by up to three years' imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine, to possess or use a radio capable of receiving or transmitting police signals while committing or attempting a felony or while fleeing police under section 609.487, with the device subject to forfeiture. Separately, Minnesota Statute 299C.37 prohibits equipping any motor vehicle with radio equipment capable of receiving police emergency frequencies except for peace officers, members of the State Patrol, FCC amateur radio license holders (who must carry the license in the vehicle and present it on request), public safety emergency personnel using agency equipment, and persons issued a nontransferable permit by the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on a showing of business necessity. Home use is unrestricted.
Enforcement reality
Add-on charge only. Prosecutors use this statute in addition to primary criminal charges, not as a standalone offense.
What this means in Minnesota
Minnesota restricts carrying a scanner in a vehicle, not owning or using one at home. Read the statute above rather than a general rule — not every restriction requires an underlying crime. Not legal advice.
Federal law applies in Minnesota as everywhere else: receiving unencrypted transmissions is always legal, while decrypting encrypted traffic, intercepting cellular calls and transmitting on public safety frequencies are federal crimes. What the ECPA actually says →
What you can monitor in Minnesota
With a police scanner in Minnesota, you can legally listen to any unencrypted public safety channel, including:
- Fire department dispatch and operations
- EMS and ambulance communications
- NOAA weather alerts and emergency broadcasts
- Unencrypted police channels (where available)
In practice, of the 1,484 talkgroups catalogued across Minnesota in our database, 1,178 are recorded as being in the clear and 280 as encrypted.
The radio systems most often recorded in Minnesota are Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER), Alpha-Ancom Connect Plus, US Bank Stadium, Xcel Energy Minnesota, Great River Energy.
Before buying a scanner, check whether your local agencies in Minnesota have encrypted their communications. If they have, your scanner won't be able to receive their transmissions regardless of legal status.
Check Minnesota agency encryption status →What's already encrypted in Minnesota
Scanner use being legal in Minnesota does not mean everything is listenable. Our database currently tracks 65 agencies in Minnesota that encrypt at least some radio traffic, across 40 counties. Of those, 7 encrypt all monitored channels rather than only a few.
The encryption most commonly recorded in Minnesota is P25 AES-256 (60 agencies), P25 DES-OFB (4 agencies), and P25 ADP (1 agency).
8 of these 65 records have been verified against RadioReference system data; the remainder are unverified and may be out of date. Encryption status changes without notice — confirm the current status of any specific agency on RadioReference before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to use a police scanner in Minnesota?
Yes, it is legal to own and use a police scanner in Minnesota. However, Minnesota has some restrictions: Vehicle-mounted police receivers restricted to ham licensees and BCA permit holders; crime-use separately prohibited. Add-on charge only. Prosecutors use this statute in addition to primary criminal charges, not as a standalone offense.
Can I use a scanner in my car in Minnesota?
You can use a police scanner in your vehicle in Minnesota with some conditions. Minnesota has two relevant statutes. Minnesota Statute 609.856 makes it a crime, punishable by up to three years' imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine, to possess or use a radio capable of receiving or transmitting police signals while committing or attempting a felony or while fleeing police under section 609.487, with the device subject to forfeiture. Separately, Minnesota Statute 299C.37 prohibits equipping any motor vehicle with radio equipment capable of receiving police emergency frequencies except for peace officers, members of the State Patrol, FCC amateur radio license holders (who must carry the license in the vehicle and present it on request), public safety emergency personnel using agency equipment, and persons issued a nontransferable permit by the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on a showing of business necessity. Home use is unrestricted.
What can I monitor with a scanner in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, you can legally monitor any unencrypted public safety frequency, including fire, EMS, weather alerts, and unencrypted police channels. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(g)(ii)(II)) makes monitoring readily accessible radio lawful. You cannot decrypt encrypted channels, intercept cellular calls, or use scanner information to commit a crime. Check our Minnesota agency database to see which local departments are encrypted.
Sources
- Minn. Stat. § 609.856 (official, Office of the Revisor of Statutes)
- Minn. Stat. § 299C.37 (official, Office of the Revisor of Statutes)
Statute citations verified 2026-08-01.
Legal disclaimer
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change, and local regulations may apply. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Last updated: 2026-09-28