Newsgroups: ont.general
Path: utzoo!lsuc!tmsoft!mason
From: mason@tmsoft.uucp (Dave Mason)
Subject: Radio Reception Laws (was Re: Radar Detectors)
Message-ID: <1989May12.222759.17490@tmsoft.uucp>
Reply-To: mason@tmsoft.UUCP (Dave Mason)
Organization: TM Software Associates, Toronto
References: <852@mv03.ecf.toronto.edu> <9556@watcgl.waterloo.edu> <1989May8.152034.14415@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca>
Distribution: ont
Date: Fri, 12 May 89 22:27:59 GMT

In article <1989May8.152034.14415@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> sarathy@gpu.utcs.UUCP (Rajiv Sarathy) writes:
>Relevant laws?  The Radio Act (I think that's what it's called) says that all
>frequencies are the Queen's property, and she grants you free access to certain
>(radio, television, wireless telephone) frequencies only.  You must apply to
>receive ANY other frequency.  Thus ALL scanners (the ones which can receive
>police, ambulance, etc.) signals are illegal, as are radar detectors.  You must
>also apply for transmitting at ANY frequency (including radio and television).

I'm not a HAM operator (and I may be suffering from confusion between
US & Canadian law), but my understanding was that one is perfectly
within their rights to RECEIVE *any* radio transmission, as long as they
don't use it for personal or commercial gain (however THAT's defined :-),
or for criminal purposes (which would include speeding I presume).
All the government controls is the right to TRANSMIT radio frequencies.

../Dave