After stopping a Kentucky man for playing his radio too loud and discovering he had a warrant, Louisville police added charges when they found his smartphone had apps allowing him to monitor police radio transmissions. The police action is the first reported case of criminal charges for possessing a software application allowing access to police radio transmissions via the Internet. Police say Cory Todd, 20, was driving the vehicle without insurance, and the registration was in a different name. After arresting him on the warrant, police examined Todd’s smartphone and discovered three apps that he had downloaded. The apps wirelessly connect to central Internet servers, which in turn are linked to physical scanner radios throughout the U.S. that are scanning various public safety radio frequencies. Todd was cited under Section 432.570 KRS, making it unlawful to have in a vehicle, “any mobile radio set or apparatus capable of either receiving or transmitting radio or other messages or signals” used by law enforcement. Police did not say which specific applications were found on the handset, or if Todd was actually listening to a police channel at the time of the car stop. State and federal courts have not unanimously established if cellular phones are searchable without a warrant after an arrest, especially if the arrest is unrelated to possession or use of the phone.The iTunes Store offers several different versions of radio scanner apps (#1 / #2), priced from 99¢ to $2.99. At least one scanner app is free.
Besides law enforcement channels, the scanner apps also offer access to fire departments, railroads, NOAA weather stations, and air traffic control channels.
This screen of the 5-0 Pro Police Scanner iPhone app shows it monitoring a Los Angeles PD channel.
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