Walk It Through: The Scanner
Listening to help a crime or avoid arrest, the license on demand, and the notice to appear.
A driver who follows local news mounts a police scanner on the dashboard.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One car and one scanner. Federal radio law, local rules, and what the purpose of any particular listening was are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Driving under the influenceDriving under the influence of alcohol or any drug, or with 0.08 percent or more of alcohol in the blood. A first conviction carries not less than 96 hours in county jail.
- Notice to appearThe notice an officer writes for a Vehicle Code violation that is not a felony. Signing it is a written promise to appear, and once the driver signs, the officer releases the driver.