Police Radio
MCL 750.508 — barred after a felony in the last 5 years, and a crime of its own during a crime
Michigan's rule is MCL 750.508, and it turns on two things: a recent felony conviction, and a crime in progress.
A felony in the last 5 years bars carrying one. A person convicted of 1 or more felonies during the preceding 5 years shall not carry or possess a radio receiving set that will receive signals on a frequency the federal communications commission assigns for police or other law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency medical, corrections or homeland security purposes. A licensed amateur radio operator is excepted. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.
Separately, anyone carrying or possessing such a receiver in the commission or attempted commission of a crime commits an offense of its own. During a misdemeanor punishable by at least 93 days but less than 1 year, it is a misdemeanor of up to 1 year or $1,000.00, or both; during a crime punishable by 1 year or more, a felony of up to 2 years or $2,000.00, or both. It does not apply during a misdemeanor punishable by less than 93 days.
The section does not apply to the use of radar detectors.
This is the section, not an assessment. Whether a particular radio, vehicle or situation is one the section reaches, and whether some other law, a local rule or federal law also applies, are questions it does not answer. A licensed Michigan attorney is who answers them.
Sources for this section (1)
- MCL 750.508 — Police band radio receivers: recent felony convictions, and possession during a crime
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.