The Police and CB radio
It is best to stay on the right side of your local law enforcement.
Can I listen to police using a CB radio the same way I can using a police scanner?
Basically, I want to know if a CB radio is the same thing as a police scanner.
I know that channel 9 is the CB “emergency” channel, but is that the one the police talk over?
No, police radios operate on different frequencies than "Citizen Band" (CB) radios. Channel 9 was the CB "Emergency Channel" because it was the channel that police DISPATCHERS would MONITOR. With the proliferation of cell phones very few agencies monitor Ch 9.
- David
If you want to listen to the police and emergency services, you need to buy a radio scanner that is designed to pick up VHF and UHF channels that these agencies use in your local area.
However, if you are in your car and need to report traffic accident, then use your cell phone. It is your best bet by far. However, if you are out of cellphone range and only have a CB radio you can try putting out a call on Channel 9 and see if anyone answers you. Just say “This is with an emergency, Over.” Then listen for several seconds before trying again.
If nobody is monitoring, find a channel where people are talking and call “Break for emergency!” and listen. Try this several times, and remember that the guy who is talking won’t hear you, but his buddy that he is talking to MAY be able to hear you. IF you are lucky, he might give you the go-ahead to talk by saying something like: “Go ahead the breaker, Over”.
Speak slowly and clearly and tell them the nature of your emergency. Then wait and give them the other details, like WHERE it is exactly, how many vehicles and are there any injuries. Be prepared to wait until the emergency services get there. If you can help people at the scene, do so. But make sure YOU don’t get hit by the passing traffic.
The bottom line is that there are lots of idiots who think it is clever to make false calls for help, and the chances of anyone believing you are not that high. Be prepared to identify yourself properly, with your car license plate number and your driving license details, address and phone number if asked. This may convince them your call is genuine, and somebody MAY be prepared to call the cops for you. But again, you could be out of luck too. I wouldn’t rely on CB myself.
As for the police themselves using CB radio; there is no doubt that in some areas and out on the highways, some officers may tune to the CB frequencies to find out if motorists or truckers are warning others of the locations of speed traps and the like. So be careful what you say on the air.
You don’t want to be pulled over by an angry law officer for ruining his day, do you? If you’ve spoiled his day, what do you imagine he might do to your day!