$3000 Fine for Refusing Radio Inspection 

It really doesn't matter if you have a ham license or any other kind of license, if you are operating a transmitter that is causing interference you can expect a knock on the door, depending upon the service. When you operate a CB radio, you must operate within the rules whether there is a license or not. For example, Part 15 operations of the FCC rules allow you to operate an AM or FM broadcast transmitter at a half a watt. When you boast the power to 10 or 20 watts, you are in violation. You don't have to let them in, but a fine will be likely. They don't just show up, they have to listen, measure BW, power etc. they aren't guessing at it. You can complain to the FCC, record and transcribe what you hear, the FCC to see it for themselves. In the broadcast business, they can stop by during normal business hours, and normal business hours are when the station is on the air. They never show up at night and it is unlikely they will kick the door down. FCC people are engineers. If you don't cause interference, you won't hear from them. The FCC today is concerned with wireless.

I love the face I get from the power company when I tell them they have a short in their lines because it only pops when it rains, and I can hear it on my radio.

I cannot believe the number of people who forget that when you tick the box which says ' I have read and agree to obey the rules' ... that includes things like the Commissioner can order an inspection. So many naive people think a judge is going to protect them from obeying the rules. LOL

In the U.K. they can come and ask to inspect radio equipment but I don't know about fining for refusal. I guess a warrant needed to enter the house to get the equipment. C.B.'ers (mainly) have been taken to court and fined and equipment confiscated for causing interference but usually running illegal high power. Not so much of this now, it was in the 1980's boom of C.B. when they all thought they were professional radio operators overnight. I remember in a pub some guy saying, "You're only an amateur, he's a C.B.'er". I couldn't be bothered replying. G4GHB.

The FCC was there because someone complained about some sort of interference. And it had to be ongoing. They don't just show up. (I used to do stuff like that.).

Most of the CB radios today are ILLEGAL ...You need to follow the law.

They need to visit the guy jamming up channel 19 all over the country.

Without additional information I'm not going to feel bad for this guy because I know how hard it is to get the FCC to do anything. We had a guy threatening lives, cussing, purposely causing interference, and yelling racial slurs for well over a year. Hours of recordings sent to the FCC along with his name and address. He even started looking people up and driving by their homes. He would honk and describe the cars in their driveway over the radio. One of his primary targets was a blind man. Yet the FCC did practically nothing accept suggest the rest of us stop using our local GMRS repeater. If that guy hadn't died he would still be terrorizing people.

Every other entity of the government requires a warrant the FCC should have one also. Go to a judge and show them why the need it.

It could also be that perhaps in conjunction with if he had an illegal CB or modified or whatever that he may have also been concerned that whatever the agents see in his house can be referred to other agencies. Such as "well hello ATF Yes our agents were in this guy's house (he voluntarily let us in) and we happened to see (whatever) and we just wanted to let you know." Then the FCC guy swears out a statement that he saw XYZ in the house and another three letter agency comes knocking. This seems like what a lot of people could be worried about in some cases. I think we all know once someone gives an inch a three-letter agency takes a mile. There's enough news stories out there about that.

Utilities can access the easement to inspect power lines, transformers, etc. But not inside the house. If they knock on MY door, I will politely ask for a warrant. Then call a lawyer.

I had fcc come to my house because cable company was interfering with my TV antenna and cable company spent $50K to clear up my TV picture. Thx FCC !

Never answer or open the door..

These typically are issues where something is potentially creating an emergency issue, such as interfering with airbands, emergency comms, etc. While a warrant is normally required for search and seizure, if there are exigent circumstances, it is not. I cant say I really understand the "come back with a warrant" talk. If someone comes to my house and says, "you may accidentally be causing a safety issue with your equipment," I dont see why I wouldn't want the help. They arent there on criminal manners, and, to some degree, if they had intent to be there for criminal matters, nothing would likely be inadmissable due to the false pretense. Why not just be helpful, upstanding citizens working to prevent a potential emergency rather than be antagonistic and assume they are there to do harm? You have a right to not be helpful, but you also have a responsibility to not be harmful too.

Don't answer your door if you dont know who it is. They cant fine you for refusing if you never have the chance to refuse because you never talk to them.

This brings my memories back to our late Norfolk, VA, FCC Engineer-in-Charge, Jerry Freeman W4JJ. Ask any 20th-century ham who lives here to tell you a W4JJ story. At Field Days, when he often appeared, every ham, on seeing him, instinctively reached in their wallets to make sure their license was there. Or the time he took care of a CB amplifier being sold at a ham fest. Government overreach? Nope. I liken it to required state car inspections. Try to tell a VA State Trooper that a car inspection is government overreach. If a person doesn't agree with what the FCC is doing, don't transmit. Just sit and listen.

CB (as well as FRS and MURS) are "Licensed by Rule" and still fall under FCC rules. Also, the reason why the 4th Amendment does not apply here is that the inspection is a REQUEST, not a demand, failure to allow it does not allow them to enter without a warrant and the fine is based on violation of the license, even for CB. The FCC has obtained warrants for searches, and those are usually served by a US Marshall.

The FCC can do whatever they want. They can even refuse to issue you a ham radio license. Thats what they did to me. My extra class license has been five years in the waiting now. Every time I check, it still says Pending.

Jason The FCC will still enforce there R&R on Part 95. Amateur Radio Operator who operated on CB. Must still follow R&R on Part 95. Or any other Part that listed under CFR 47.

Ok, I’m interested in the RFinder android phone, but no one is actually reviewing the PHONE itself! I’m a truck driver who is really interested in the M6, but don’t know if all of my apps will work with it? Please review the phone part itself!

What about if Comcast calls and says your 1500 w FT8 transmissions are messing up your whole block's cable TV and internet upload rates? ;-) Not that this has ever happened to me.

They rarely bother Ham Radio Operators..So if your a CB operator, just go and get your Ham License and they will leave you alone..Unless your interferring with emergency services.

I'm just now seeing this report. We'll turns out I'm here in jax fla too and I've spoken with Tommy and he's a good guy.

Our shack is in our back yard, so are our 2 Cane Corso dogs who live in our shack

Do they have to come in to the home? Can you bring the equipment to them at your door pice by pice, and let them inspect it there? A warrant to come in your house is a different legal matter all together than a request to inspect equipment.

If you're fined for not obliging the request then it is not a request.

I wish that would happen here in Adelaide, South Australia. We have UHF CB 80ch narrow band 476MHz we have a couple of repeaters and we have some of the most unintelligent people on the band. It's an absolute disgrace. I'm convinced that there are no radio inspectors around any more. It's so bad that I have that channel deleted in my radio.. Anyhow thanks for your video.. 73's

What if you have an illegal C.B. radio or amplifier that is on a shelf or on the desk but not connected in line ...just sitting there, for show.. can they gotcha for that?😅

Sounds like he had a massive amp bleeding over and followed the signal. When I drove truck if someone was running a 10 pill every now and then you’d see the FCC van show up with the antenna trying to locate them at the truckstops in big cities.

What if you don't have a CB station, and they just want to have a look around?

We sign an agreement on the license to the inspection. I don't agree with it, but the other option is to surrender my license. (and privileges thereunto.) A warrant should be required, but there are far more important things Congress needs to tend to, and consistently drop the ball. Start electing Congress critters that have read, and believe in, the U.S. Constitution. Most at this point see it as an obstruction, rather than the rule.

Plus, no where in the Part 97, does it state that it is a "hobby". Public Service and the radio science...

Have heard one dude had TV antenna with faulty amplifier and it made noise on many bands. Here where I'm located are so many horse and cow pastures there are clicks on all bands. At least 7 generators in few kilometers. Some have generator per horse cubicle and many are empty with wires sparking on ground. I'm at fault myself too

Look up coast guard “safety inspections”

License or not, if you operate the equipment, you are are bound by FCC rules. They have the right to inspect your equipment if asked so the fine was correct. They do not however, have the right to enter and look through anything else without a warrant.

He probably did have a doctor's appointment to get to, given that he was 80 years old then, and passed away last year.

They’ve been known to sit at truck stops also

My opinion is if they really want to see your equipment they likely have plenty of evidence you got something happening in your home which is probable cause for a warrant. What is to stop them from getting inside peoples homes without a warrant and reporting what you have to another agency? Probably nothing and it would probably hold up in court. That is a problem.

I would want to see a warrant. There have been stories about a fed coming in to check on one thing....and then they take note of virtually anything and pass on their notes. What if you went to J6 Rally and had BofA hand over your info with no warrant...Like "Yes Sir, here is everything on my customer, no warrant necessary!". I could see how someone like that would be sus of letting some fed in w/o a warrant. It is more about preserving our rights as much as we can, not because I fear that I have something illegal in my house, and more out of putting pressure back on the federal government to get judges to review these requests so that it does not become an all encompassing beast to be weaponized in the future. I think this guy took one for the team. Now would I...probably not. I guess I could handle that nasty fine but ouch!. Do you lose your license? That may be be part of the consideration. So maybe I am too much of a chicken lil' to refuse the FCC inspection but it does not mean I am gonna knock someone that does. So to clarify, I think they should have a warrant and no fine if you are compliant obviously. Personally, I don't care about the CB guy running their 4 pill kicker anyway....at this point we should be happy that people have any interest in RF since we are all on the internet most of the time.

That's why you don't answer the door😂... or you get a doorbell with the camera that way you can talk to them through there and say that you're not home and to come back at a later date that you can set over the camera.... "in theory" 😂.... general rule of thumb is don't break the law and stop doing stupid s*** that's not worth getting in trouble for

Its a CB operator and the FCC is at their location....They were 1000% defiantly broadcasting way over max power.

In California when are they going to crack down on 147.435 repeater user for saying the F word fighting on the Radio

I bet that guy was talking on channel 19 and blasting guys in British columbia.

Article is from 2015, but the points are valid.

If there is evidence that the radio operator is in fact operating illegally, then a warrant should be obtained for a mandatory inspection/investigation. Of course any one, even government agents can request access to private property, but that request can be denied. Fining in every fact is something that can happen, as any agency can fine anyone for any violation, but they must prove that a violation has in fact taken place. For me, this would go to court. The necessary proof for a warrant can easily be obtained by radio direction finding and signal level meters. So, to the FCC agent, get a warrant!

Quick bing search - 95.426 has been upheld many many many times in court. I think its similar to using public roads - you're using public airways the airway police have the right to pull you over. They were acting based on interference complaints. In 2004 he was fined for using a non type certified transmitter on 11m (probably a ham radio modded to do 11m). If you look at DA 14-1213 - which is what this article's nal is based on they acted previously on an interference complaint where his transmissions were messing with his neighbor's electronics - 4 watt transmitter isn't going to do that. The guy had a rap sheet. Anyhow Tommy Salter passed away in Aug 2 2023 so I guess moot point now.

I feel that this action without just cause is dead wrong and a federal judge should take this search ability away from the FCC. This could have been from a disagreement with another CB radio operator that put in a bogus complaint to harass this guy that was attempting to stand his ground. for the right he thought he had and maybe should have!

Dont transmit with sloppy gear that tears up the band or be a big jerk then you can do whatever with as much lighting as you can afford. just run clean and tight and you can have more fun on 11 meter than any other band. 💜😎👍🏼

Yea no. Blister pack radios do not say this. They say this radio will not cause harmful interference and must accept harmful interference. The purchase of a product does not give the gov a license to enter private property. If this was actually a thing, don’t you think the ATF would have tried this tactic by now?

It’s a double edged sword. By law if they come knocking unannounced without warrant it is a violation of your 4th Amendment rights. Now having worked for a Class III firearms manufacturer who did not have regular business hours and primarily served law enforcement, his arrangement with the ATF was BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. This is due to the fact of not having set hours of operation. Now why can’t the FCC do the same, set up an appointment with individuals to inspect the station equipment? Now most intelligent individuals will set up a small shed ( money permitting) in the back yard and keep their radio gear out of the house, good move for reducing insurance rates since cables and antennas are not attached to the actual home. It also prevents some anal agents from allowing them to eyeball what’s in your home, there is always a chance they might be a Dudley Doright and report anything questionable to other government agencies. If you have the shack in the back, take them around the outside of the home and let them have a look at only your radio gear. Now logic would say when it’s not in use keep any questionable gear out of the shack and only use it when you intend to be on the air. Very simple and it would save you the headache of having to contend with idiots or God knows what.

I’m on the fence on this one!! Depends why they was there!! Was there complaints, interference, Now days with all the bad stuff going on would you let someone enter your home without a warrant or knowledge that they were truly FCC officials..

I understand not wanting to allow an alphabet agency in without a warrant. At the same time you agree to the terms of the rules just by operating. As fed up and frustrated as people can get, logically I would think the FCC did their due diligence and something was going on at his location, that was traced to his location and needed to be checked in on. This is CB, unlicensed so how else did they know where to go. It doesn't mean I agree with some of the rules and I sure the hell don't agree with showing up and "either show us or we'll fine you" but it is what it is and it's in the small print. That's my 2 cents for what it's worth. Given today's inflation my opinion isn't worth much. Then again I could be wrong.

If the law states they can inspect CB then thats the law, you fail to comply, then they fine you. It's like driving on a public road, you cant just tell the police to go away, just like on CB or any radio wave, you're using government owned air space. So by law as soon as you key up you forgo your previous rights. Where I find it stupid is that if you say buy a GMRS radio, you accept the terms, you buy a new Bearcat, the instructions will explain the rules. But say you buy a 30yo CB it's pluasibly acceptable that you wont know the rules which would likely give you favour in court. But if you have a linear the court can call in experts which would explain that an amp indicates they know what they're doing. But at the end of the day, It's illegal to have emissions emenating ftom your house that break the limits, so you want to play on the goverments air waves, expect to pay the fee or shut up and go home.

If you have nothing to hide, you've nothing to fear.

wow ! my radio does 4.1 watts im in trouble now. !

A Fun Fact is that the FCC can ask to review any device that transmits in your dwelling - Now, raise your hand if you have WiFi..... Hmmmmm

Can we create an arbitrary organization where....... we can walk into a restaurant and demand to see their records of purchases and expenses...... and demand they lower their costs to 10% over that for a meal...... or we fine them for price gouging?? Asking for a friend But it's kinda what they're doing......

Kinda off topic but I was threatned with a 10,000 $ fine by an undercover IRS agent if I refused to have my commercial truck diesel fuel tank inspected , 20,000 $ fine if off road fuel was detected.

My radios from China never came with paperwork that contained that information

I'm wondering what fine or penalty he would have received had he allowed them to inspect his station and been found to be out of compliance. The FCC must have thought he was doing something pretty bad to incur the original fine.

I understand in normal times what you’re saying, but look at executive order 10995. It was created under John F. Kennedy in 1962 and has since been updated and interpreted to allow for seizure of radio equipment. I think part of the EO purpose was to register equipment users and thus know where to go to get radio equipment. The same applies to stockpiled food or other resources the government needs for their use or the, (for the lack of a better term), greater good. * Executive Order 10995 allows the government to seize and control the communication media.

From 2015?

sounds like his mistake was answering the door.

Did they fine him for refusing to allow his equipment to be inspected? Or just issue him a fine for the infraction they were there to investigate. If they had inspected his equipment and found out something was defective causing the interference they would have probably just told him to fix the equipment. By refusing the inspection they were unable to determine that it was unintentional and hence issued the fine.

Why does the fcc go after small guys? Local fm radio station bleeds over onto every station am and fm. But thats fine. Freedom of speech where ever whenever. I understand we need some organization out there but seriously….

Not sure what teeth these things have, since it takes the treasury department involvement to collect as I understand it.

Even as a ham radio operator, following all the rules, I don’t personally think the FCC has the right to do this in the manner that they do it. I wouldn’t know how to fix it exactly, but there are definitely people that need to get busted out there. I shouldn’t be able to hear people in Florida on my cb radio mounted in my mechanics truck here in Alaska while I’m at work but I do every day that the bands are open in this solar cycle. And it’s not that they are just playing around with amplifiers, it’s just they don’t shut up and have no radio etiquette at all and take up the channels

There has to be more to this story…

The government should have no problem checking power-line transformers in any event as they are mounted on a right-of-way. The world's radio bands are no longer the wild-wild west. There are worldwide laws and regulations in place to allow the bands to be used reasonably effectively and reliably. They apply to those with CB's just as they apply to kids with pirate FM radio stations, and to hams. Whether you are using a radio service that requires a license or not, the laws and regulations still apply. In this case, by the time the FCC stops at your door to request to see your station, they KNOW that you have been running a transmitter, and probably know the transmitted power level within 10 or 15% as well as its harmonic content. They have seen an antenna in your yard, and they have triangulated the improper signal's exact location to that antenna. Any ham who has ever been on a Fox Hunt can do almost that much. And the ONLY reason they did all of that was because they had received multiple complaints from the guy's neighbors, local hams, or they'd received a couple of interference complaints from the local airport and pilots. The FCC has NEVER wandered up to a random house and asked to see the owner's radio station. Simply put, they make very sure they have legal evidence for 'probable cause' to examine a station. They probably even had a voice-print of the guy broadcasting before they knocked on his door. To be honest, the FCC goes pretty easy on people who break the RF laws in place in the USA. Read some of the court cases about it over the years and you'll find that with multiple written warnings, and requests to stop their interference and such the FCC seems to be acting more like parents with a troublesome 10 year-old than police enforcing the law. So by the time they get around to writing a $3,000 ticket you can be very certain the guy has been verbally abusive on air, was pushing a few thousand watts of distortion, ignored multiple written warnings, and has driven them to the end of their patience.

You want in, come back with a warrant

With the right lawyer you can also get out of that fine. I would not allow anyone on my property. And it will be up to them to get a warrant and then they would be in court proving I did something wrong. Don’t even allow the cops on your property. The game warden have the same process and claim they can come and inspect your deep freezer if they want. Why refuse? Because it’s your right. Doesn’t mean you are guilty and doesn’t prove you are guilty. I would get a lawyer.

HAY! Do you know about this "Pennsylvania Legislature Moves To Ban Ham Radio In Motor Vehicles". Not Good!

No we just want to look at your equipment is not a good reason. They are going to need to have a good reason. Why should we let them come in our house without good reason?

What happens if he dont pay? Also did he even have a ham license? He was on CB.

I’m not government fan at all, bar none, but I’ve read all the FCC rules even for GMRS and understand that you need to be ready for an FCC inspection. Hell it’s a technician’s license question. I feel this cat had something more than radio equipment he wanted to not have a government inspector to stumble across. Don’t be stupid y’all.

I wrote above what is required without a warrant I know this because it happened to me in 1987. I was using a stock Tram D201A and big stick antenna no linear or any noise toys. The FCC was based a town over in a Howard Johnson’s monitoring locals, some did run 1k linear and Moonraker antennas. They mistook me with someone down the road that was just a cb troublemaker (we all know them) They came to my home and demanded inside access and my dad a WW2 vet told them to go pound salt. He then called the local PD and had them escorted the property. 2 months later myself and 4 other people were ordered to appear in local court for get this, “International Interference”! To show dumb the FCC was the first question the judge asked was to me, “How old are you”? I replied, “I just turned 17” Then he asked, “how’s is your guardian”? I replied, “I have none”? He then turned to the two agents and asked why they brought a minor to court and they both looked at each other like the other was missing a head. The next words out of the judges mouth, “Case dismissed and you better hope his (me) parent don’t sue the FCC”! Never bothered any of us again and it’s unfortunate they didn’t get the asshole down the road but we don’t narc in NJ. Snitches get Stitches! Also a quick note you can own a 100,000watt linear if you want it’s just illegal to use it on the air. If your worried after use unplug and disconnect from antenna.

The government wanting free access to a person's home makes me very uncomfortable. I believe a person's home is their castle or sanctuary. To give that up for frivolous searches opens the door to all sorts of issues just from a legal perspective. If the FCC has documented proof, that an interfering signal is indeed emanating from that structure, they should uptain a search warrant, through the appropriate channels, and then approach the property owner, to request access. If the suspected equipment is then identified on-site, & in an operational state, the investigation takes a turn into levied fines. This has to be a step by step process, otherwise it's nothing more than pointing fingers & jumping to unsubstantiated claims.

Did Jason get a time machine or something? lol

This is all wrong. Thee fcc just runs a muck. They should be required to aquire a warrant , said warrant should be specific. I for one do not and will not allow anyone into my home without cuase . And a valid warrant.

Maybe he didn't have a station at all and saw no reason to allow them in?

actually as of either 2017 or 2018 anyone that SUES you for a unpaid debt, the JUDGEMENT no longer goes on your credit report :)

These facts apply to apply to all government overreaching alphabet agencies.

2:28 you left out "possible tomfoolery/stupidity"... 🙃

I am going to have to look into this further. What or who gives the FCC the ability to issue fines? If they did not have a warrant then the owner of the property is not compelled by law to allow access to anything, if any law enforcement agent believe that they had probable cause that required immediate access then they didn't have to ask. Lots of questions time to do work. 🙂

The FCC doesn't just stop by for a random inspection. If they come to your house, it's because you have been doing something you shouldn't and you've been doing it long enough to get a large number of complaints.

Whether you're a CB'er or a ham....run clean gear with clean audio and the FCC won't come knocking at the door in the first place. The number one cause of splatter is over modulation. Hams are just as guilty as CB'ers of doing it. Our rigs have an ALC meter for a reason...please use it. I can't tell you how many times I tune across ham signals with super hot audio blasting away just like channel 19....not only does it sound like crap, it buckshots up and down the band.

no cb license required was from the 90s not the 70s.

Emergency situations that might justify government agencies like the FCC to enter a home without a warrant are typically situations where there is an imminent threat to life, safety, or property. Some examples could include: Risk to life or safety: If there's reason to believe that someone inside the home is in immediate danger, such as in cases of a medical emergency, fire, or a crime in progress, authorities might enter without a warrant to render aid or prevent harm. Risk of destruction of evidence: If there's a genuine concern that evidence related to a serious crime might be destroyed imminently, law enforcement might enter to prevent the destruction of evidence. However, this is a narrow exception and is subject to strict scrutiny by the courts. Hot pursuit: If law enforcement is in hot pursuit of a suspect who enters a private residence, they may enter without a warrant to apprehend the suspect. Again, this is a narrow exception and typically requires that the pursuit be continuous and immediate.

$3000 is very low fine for FCC

Any agency requires a warrant

How did the FCC even know that this guy had a radio?

Not enough detail for an informed opinion from me

May he rest in peace. Tommie Salter died last year. Did he ever pay the fine? I highly doubt it. We do know that he was a passionate CBer and truck driver, and a leader of a local CB club. The FCC, just like the IRS, the DEA, the FBI, the CIA, the ATF, etc. are all part of the dangerous outreach of our authoritarian government gone awry. From what we know, poor Mr. Salter was just common folk having a good time running skip on the CB band, as thousands of people do all the time. We also do know that the poor fellow was in his 80s at the time of the FCCs attack on him. How wonderful the woke evil nation treats our elderly. Even our elderly politicians!!!!!!!

there's a difference between request and demand. voluntary and involuntarily. if it's voluntary, it's unenforceable hence the fine is null. if it's not, then they can fine. why would he refuse? simple, "Because F*ck you that's why". The 4th amendment applies to voluntary actions on BOTH sides. don't simp for the government. "give 'em an inch"...

Ofcom in the UK over the last couple of decades gradually de-regulated rules over the use of CB radio. Before 1981 ALL 27Mhz use was illegal PERIOD. At the end of 1981 a weird FM only @ 4 watts range was legalised. Now we can legally TX on the "standard" CB frequencies on AM and FM and SSB (ssb 12 watts) But we all use SSB in 11 metres at any power, on any equipment, and the authorities seem to turn a blind eye! In fact for those who may not know, 27.555 USB has become the international calling frequency. Every country on earth has it's own divisional number, which has created a "call sign" Im in Wales so mine is 163FB029. This practice seemingly is unregulated and free-use 27.555 USB.. Go have a listen.

No they need no Warrant to ask. The FCC doesn't do anyways near enough to stop illegal operations

Requires a warrant. A rule is not a law A" request " is not a law

This should be illegal. You only get to inspect if you have a warrant. The FCC needs to be sued and forced to give the money back. The FCC needs to be forced to go to court and get a warrant.

So you don't give up your 4th amendment rights when you get a ham license. You simply don't have any 4th amendment rights... that's comforting

Post visible no trespassing signs, trespass laws exist for a reason. If anyone decides they still feel the need to knock, place a sign on the front door that reads: "Door broken, please use window."