[In response to Tuesday’s TLS article about the emergency radio interference] “The Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch fully supports and applauds the actions of Lakewood Police in regards to the interference of children with radio frequencies.
This behavior has been an ongoing problem. We believe that the issue is simply one of a lack of education and awareness regarding the damage that this behavior results in. Parents are unaware that by providing their children with this equipment, the children are preventing emergency personnel from doing their jobs properly.
By interfering with emergency frequencies, the children are tying up the air waves, preventing dispatchers from getting messages out, and preventing volunteers from staying in tune with what’s going on within the organization.
In addition, parents do not realize that their own children are put in harm’s way by tracking the news they’ve heard on the radio and following it to potentially dangerous situations, such as where criminals are on the loose.
We thank the Lakewood Police Department for always supporting the local volunteer organizations.” [TLS]
I appreciate this information. What types of radios interfere?
I support the idea but to come out and ban them completely is not realistic.
Why don’t you tell us which radios are no good and then parents can adjust but to say that all radios should be banned is not a reality!
Almost and radio can be programed if you know how to.
Who cares
Steve,
When your house is burning down or some one needs medical attention and the first responders can’t get there then you may care.
Although toy radios bought in a toy store cannot be modified for hatzalah frequencies, cheap Chinese HAM radios available online can. But, those radios require an FCC ham radio operators license. Transmitting on one without a license actually is a federal offense and can carry serious fines and even jail. Just look at the enforcement page on the FCC website. Its filled with people that had to pay thousands in fines. One egregious offence carries a $10,000 per day fine!!
From what I heard it wasn’t kid radios it was a scanner
Can some one explain why they are making a big fuss about kids using radios, And have no problem with the Twitter accounts sending out every Hatzolah call and sending out emergency Calls to 1000s of people. Why isn’t this stopped? It’s a breach in privacy! What do you expect from kids they also want to know what’s going on, so they have the radios, if parents would not be following every single call, then children would also know that they do not have to follow every call, You can’t expect to tell children that the emergency frequencies are dedicated for emergency responders only, when every emergency is public knowledge. stop all the twitter account and apps to be able to hear all the calls if u want to stop the kids.
There is a way of dealing with such issues. Using force was the wrong way to go. Barging into a synagogue without a warrant, pushing children and accusing the innocent is not something that should be applauded. An apology would be more befitting!
You are absolutely correct that using force with the kids was not the way to go. It’s the parents (like you) that should get good petch!
Not sure why no one has pointed out the other dangers of such radios. Since your child can communicate with anyone on the same frequency you don’t actually who they are in contact with which leaves them open to predators
it’s totally messed up every Single child in Lakewoodlistening to you channel