SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Legislation has been introduced in the Illinois legislature that would require law enforcement agencies that encrypt police scanner radio transmissions to give real time transmission access to certain media.
According to a news release from the Illinois Press Association, House Bill 4339 would amend the Public Records Act. Introduced by Illinois State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford (D-Chicago), the bill would require agencies to give police scanner access to FCC licensed broadcasters and accredited newspapers.
“I understand the desire to prevent members of the public from using real time police scanner information to commit crimes or to evade law enforcement,” Ford said. “However, the media has an obligation to report on events in a timely manner and its use of real time information from police scanners is essential. Blocking accredited media from real time access is counter to governmental transparency and does not lend itself to the original stated purpose of the encryption program.”
Encryption impacts the Quad Cities
In November of 2022, QC Area Public Safety Agencies began implementing the encrypted QC P-25 Radio System, removing public access to police scanner traffic to the public.
Dave Donovan, the director of the Scott Emergency Communications Center and Scott County Emergency Management Agency, told News 8 in November 2022 that the new encryption system was being implemented primarily to protect personally identifiable information and personal health information.
Quad Cities area law enforcement agency radio transmissions have been encrypted ever since. If the legislation passes, News 8 and other media will be able to listen to QC area police scanners again.
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