Police scanners are receivers that tune multiple two-way radio channels used by police, fire, EMS and other organizations. Modern scanners support digital protocols (P25, DMR, NXDN) and trunking, and online aggregator sites and apps stream many feeds. Users range from hobbyists to journalists and volunteer responders. Because agencies increasingly use encryption and policy restrictions vary, availability of live audio depends on local practices and technology.

What a police scanner is

A police scanner is a radio receiver that can tune across many two-way radio channels used by public safety and other organizations. People call them "police" scanners because monitoring police dispatches is a common use, but scanners also pick up fire, emergency medical services, transportation, utilities, and business communications when those channels are unencrypted and on accessible frequencies.

How modern scanners differ from older models

Since the 1970s, scanner hardware has evolved from simple analog receivers to receivers that handle digital and trunked systems. Modern scanners can decode common public-safety protocols like APCO Project 25 (P25), DMR and NXDN, and can follow trunked radio talkgroups so a listener can reconstruct conversations that hop across frequencies.

Many agencies now use encryption for sensitive channels or move some communications onto systems that are difficult or impossible to monitor with consumer equipment. Laws and agency policies about listening to radio traffic vary by jurisdiction.

Who uses scanners and why

Hobbyists still enjoy listening to local dispatches, but practical users include: family members of responders, journalists, neighborhood-watch groups, volunteer disaster teams, and businesses that need situational awareness. Off-duty or volunteer responders sometimes monitor channels to stay informed. Criminals have occasionally used scanners, which is one reason agencies restrict or encrypt some communications.

Online streaming and mobile access

Scanner audio is also available online and through smartphone apps. Volunteer-run and commercial aggregator sites and apps collect feeds from local scanners and receiver sites, offering live and archived streams. This makes dispatcher audio accessible without owning physical receiver hardware, though availability depends on local laws and whether an agency encrypts its traffic.

Typical things you might hear

Scanners can give early notice of developing incidents when channels are unencrypted. Common types of activity heard on public-safety channels include:
  • Vehicle pursuits
  • Lockdowns and shelter-in-place notifications
  • Riots and crowd-control operations
  • Bomb threats and hazardous-material responses
  • Ongoing crime scenes and active incidents

Practical considerations

If you decide to monitor scanner traffic, check local laws and policies first. Use modern scanner hardware or reputable streaming services to access digital and trunked systems. Expect that as technology and privacy practices have evolved, not all local agency communications will be accessible.

FAQs about Police Radios

Are police scanner transmissions legal to listen to?
Legality varies by jurisdiction. Many places allow listening to unencrypted radio traffic, but some laws or policies restrict use or redistribution. Always check local regulations before monitoring or streaming scanner audio.
Can modern scanners receive digital and trunked systems?
Yes. Contemporary scanners and receiver apps support digital voice formats like P25, DMR and NXDN, and can follow trunked talkgroups so you can hear communications that hop across frequencies.
Why can't I hear some police channels anymore?
Many agencies have migrated to encrypted channels or systems that are not accessible with consumer scanners. Other reasons include use of proprietary digital systems, trunking complexity, or policies that block public streaming.
Do I need hardware to listen, or are there online options?
You can use dedicated scanner hardware or listen through online aggregator sites and mobile apps that stream feeds from volunteer or commercial receiver networks. Availability depends on local laws and whether agencies encrypt traffic.
What common incidents do people monitor with scanners?
Listeners often hear vehicle pursuits, lockdowns, riots or crowd-control responses, bomb and hazardous-material incidents, and live crime-scene or in-progress incident dispatches when those channels are unencrypted.