I recently acquired a scanner.  I’ve been running it quietly in the background while working.  It’s been really interesting to listen to what goes on during the day.  I’ve programmed it for the Northeast Tarrant County Trunked Radio System (Bedford, Euless, Colleyville, and Keller).  There have been two auto-pedestrian accidents just today and I heard calls for an overdose both yesterday and today.  I’m also picking up stuff from Ft. Worth (and even Arlington), but I haven’t programmed their trunk system in so I’m not getting their talk groups (i.e. I can’t tell which group is broadcasting).

One thing that I’ve confirmed is that cops always give their location and the license plate number when making a traffic stop.  I’ve always wondered at the idiots who run or who try to assault the cops.  Unless the car is stolen, the dispatcher already knows who the car belongs to, making it likely they know who was involved.  And with the dispatcher already knowing the make/model/license of the vehicle, escaping is pretty difficult.  I’m reminded of a great quote from Homicide (the book, not the TV show): Crime makes you stupid.