Question:
How do you legally stop someone from using an illegal CB radio next door?
2009-11-05 20:22:22 UTC
This CB can be heard through home land line telephone, on my T.V. speakers, on my computer speakers, and even on the speakers of my alarm clock radios. It is an invasion of my privacy, not to mention illegal for him to be pushing that kind of wattage for CB radio transmissions. His signal freezes up my mouse and keyboard on my computer. Being a professional photographer, I have a photo web site that I post my pictures on. When I am trying to upload and my mouse repeatedly freezes, this is debilitating to my job performance. I have confronted him at his front door on five, yes five, different ocassions telling him of the problem and he just laughs and says okay I'll turn it off. But that is only momentarily. Then he is right back on it. This even interferes with my floor lamp powered by a touch control. It turns the lamp on low, then medium, then high, then off. Then starts all over again. This has become a very serious problem for me. I do not wish to physically assault this person out of fear that I might hurt him very, very badly. I would like to follow the proper legal channels, however so far the phone calls I have made, only allow me to leave a message, to which none have ever been returned. If anyone has any solutions and or suggestions to my problem, I would really appreciate your input.
Six answers:
2009-11-08 13:18:40 UTC
you have a couple options here.



1) call the FCC ad file a complaint - 1-800-call-fcc



2) go to the FCC web site - www.fcc.gov



3) contact your local police, the FCC gave the local authorities power to enforce some CB rules.



Touch lams should be made illegal! They are a royal pain in the butt for everyone, they are spectrum polluters.



Fight fire with fire. You can buy, or even receive a CB for free, add an antenna and a power source. You may not over power him, but you can guarantee that he will not receive anything except you.



Being a pro photographer, use your web site, take photos of him being an ***, post them on your web site.
Wise0ldMan
2009-11-05 23:59:38 UTC
Hi David.



Your problem is not uncommon.



With a situation like this it should be understood and dealt with properly., and of course legally.



First off , there are laws that protect the rights of people using radio transmitters. (YOU cant tell him to stop using it)

There are also laws and rights to those that wish to use radio and TV receivers.

You have to be careful that whatever you do it doesn't violate another persons legal rights , or it may be you that winds up before the judge.



CB radio operators operate legally under a class law.

The class law is their radio license.

To comply with their licenses obligations they must however comply with certain conditions.



One of these is output power levels.

For CB radio these power levels are quite low , and with normal use , CBs can be used with minimal or no interference problems to the neighbors.

Another licensing condition is that radios CANNOT be altered or modified in anyway.



Often though CB'rs adjust their radios for more power , and then use an external add-on amplifier.

As CBrs are not educated in radio electronics practice they are unaware that their adjustments don't make a lot of power , but instead causes huge interference problems.



These things are most definitely illegal , and in fact , it is a federal offense.



CBrs don't seem to respect the law though and the FCC receives thousands of complaints over CB interference every year.



While making a complaint to the FCC (if you reside in the USA) is one avenue you can take , you can always go the civil route through the courts if you can prove loss of income.



You must remember though that he is your neighbor and after all this you will still be living next to him.



Personally , I would first send him a registered letter (which he must sign for) written respectfully stating clearly the problem , its impact on your job and life, and request that he cleans up his transmitted signal so that the interference stops.



If nothing happens after a month , send another letter asking for action , being sure not to tell him top stop using the radio.

Remember to add that it is the interference that you want stopped, not him using his radio.





When there is still no action after another month you can write again saying that if the interference isn't ended after another month that the FCC will have to be notified.



If the FCC investigator does come , you can show copies of the letters which show that you have tried to resolve the problem.

This will go against the CBer even more and prove a deliberate intent to continue violating the law.



This being the case , radio equipment seizure is likely to happen , a substantial fine (usually between $1500 - $6000) will be incurred to the CBer and a record will be placed on his permanent police record.
TV guy
2009-11-05 21:57:04 UTC
Did you complain to the FCC?



http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm



The last option is

*Tower Light Outages and Signal Interference



You can also try the police. Any radio interference is considered illegal.
coronet_rt_1969
2016-06-14 18:18:11 UTC
Well what happened?
Copenhagen ring
2009-11-09 14:27:33 UTC
i got a solution deal with it. i listen to a guy pushing over a 1kw talk on there and badmouth truck drivers. i deal with it. however if he ever grew the balls to tell me his 20 i'd beat him. but deal with it. other people do. he's fried 2 or 3 peoples raido's to my knowledge 2 but do they call the fcc no they deal with it. so just quit complaining and deal with it.
2009-11-05 21:54:41 UTC
report him to the FCC at http://www.fcc.gov/ and tell them. they can have it shutdown very quickly.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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