Well, there’s plenty to report this issue on prosecutions, in fact there’s nine! So, let’s get on with it.
Halifax Taxi Operator Prosecuted
The Radiocommunications Agency successfully prosecuted a Halifax taxi operator for the unlicensed use of his radio system contrary to Section 1(1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 following his failure to pay the annual licence fee.
Mr. Chaudary Mohammed Saghir aged 53, proprietor of A1 Community Cars of Gibbet Street, Halifax, failed to pay his licence fee to the Radiocommunications Agency despite reminders. As a result his licence was revoked. Having confirmed that the radio system was still in use, Agency officers visited A1 Community Cars on 22 June 1999, seized the radio equipment and interviewed Mr. Saghir. Mr. Saghir then installed replacement equipment and this was seized by Agency officers on the 24 June 1999.
WETHERBY MAN PROSECUTED
The Radiocommunications Agency successfully prosecuted a Wetherby man for installing and using illegal CB radio equipment contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.
Peter McLean, aged 65, of Third Avenue, Wetherby, pleaded guilty to both charges when he appeared before Wetherby Magistrates' on 12 April. He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £300 costs. He was also ordered to forfeit all his equipment. After reports to the Radiocommunications Agency Licensing Centre of interference to local TV users, technical staff from the Radiocommunications Agency searched Mr McLean's home on 12 December 1999 and seized Mr McLean's CB set.
ROAD STOP PROSECUTIONS
Three men were prosecuted yesterday for having CB equipment available for use without a licence, following a road stop on the M4 at Swindon.
The road stop by Radiocommunications Agency officers in January this year found each of the men in possession of CB radios available for use without a licence. At their hearing at Swindon Magistrates Court yesterday they were each ordered to pay a £50 fine and £45 costs. All three pleaded guilty to the charge of having the equipment available for use and were each given credit for pleading guilty at the first available opportunity.
Among the offenders was Paul Cushing (41) of Welton Grove, Midsomer Norton near Bath. The other men were Peter Bromage of Milton Keynes and William Flynn of Newbury, Berkshire. The road stop took place at the Plough Hill Depot at Junction 15 of the M4 on 20January.
Stockton Taxi Driver in Court after CB Blitz
A taxi driver appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court today (March 16) following a joint campaign by Radiocommunications Agency officers, the local authority hackney carriage licensing officers and police.
The campaign was aimed at catching taxi drivers who were illegally using CB (Citizens Band) radios within Stockton-on-Tees last October. As a result, Paul Tooke (41) of Rostrevor Avenue, Stockton, was charged with using a CB radio without a licence, installing a CB radio without a licence and possessing a CB set which is illegal for use in the UK.
Tooke, who is now unemployed, pleaded guilty. He received a 12-month conditional discharge for each offence and ordered to forfeit the equipment.
SECOND TEESIDE TAXI DRIVER PROSECUTED
A second Teesside taxi driver has appeared in court for illegal possession of a CB (Citizens' Band) radio following a joint campaign by Radiocommunications Agency officers, local authority hackney carriage licensing officers and police.
Ahnzik Haider, aged 20, of Beaumont Road, North Ormesby, Teesside, appeared before Teesside Magistrates on April 20
He pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing a CB set which is illegal for use in the UK. A second charge of using a CB radio without a licence, which he denied, was dismissed.
He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £30 costs and to forfeit the CB radio equipment.
The case arose out of an operation last October when Radiocommunications Agency officers, local authority hackney carriage licensing officers and police targeted taxi ranks in the Stockton area.
When Mr. Haider failed to appear before Halifax Magistrate's Court on 21 January 2000 he was found guilty in his absence. He appeared in court on 25 February 2000 when he was fined £200 relating to the Wireless Telegraphy Act offences and a further £50 for failing to appear in court on 21 January. The court made an order for £250 costs to be paid and forfeiture of all seized equipment.
LEICESTERSHIRE MAN PROSECUTED FOR UNLICENSED USE
A Leicester man pleaded guilty to using illegal CB radio equipment that was so powerful, it had the capacity to send signals to Australia.
Phillip Alan Aspray, 36 of Bishopdale Road, Leicester, was fined £75 for not having a CB licence and £50 for using illegal equipment known as 'Superstar2000'. The prosecutions were brought by the Radiocommunications Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry.
In November 1999, Radiocommunications Agency officers monitored the defendant transmitting on a power in excess of that normally permitted and of a type that would not be possible using approved CB equipment.
Mr Asprey was visited on 17 November 1999 and openly admitted using illegal equipment and not having a CB licence. The equipment was ordered to be forfeit by the court. The court took account of the defendant’s financial situation when ordering the fines. Mr Barry Maxwell, Director for the Radiocommunications Agency said, "The CB radio service is designed to allow short-range radio communications by using approved equipment holding a licence. The equipment seized is banned in this country and can seriously interfere with other CB radio users."
Hampshire man CB prosecution. 25th May
Jarrod Lee Barry, 19, of Britten Way, Purbrook, Waterlooville, Hampshire, has been convicted of unlawfully transmitting on a CB radio waveband on two occasions over a five week period last year.
Portsmouth Magistrates Court (17 May) was told that neighbours of Mr Berry had complained that he had set up a CB station to transmit from his home address, using an unapproved aerial, telescopic mast, amplifier and power system.
Mr Berry admitted the offence using apparatus for wireless telegraphy without a licence and was given credit by the magistrates for an early guilty plea.
He was found guilty and fined £300 in total for the offences committed on 17 October and 26 November 1999. He was also ordered to pay £200.00 costs and forfeit his CB and associated equipment.
Following the complaints, the transmissions were traced to Mr Berry's home address. On 27 November, Radiocommunications Agency officers executed a search warrant at the address, interviewed Mr Berry and seized the equipment.
A couple from Somerset have been given conditional discharge sentence of two years after they were found in possession of and using illegal CB radios.
Terry Watts (61) and Pamela Watts (57) of Lower Meadow Road, Minehead, were found with three items of unlicensed equipment during a warranted search by Radiocommunications Agency officers in December 1999.
At Minehead Magistrates Court last Friday (26 May) Mr and Mrs Watts were each charged with use of the illegal equipment and having the items in their possession. They both pleaded guilty to all charges and were a conditional discharge of two years. They were also ordered to pay £50 costs. The court ordered forfeiture of two transceivers and a power unit.
The Radiocommunications Agency was alerted to the couple's illegal broadcasting following monitoring of transmissions.
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Although not a CB related case, it just goes to show that the R.A. will prosecute for bad language.
26 April 2000
Keith Jermey, 45, of Clicket End, Basildon, has been convicted of using offensive language while communicating across two southeast counties.
Basildon Magistrates Court (20 April) was told that, after many complaints about the use of offensive language over both the Kent and Essex amateur repeater stations, last August Radiocommunication Agency officers and two police officers entered the home of Keith Jermey and removed radio transmitting equipment.
Mr. Jermey, whose amateur radio call sign is G7WCM, denied the offence of using apparatus for wireless telegraphy, contrary to the conditions of his amateur radio licence. The Court found him guilty and fined him £75.00. He also denied using offensive language while transmitting, but the Court found him guilty and fined him £25.00. He was also ordered to pay £50.00 costs. The Radio Society of Great Britain lodged the original complaints against G7WCM.
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It just goes to show that the transmitting offensive language is not tolerated if a good case can be brought against the offender. Good monitoring practises along with good information can produce the effect that is needed to silence those that spoil the hobby for decent breakers. So if you have an ‘intolerable’ breaker in your area let us know, and we can help you to clean up CB in your area.