New York City Administrative Code
Title 10 - PUBLIC SAFETY

§ 10-102  Permit for equipping automobiles with radio receiving sets capable of receiving signals on frequencies allocated for police use; fee.

a. It shall be unlawful for any person to equip an automobile with a radio receiving set capable of receiving signals on the frequencies allocated for police use, or use or possess an automobile so equipped, without a permit issued by the police commissioner, in his or her discretion, and in accordance with such regulations as the commissioner may prescribe. Such permit shall expire one year from the date of issuance thereof, unless sooner revoked by the commissioner, and shall not be transferred from the vehicle in which it was installed at the time the license was issued. The annual fee shall be twenty-five dollars for each automobile so equipped. A permit may be renewed upon the payment of a like sum and under like conditions.
b. The police commissioner is authorized, in his or her discretion, to issue permits for radio receiving sets capable of receiving signals on the frequencies allocated to police use to employees of federal, state and municipal bureaus and departments without requiring the payment of the annual fee herein provided.
c. Violations. Any person who shall violate any provision of this section, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars, or imprisonment for thirty days, or both.

§ 10-103 Use of devices to decode coded police transmission via radio or television prohibited.

a. It shall be unlawful in the city of New York for any person to unscramble or decode or possess or use any instrument or article capable of unscrambling or decoding, scrambled or coded police broadcasts by radio or television, unless such person is duly authorized to do so by permit issued by the police commissioner of the city of New York.
b. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.