Originally Posted by turbonium

Radio stations that had news departments had police radio receivers in their newsrooms, and the stations were putting out every major breaking story that day as soon as they heard the transmissions over the police scanners. People all over town were listening to these commercial radio broadcasts, and the newsmen were passing along new police information as soon as they heard it over their police radios.

This is incorrect, and also has long been illegal. It is prohibited through federal and state laws. Section 705 of the Communications Act of 1934, since revised but retaining this law, addressed the issue. Interception of certain private, or non-public electronic communications (such as police scanners) is permitted, but not public disclosure of private, non-public electronic communications (such as police scanners).