So long, good buddy: CB radio calls waning

[Cybergal]

So long, good buddy: CB radio calls waning
Jan 22, 2007

CLEVELAND (AP) — The State Highway Patrol fields lots of calls — about 6,300 a day — but citizens-band radio contacts have dropped off the chart.
In 1985, the patrol received 83,974 calls on CB channel 9, which troopers monitor in their cruisers. In 2000, the calls dropped to 25,096. The patrol quit counting in 2001.
The popularity of CB radios peaked in the late 1970s, fueled by the Smokey and the Bandit movies and C.W. McCall’s song Convoy. Dennis Leonard Jr., owner of Litchfield Radio in Medina County, sold 800 to 1,000 CB radios a year from the mid-’70s to mid-’90s, he said, but now sells about 400 a year.

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[tfisher63]

I dont think the state patrol agencies even monitor channel 9 anymore in some areas. On several occasions I have tried to report drunk drivers on channel 9 and didnt get a response, with the trooper in sight. I guess a cell phone is the only way in some areas, if you have service.

[panhandlepat]

Originally Posted by tfisher63

I dont think the state patrol agencies even monitor channel 9 anymore in some areas. On several occasions I have tried to report drunk drivers on channel 9 and didnt get a response, with the trooper in sight. I guess a cell phone is the only way in some areas, if you have service.

yep, i used *FHP the other night to report a Jeep load of drunks.
funny thing is all 4 came in convenience (sp?) store behind me, talking loudly and tripping over each other. all the store employees said was "looks like they had too much to drink" i couldn't believe it! i came out of store JUST in time to get vehicle description and tag.

[YbeLegal]

more and More troopers do not have cb's in the cars any more, the cell phone is taking over

[danc694u]

It's a 2 way communicator.

If no one answers, your calls are going to go down.

What they are talking about, is the equivalent of them turning off 911 switchboard, then stating 2 years later it was useless, since nobody ever called.

[RickG]

There are just as many CB's out there but hopefully less good buddies . Of course CB reports to police are down . A cell phone is much more effective and everybody doesn't hear the report . Report a reckless truck driver on the C.B. and he'll hear it and straighten out . Report it on a cell phone and he may get nabbed .

[squirrellsgnwild]

Originally Posted by RickG

There are just as many CB's out there but hopefully less good buddies . Of course CB reports to police are down . A cell phone is much more effective and everybody doesn't hear the report . Report a reckless truck driver on the C.B. and he'll hear it and straighten out . Report it on a cell phone and he may get nabbed .

So what if he hears it. As long as he doesnt do anything stupid after that to endanger anyone then im all for using the cb.

[CANGST]

I have tried Chan 9 on numerous occasions and never got a response. Somtimes you go through towns and they have a sign that says they monitor 9. I have noticed more and more CHP in California have CB's though.

[woofless]

Heck....we were IN CLEVELAND the other day, the very town this article refers to....and my husband tried to use Channel 9 to alert a police officer to a lady driving erratically that nearly caused us and several others to wreck.

No answer....but about a mile later we saw one State Patrol cruiser going the other way, and one sitting in the median about 3 miles later. Both times, my husband tried to raise the officer on both channel 9 and 19, with no luck.

Like others, I've also tried in other areas, on a whim, if I saw a drunk driver or some other unsafe situation & didn't know that state's *HP code. Never have gotten a reply.

[RickG]

There are signs on Ohio highways saying call 1-877- 7PATROL to contact state police . [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.