This should concern ALL CB operators

There is a LOT of confusion when it comes to the FCC's authority in the USA. Some of us in the CB community think that an FCC agent cannot inspect your CB station without a search warrant. The truth is, they have the authority to inspect ANY station---even if it is a garage door transmitter that is causing interference to other devices and, in particular, LICENSED stations. It is NOT a search of the premises in toto they are after, but the STATION itself. ALL stations, CB, Ham, TV, Cable, Satellite----any station MUST make their station available for inspection. Period. True---you CAN refuse to allow the agent IN, but he will then issue you a Notice of Apparent Liability for the REFUSAL to permit the inspection itself. Average fine? $7,000! Chances ARE, you'd have been better off to simply let the guy in. If you refuse ANY inspection of your station, you are likely p###ing the guy off and he will just pop you with the big fine. This also applies to YOUR truck as well!

This is what happened to THIS misguided fellow:

ENFORCEMENT: CALIFORNIA CB’er ISSUED $7000 NAL FOR REFUSING FCC STATION INSPECTION

A California CB’er operator has been issued a $7000 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture. In its March 10th release the FCC says that that Ira Jones who they identify as the owner and operator of a Citizens Band radio station in the city of Merced, apparently willfully and repeatedly violated section 303(n) of the Communications Act and section 95.426(a) of the Commission's rules by failing to permit inspection of the CB radio station. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the details:

--

The story on this one began on March 19, 2010, agents from the Enforcement Bureau's San Francisco Office responded to a complaint regarding interference within the radio communication system equipment of the Merced County Fire Department. The agents observed that transmissions by a CB radio station on 27.165 MHz appeared to match the audio distortion received on the fire departments frequency of 154.4 MHz. The agents then monitored the transmissions on frequency 27.165 MHz and used radio direction finding techniques to locate the source of the signal associated with the interference to a CB radio station operating from Ira Jones's residence in Merced.

On March 26, 2010, agents from the San Francisco Office again monitored 27.165 MHz and used radio direction finding techniques to locate the source of the signal creating the audio rectification interference to a CB radio station operating from Jones's residence in Merced, California. Later the same day, the agents approached Jones's residence and attempted to conduct a station inspection. At that time they were denied access to Jones home and his C-B radio gear. The same thing happened when the agents accompanied by Merced Police officers attempted a station inspection on August 27th.

And it did not end there. On September 1, 2010, the San Francisco FCC Office received another complaint from the Merced County Fire Department stating that Jones had resumed CB radio station operation at approximately 5:30 p.m.. Also that the interference within the Merced County Fire Department radio communication system equipment had also resumed. Now, almost a year after receiving its first complaint from the Merced Fire Department the FCC has issued Jones the $7000 Notice of Apparent Liability to Monetary Forfeiture. He was also warned that operation of his CB radio station with more power than authorized under the Part 95 rules could result in additional sanctions and monetary forfeitures.

--

Jones was given the customary 30 days to pay or to file an appeal. The FCC release did not say whether or not the Merced Fire Department is still receiving the alleged interference from Jones C-B station operation. (FCC)


Source: FCC Enforcement page