CB Radio Conversation Led to Trucker's Stabbing Death

People argue way to much over the stupidest stuff via the CB. I think they just get bored so they pick a verbal confrontation. It sucks that this one ended up being more than just verbal, and that one of the guys was picking on a little girl.

 

I bought an antenna off of ebay last month, for my CB.... just to tell some local loggers to turn off there freaking engine brakes. But I can't ever hear anyone. I think no one has their CB's on in Somerset anymore.

 

I can remember my first CB in 1976 I got for christmas, I was 7 years old, so that tells ya how things have changed, I can't even have it on if my kids are with me in the truck. But I can remember how things were back then, I loved it and people were so different than now, it lead to a lifelong love of radio and now I am a advanced class ham, oh yeah thoes freqs are on their way down the tubes too,, When I am on the road it is actually scary to hear some of the arguements that take place on 27.1850 people telling other people to pull over so they can beat and kill them it is insane, it has gotten to the point that i very rarely transmit, and I have some of the best equiptment money can buy,, but I only hit that button if I absolutely have too, The biggest reason is that I have a strong Boston accent (regionalism) most of my runs are down south or out west, and the minute I talk, the threats and insults start rolling in, no kidding, I know it isnt the nicest sounding accent but it is what it is, but You should hear what happens if I ask for directions or whatever, so the radios are kept on rx allmost all the time and what a shame. It really can be a useful tool for people but it is and continues to be ruined by many. Hmm sounds allot like trucking in general.

 

There has been a rash of these across the country. We are not looking very good right now. OBAMA '08!!!!

 

There are so many radio rambos out there talking crap over the air waves. A couple drivers got into it at the Flying Hook in Phoenix just a couple weeks ago over some dumb stuff on the radio. Everyday or so I do hear someone praying on the radio in the morning. I really like it because he always asks for protection and blessings on the drivers and their families, for good roads and that the drivers would be a blessing to someone else that day. It always makes me feel good inside. Unfortuneately sometimes it's followed by some idiot who wants to use profanity about the person doing the praying.

 

I'll tell you what I'm seeing here. In the 60's and 70's, you had to apply for an FCC license when you purchased a radio. If you wanted to buy a second radio later on, you had to show your license. Then on top of that, "uncle Charlie" (the FCC) would listen in and actually had patrol people that would go from town to town and on the roadways with tracking and scanning gear. If you were too high powered, you would get stopped and ticketed and your radio confiscated. A second offense meant jail time. If you cursed or threatened someone, there was a chance you could get nailed. If someone else saw you talking on the radio when something like that occurred, they could report you by an 800 number with your license plate number. At one time, if you had a radio in your car or truck, you were required to have a copy of your License and your call letters on the rear of the vehicle.

A friend of mine didn't have his numbers visable and was seen talking on the radio by an FCC guy. They ticketed him with a 200 dollar fine and confiscated his radio and license. He had to wait 6 months to re-apply for a license. A guy who lived down the street, was always talking on his base radio at home and causing interference with TV's and radios with his high powered linear. He got a visit from the FCC, in company of the local police with a warrant. His gear was confiscated and they arrested him. He had been warned before, but people kept complaining.
Then after things began to calm down in the 70's with CB's, they got laxed in the laws and no license was required, 10 codes went away, and so did the fear of Uncle Charlie and consequences. It went to crap and down hill from there.

 

I can remember as a little kid listening to my dad's radio when I was with him. I thought it was the neatest thing ever. Nowadays it sounds like there is no way a dad would let his little girl listen.

 

Right! like I said fi the kids get in the truck the radio goes off it is a must. the Fcc gave up on regulating the 11 meter band in 79 or 80 somewhere around there, they no longer patrolled it and licencing structure went away, when I got that radio in 76 I had to have my dad get a licence so we could transmit from the house, I remember the call sign.. Now I have a ham call but even thoes frequinecies are no longer patrolled by the fcc too much, there is allot of crap there too now,, it is a shame.