Have to relate a story in order to help you avoid a similar incident in the future. While on a recent camping trip to Ray Roberts lake we decided to try out some 2 way radios we had bought at Cabelas as an early family Christmas present. After setting up camp we decided to experiment a little with the radios. Little did we know that a license was required for something called GMRS.
Anyhow, my wife and daughter were playing around with and communicating over the radios for about ten minutes when a Blackhawk helicopter came right over our camp at fairly high speed executing a sharp, steep turn, almost like a chandelle, and then proceeded to hover right adjacent to our camp. The rotor wash was somewhat fierce. I am thinking what is this, that's different?
Almost immediately after coming to a hover, six US Marshals in full assault gear and one FCC agent fast roped out of the Blackhawk to the ground and then yelled at us to drop the radios and put our hands over our heads. At this point my daughter is crying and our camping gear is being blown to kingdom come from the rotor wash.
After a couple of hours of intense questioning, the FCC agent told us that most likely we would receive an official warning for the first time although we could all be put in jail and receive hefty fines. They subsequently confiscated our radios to turn over to the US district attorney along with a recording of the communication. My wife and daughter's words will always stick in my mind when we reviewed their evidence:
"Hi mom"
"Hi Audrey"
"Can you hear me momma?"
"Yes I can hear you fine"
