On Monday, Jan. 23, a police officer with the Southeast District Traffic Unit seized a radio jammer and a Beretta Semi Automatic pistol during a traffic stop on Highway 5 near McLure. The vehicle was initially stopped for speeding. During interaction with the driver the officer noted several indicators that caused him to enter into an investigation under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. A police service dog was deployed and subsequent to that the driver was arrested.
A search incidental to arrest located a radio-jamming device in the center console. Behind a panel near the gas pedal a semiautomatic Berretta handgun with an unloaded magazine was found. A small quantity of marijuana was also located.
The 30-year-old driver from Surrey faces a number of charges including possession of a jamming device and firearms related offences. He will appear in Kamloops court April 23.
Radio jammers are unlicensed transmitters set to around the same frequency as GPS signals and/or cell phone signals. They're designed to transmit random signals with sufficient power to overwhelm and disrupt GPS trackers and/or cell phones. That would be enough of a nuisance but since these transmitters are deliberately designed to create havoc, they often go beyond the targeted frequencies and end up shutting down communications for emergency services, wi-fi networks and wireless devices.
The importation, manufacturing, distribution, offering for sale, sale, possession and use of jamming devices in Canada are prohibited under sections 4, 9 and 10 of the Radiocommunication Act.