A government-designated emergency channel on the UHF Citizen Band Radio Service (CB) was blocked for two days during the recent severe weather and storms in the Cessnock area.
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Australian Citizens Radio Emergency Monitors (ACREM) chief commissioner Martin Howells says this could have potentially placed lives at risk during what could have been another episode of extreme weather in the region.
Mr Howells said a constant signal on UHF channel 5 (one of two channels legally designated by the Australian Government for emergency use only), likely from a CB radio locked on transmit caused interference to the channel in and around Cessnock on the weekend of June 4 and 5.
“It is possible the signal came from a car or 4WD with a radio installed, perhaps even a work vehicle, that was parked all weekend while the rain and storms hit the area,” Mr Howells said.
He said having the channels blocked during a time that threatened similar conditions to the severe storms of June, 2007, and April, 2015, was a real concern.
ACREM is a volunteer public benevolent institution whose primary role is the monitoring of the CB emergency channels.
During the 2007 and 2015 storms in the Hunter, the CB emergency channels were widely used as other means of communications failed.
Mr Howells said many people do not realise the CB bands are still governed by federal laws, or that these channels are designated for emergency use only.
Under the Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2015, UHF channels 5 and 35 are designated for emergency use, with heavy penalties for the misuse of these channels.
“While some people know about channel 5, most do not understand that channel 35 is also an emergency channel,” Mr Howells said.
All UHF radio equipment used in Australia, including licence-free hand-held radios, are regulated by the Class Licence and other federal legislation.
“We often have issues with children, families, truckies and even traffic controllers using one of these emergency channels, usually totally unaware they are not only breaking the law, but also placing lives at risk,” Mr Howells said.
The maximum penalty for the misuse of these channels can be up to two years prison or $165,000 fine. In September, 2015, an Adelaide man was sentenced to nine months prison, suspended to a two-year good behaviour bond, for harassment on the band.
