The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 74

Section Car (timrlotit (Dbsavtr for and about Garrison Feedback omen Sunday November 30 1975 Citizens Band Radio Zooms Off The harts 1 omen I Liveliest Talk Show In Theirhole USA Is Out On The Road By ELLEN SCARBOROUGH Observer Staff Writer LEAvi Kr YA AT THE NEXT EXIT sEE YA 0N THE BOUNCE AROUND STAY ON THE PEG AND MINE) THEM SMoKEYS Ek'J TEN FouR NIcE JAW JAckINI WITH YA GOOD BUDDY 14AVE A SAFE TR! NOW HEAR et" 'tA HOW 'BOUT A BREAK FROM -n-te WEsT5ouND la- wHEELER AT THE PoWER LINE? YA GOT '(ER EPtR5 ON? tt I'M KNOCKitl' ON YOUR BACK POOKGOOP BOPPY CoM ON 1 4 44jN-4 ii tb -wp rutqwws '0 6 -10e6A kNIt 43:: inre4M Observer Photo by JOHN DAIJOHTRY LEAviKi YA AT THE NExT NeN N- I EXIT seEYAoN THE TEN FouR NIcE JAvg HoW 1E5ouT A BREAK I'M KNoCKINs ON youlK E5ouNcE AgouND STAY ON THE PEG ANC) MINE) 113Acupkr)11iy: WHITAHv EYAA GsoA0F1)E FlagowMFIETEHLEERWESTAT 150TRUEND BACK DOOKGooP FAJPPY THEM SMoKEYS et TRH: NOW YIHEAR? A 41 tk '71 I POWER LINE? '(A GOT 'I cctmEioN yER EARS ON ifveN4 4 A -i ii A "tIN 41 '--4 i A AI 4 4 i I 1 1 a ll -I 41 Akif 'At 31 414 yfk 4 4A 8 4' 0qtt'O40 3' 0 1' 't' ::0 01 7: 3'''' rqf: '1': "1 tie 7 I f- 7' 7: f'''-'C' s': i 4 s- 'i ''s i 0' i'''- 7' --'z''' 4::::: -t is i I 1: 1 'S- io-'" -qIpooA ''s '44'''-'2 1 --v 'r' 7 i I -(s4 I RITI-Amire'ong- 4 2 I li- 77: 7 444f: ig PhotO by JOHN DAUGHTRY 4 ao I 40) I I 1 el 1 1 0 0 0 0 01 I 0 0 01 0 0 01 0 001 -b 0 or el 11 0 Si I 10' 01 1 I 01 0 01 0 et 0) 1 0 11 00 1 1001 0 01 0 1 01 0 loo 0 I 11 1 0 40 I 0 0 it 0' I ip I I I 0 fr 01 I 10? 1 0 1 40) 0 00' 1 1 0 0 I 4 lk! 1 i 3 40 141 to 40 'St Want To Be A CBcr? it as fast as private industry It takes budgetary planning" Anyone applying for a license today can expect a three-month wait said Small Present FCC regulations prohibit transmission over the 23 channels of the citizens band until a license has been issued and call letters assigned According to Small a proposal is under study to issue "point of sale" temporary authority to transmit until the license arrives But there is no real plan to adopt that method at this point he said MEANWHILE as the number of CB users continues to expand so do its uses In Berea Ky the school bus fleet has been equipped with CB radios In 19G0 there were about 100000 citizens band radios in use across the country This year in October alone 285970 CB license applications flooded the Federal Communications Commission The opening for this boom was created in 1958 when the Federal Communications Commission turned 23 channels originally reserved for other's use over to citizens band Today there are over 2 million CB licenses in force For the growing horde of CBers there are CB newspapers and CB magazines CB local clubs state clubs and regional clubs LAST SUNDAY a crowd that some said may have numbered 25000 jammed a Freedom Drive Mall rally for CB operators Whatever its size it was more people than the mall manager had ever seen gathered there before The No 1 country music song in Charlotte according to Edd Robinson program manager of radio station WAM-E sponsors of the rally is "Convoy" a trucking story interspersed with CB chatter Robinson expects it to hit No 1 nationally too Businesses use CB radio to keep in touch with personnel out of the office Truckers use it to advise each other of road conditions and speed traps to while away the long driving hours Private citizens may have CB in home or car to communicate with family members summon help or simply get in on the action and entertainment of talking to other CBers RAY WHITEHEAD owner of Charlotte Safe and Lock Co depends on CB radio to dispatch his servicemen and for their protection and his own when their work takes them into unexpected situations Whitehead and his wife Maxine each have CB radios in their cars too He recalls one incident during a family trip to Florida in which their CB radio helped avert what might have been a serious accident 'We were going down Interstate 95 in Georgia one of those strips where there's nothing for miles We'd been talking (by radio) to this trucker right behind us All of a sudden one of our tires went flat I knew he'd hit us because I couldn't brake I got on the radio and told him 'Back off I've got trouble' That's all that saved us" Maxine Whitehead is just as enthusiastic about this phenomenon of the air waves perhaps the fastest-growing communications medium since the invention of the telephone Mrs Whitehead has come to depend on her CB so strongly in fact that recently she those to leave her car parked for an entire month just because the radio was on the blink "From a woman's point of view the radio is as necessary as the car" she said "If you have any kind of trouble you can always get help" AFTER A SLOW start in the late '40s citizens band radio has come of age An outgrowth of the walkie-talkies of World War II CB extended to the general public the use of two-way frequencies formerly reserved The chatty crowd of CBers grows phenomenally each month If you want to join this giant party line here's what you need to know co Expect to pa about 4 1 At 8130 for good 1'AM kk basic equipment: a five-watt trans- 'Y-1'''' 4 I '7101 I II I ''r ceiver with vol- time control squelch (to cut out interference) and channel selector RANGE CB radios transmit and receive signalR over an average distance of about 15 miles Depending upon conditions the distance may be considerably less or more LICENSE $4 for five years Forms come with CB radios but if you want to apply before you buy send a check or money order to: Federal Communications Commission PO Box 1010 Gettysburg Pa 17325 REQUIREMENTS License applicants need only be US citizens over 18 years of age WAITING PERIOD It takes about three months to get a CB license since requests are at flood level CAUTION CB radios have replaced tape decks as a favorite target for thieves When an ambulance blew a tire on the New Jersey Turnpike a CBer summoned aid which arrived within 12 minutes The incident aroused some speculation that all ambulances should be CB-equipped An Indian Harbor Fla man summoned help by CB transceiver when his boat became disabled 20 miles out in the Atlantic for commercial and industrial interests aircraft ships government agencies and public utilities In 1958 stringent technical requirements were lowered setting the course for CB's current popularity But its use remained minimal until the fuel shortage of 1973 when truck drivers discovered it as a means of locating hard-to-find fuel supplies and avoiding speed traps after the limit was reduced to 55 mph Soon the craze spread to traveling salesmen and others who spend much of their time behind the wheel Besides warning each other of cruising highway patrolmen they found CB useful in keeping abreast of traffic and weather conditions to ask for the time of day report an accident request road information or summon help IT HAS BECOME the favorite "adult toy" for thousands who just want to plug in to the world's biggest party line Among young drivers who more often start fads CB radio is replacing the stereo tape player as the most wanted accessory Many enthusiasts end up with a CB radio in each car another in the camper or boat and another base station at home A whole new language was devised by operators using code names or "handles" which they choose for themselves Usually the name tells something about the person "Hammerhead" for instance makes his living as an upholsterer "River Runner" is a kayak enthusiast "Mother Goose" has produced six children "Poison Pen" is a journalist And "Good Time Charlie" well you get the idea Rapid growth has resulted in jammed channels and caused some concern among operators who fear CB's intent may be violated "It can be the biggest boon to this country if it is not ruined by people who do not want to cooperate" said Ray Whitehead CB RADIO USE comes under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission which requires operators to be licensed Until recently the license cost was $20 for a five-year period Now it is only $LI for the same period The only requirement is that an applicant be a US citizen over 18 years of age The 100000 CB radios estimated to be in use in 1960 by 1965 had crowded close to a million and were increasing at the rate of about 10000 a month During the first three months of this fiscal yeard In Montana CB radios in logging trucks are credited with helping to save the lives of many log ners AND WHAT MAY have started out as a tool against police now has turned into a valuable aid to them Georgia Gov George Busbee is so sold on the positive aspects of CB that he recently announced the appropriation of $96000 of his state's emergency fund to equip Georgia patrol cars CBers regularly come to the aid of the law: (July August and September) the FCC received 577807 applications for CB licenses compared with 113075 for the same period in 1974 A recent issue of US News and World Report said sales of CB equipment have been doubling every year' Sales for 1975 are expected to reach $750 million up from $400 million last year A billion-dollar market is expected for 1976 HOW IS THE FCC coping with the deluge of license applications? "Not very well" admitted John Small a regulatory assistant for the FCC in Washington "When anything in government makes a rapid change we can't handle 0 In Chilhowie Va the hit-and-run driver of a pickup truck was trapped by half a dozen 18-wheelers (tractor-trailer rigs) surrounding the vehicle and confining him until state police officers arrived to make the arrest Truckers spotted the pickup and used their CB radios to band together to trap it In Fayetteville members of the Cape Fear Citizens Band Radio Club are patrolling the city in an effort to help police curb armed robberies of convenience stores and prostitution within the city In Twin Falls Idaho three robbery suspects were captured by law enforcement officers helped by CBers Three armed men robbed a service station and ripped out the telephone The attendant used his CB radio to summon help CBers who heard the call helped police spot the offenders Incidents such as these reported in the monthly CB Magazine are becoming more and more frequent Party Boy To Gray Goose 70-4 Chime Your 20' 7 -41i: 1- 4 iogoocV ::::::11 Pi' t- IA i't 0: s- 7' 1 Sk ote i ---44 -) 1 -14 5ip A 7''7'sts: f1re--''diZA 4 4 ss 1r to' 3 k-41bikhvo1 e)''' 1 tl t1t I' 4 zil gt -411 1 si': 4 Atdwiatiwine4430vtoiolcBiiikuldni L0 Party Boy pulled himself up slid into the driver's seat and eased the big rig onto the interstate The citizens band radio crackled as he coaxed the 18-wheeler through its 10 gears You won't hear much till we get away from this mess" he said "Too much interference around this Queen City" LOADED WITH WRAPPERS for snack cakes he was headed for home still six hours away For Kenneth McHeehan Party Boy is his adopted handle for the air waves that means Decatur Tenn But most of his last 20 years has been on the road behind the wheel of the kind of big rig he now herded homeward AS AN EXPERIMENT the Missouri Highway Patrol allowed 140 troopers to install CB units at their own expense in September 1974 In the following six months according to Time CB-equipped state patrol cars logged 667 calls from private drivers The calls resulted in 221 arrests including 21 wanted criminals Capt Harry McKee troop commander of the NC Highway Patrol said CBers here have been helpful in reporting accidents stranded motorists rock slides and other hazards "We have no objection to people having them at all" McKee said "It's about like anything else You can put it to a useful purpose Whether it's being used extensively to circumvent the law I don't know how widespread that is" When a trooper was shot in eastern North Carolina last month CB users cooperated with highway patrolmen searching for the assailant by not giving away police locations through "Smokey reports" according to Charlottean Chuck Ilammonds who was traveling in that area ber out of Raleigh Miss and on his way to Milford Del with a load of pre-washed denims Dirt Dauber pulled his blue and white van up next to Party Boy's yellow freightliner as if guided by radar accepted the "Paper Lady" and was on his way Dirt Dauber is Jimmy Garner a 26-year trucking veteran "As long as I've been drivin' that's the best pill I ever took" he said pointing to the CB radio next to him Any time he gets sleepy he said the radio conversation stimulates him back to his senses "It's real helpful About three occasions lately I've run up on drivers that were a little wobbly I holler at 'em and ask if they're sleepy They thank me for it You meet a lot of new people too" On his return trip Dirt Dauber makes the rounds of mill towns to pick up fabric "Lot of the time I can't find the way If I get a local mobile and ask directions I don't waste time See PAPER Page 14E Col 1 ELSEWHERE in the Carolinas farmers in the field See CR Page 11E Col 1 "Party Boy" Kometh Melleeban Smokey reports and safety It's lonely in that cab But not the way it was Now there's someone or many at the touch of a button any time he feels like jaw jacking Out on the open road Party Boy spoke into the mike "How 'boutcha northbounder you gotcha ears on?" The pilot of a northbound rig responded immediately "Hey there good buddy You got the Gray Goose here northbound to that Queen City Go 'head" "Ten-four Gray Goose Gimme your 20" "Will do good buddy Just comin' up on that cotton-pickin' Little Rock Road exit Come on" "Ten-four Gray Goose You got the Party Boy here just comin' out of the Queen City and headin' all the way past that Atiant town How 'bout looking over your shoulder good buddy and give me a copy" "Looks like you're clean to the 321 exit so put your hammer down But ole Smokey's taking pictures just south of there Got 'im a four-wheeler" Yon flaw To Get The Jargon Hight A Primer For Jaw-Jacking 4 1 1 z- 1 1 11 C''': l- i i'1 II11 1 1 I 0 440 -ti: 1 IIIIII 4'i '':) 1 1 1 li 14k' i'' l' 1 I 1-' 4 1 1 it 4 A I ''''') 1 ''s'ik: i 1 -'201e I i i CBers are a breed apart with their own colorfully descriptive expressions and adaptations of the "10-signals" in use by all radio services But to communicate you must know the language as Mrs William Hampton of Charlotte discovered Her 14- year-old son Marshall who according to his mother "can imitate just about anything" picked it up right away and got good response to his transmissions while Mrs Hampton "couldn't get across" Here's a glossary to help you understand some of the most colorful and frequently used expressions in the secret language of CB SMOKEY THE BEAR the police (sometimes shortened to SMOKEY or BEAR) SMOKEY DOZING police in car stopped SMOKEY ON THE GROUND police out of the car SMOKEY ON RUBBER police moving SMOKEY TAKING PICTURES state police radar trap SMOKEY'S OUT OF FILM radar trap has been removed PLAIN WRAPPER unniarked patrol car TIJUANA TAXI marked Patrol car BACK DOOR the road directly behind FRONT DOOR the road directly ahead ROCKING CHAIR riding with a CBer at your front and hack doors BLOOD BOX ambulance BOUNCE AROUND next trip through BUBBLE TROUBLE tire problem CANDYMAN FCC inspector CHICKEN CHOKER poultry truck CHICKEN COOP truck weighing scales COUNTY MOUNTIE local smokey DEAD PEDAL slow-moving vehicle DRAGGIN WAGON wrecker EIGHTEEN-WHEELER tractor-trailer FOUR-WHEELER passenger car "FLAG VAVER highway worker GREEN STAMP money HOT PANTS smoke or fire JAW JACKING or MODULATING conversation MOBILE PARKING LOT automobile carrier ON THE PEG legal speed limit PUT THE HAMMER DOWN run SHANTY SHAKER mobile home driver THERMOS BOTTLE tank truck 10-4 affirmative (okay) Jo-10 negative 10-20 location 10-26 estimated time of arrival 10-30 danger or caution 10-33 help me quick 10-34 time "Mercy sakes I 'preciate that good buddy I'll keep my eyeballs out and smile real pretty for 'im You have a good day and a safe trip and catchya later y'hear" Party Boy turned to his passenger "The main advantage is the Smokey reports But other than that it's the safety features I was at the back door of a fella loaded with explosives one time got him stopped with the radio and him and me put it out And if something's happened up ahead everybody will he on there telling you about it" No sooner had he said it than the chatter began warning of a lane closed for construction Party Boy eased up on the gas in anticipation "I got a ticket over here in Gastonia about six weeks ago" he said "The first thing the patrolman asked me was 'Didn't you know I was Well I didn't know My radio had shorted out and was laying back there in the sleeper" Somewhere up ahead Sidewinder and Hardrock were modulating about nothing in particular Hardrock was just suggesting that Sidewinder "pedal faster so I can watch your front door" when Wheelbarrow chimed in with word of an accident ahead A big tractor-trailer lay on its side "I sure hate to see one like that" came a voice party boy's passenger needed to get back He pulled into a truck stop just north of Spartanburg got on the CB and within minutes had a response frorraDirt Ipitsioksogeowoilowo ELLEN SCARBOROUG liftwgamiiat0114666 Ooserver Photos by "Dirt Dauber" Jimmy "best pill 110010etwegimisM444665A Garner I ever took" -01 it Co A 0 o----orowdr-o-mr--wr- mwr-u4-11 7 op- qc A IV- '1IP 4 0 -1117P.