2004 Minnesota Statutes

     373.041 Police-operated broadcasting stations. 

    Subdivision 1.    Station and mobile units by sheriff.  
 A county may establish, construct, equip and maintain a radio 
 broadcasting station, with land-fixed repeater stations and 
 two-way communication mobile units as necessary, to be used for 
 public safety purposes under the direction of the sheriff.  The 
 county may acquire land by gift, purchase or condemnation for 
 use as a site or sites for the station or stations.  The county 
 shall exercise its powers under this subdivision in conformance 
 with any statewide plan for a coordinated system of radio 
 communications adopted by the Department of Public Safety after 
 consultation with the professional communications officers 
 representing law enforcement agencies involved in the plan.  The 
 Department of Public Safety shall adopt rules to implement the 
 statewide plan. 

    Subd. 2.    Rules and regulations; FCC.  A county 
 owning and maintaining a broadcasting station under subdivision 
 1 may, subject to the rules and regulations of the Federal 
 Communications Commission, extend its facilities to any city 
 located in the county, and to any adjoining county and any city 
 in an adjoining county, upon application of its governing body 
 to the county board requesting radio communication and service.  
 All mobile radio equipment and apparatus for two-way 
 communication used for the extended service shall be owned, 
 maintained and serviced by the county owning the broadcasting 
 station.  Charges for the service extended to counties and 
 municipalities shall be made on a cost sharing basis.  

    Subd. 3.    Sheriff radio and maintenance account.  All 
 money received as charges for the service rendered under 
 subdivision 2 shall be kept in an account designated the 
 "Sheriff Radio and Maintenance Account," shall not be 
 transferred or apportioned to any other fund or account, and 
 shall be used for no other purpose than the purchase of radio 
 equipment and maintenance of radio equipment and apparatus.  

    Subd. 4.    Sheriff; duties.  The sheriff of the county 
 owning the radio facilities shall broadcast all police 
 dispatches and reports submitted which, in the opinion of the 
 sheriff, have a reasonable relation to or connection with the 
 apprehension of criminals, the prevention of crime and the 
 maintenance of peace and order throughout the area serviced by 
 the broadcasting station or stations.  

    HIST: 1949 c 387 s 1-4; 1971 c 149 s 1,2; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 
 7; 1984 c 629 s 1; 1985 c 248 s 70