ERICA votes to return scanner access to local media

The Eastern Riverside County Interoperable Communications Authority (ERICA) has voted to bring back access to scanner traffic for local media.

The ERICA board vote 3-2 this afternoon in favor of restoring access to scanner traffic for local media organizations. Desert Hot Springs, Indio, and Palm Springs voted yes, while Cathedral City and Beaumont voted no.

It will be up to each department to decide whether or not to restore scanner access. Scanners will be back for the Indio and Desert Hot Springs police departments.

Palm Springs has elected to withhold pending a meeting with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra in mid-December.

ERICA is the organization that operates the radio signals for the Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Indio, and Beaumont police departments.

On Dec. 5, 2018, the ERICA board elected to turn-off media access to encrypted radio signals, which had been allowed for the past 8 years, citing new privacy rules.

The radios helped News Channel 3 bring you breaking news coverage on crimes, crashes, road conditions, and more.