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http://cbradiomagazine.com/Feb%202007/Breaking%20the%20rules.htm

Breaking the rules

What do you think of when you imagine a criminal? Do you imagine someone who carries a gun and robs people, or maybe a guy trying to hotwire a car? Maybe you imagine a white collar criminal who is stealing thousands of dollars everyday from his work. Do you think of yourself as a criminal? You might laugh, but the truth may be closer than you believe.

Imagine the following scenario that took place on channel 19 on a Sunday evening

“Break Channel”

“Go ahead breaker.”

“Yeah I just picked up a new radio and was looking for a radio check”

“Roger that, your new radio is sounding good here in downtown Spokane, what’s your 10-20?”

“Spokane? Wow, I’m over here in Seattle, there must be some good skip conditions today.”

“Yeah I guess skip is rolling, I thought you were a local station here in Spokane. My handle is (Redbelly), how’s the weather over there in Seattle?”

“Hey (Redbelly), handle on this side is (Billy Jack), we’re getting rain right now, but looks like it’s starting to clear up, how bout on your side?”

“We’ve had snow the last couple of days and tonight we’re going to have freezing rain.”

“10-4, well I appreciate the radio check, never talked to anyone in Spokane before on the radio. Best wishes (Redbelly), have a good weekend!”

“No Problem, you take care and try to stay dry, we’ll be on the side.”
From the point in this conversation where the CB operators realized their relative locations to each other to the end of the QSO they were violating the law because they were in direct violation of federal FCC rules.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Part 95 - Subpart D - Rules for CB Service Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service Rule 13 section 9 states that it is illegal to do the following :

[9] to communicate with, or ATTEMPT to communicate with, any CB station more than 155.3 miles (250 kilometers) away.

The two stations in question were approximately 280.00 miles away from each other and therefore this was a clear violation of the FCC rules regarding CB radio transmissions. The FCC has the right to fine you up to $5,000 if they can prove that you WILLFULLY and REPEATEDLY violated the communications act or FCC rules.