I have been reading that they police themselves with the language better than CBs
As a FCC licensed HAM, you are held to a higher standard and strict rules of operation. If you violate the published rules the FCC can and will revoke your license, confiscate your equipment and fine you. This is why HAMs police themselves. Unlicensed operation on the HAM bands can result in the same punishment.
As for myself, I run a Cobra 75 WS XT into a Laird NMO antenna (11 meter) mounted on the truck bed rail just behind the cab.
For HAM operations I have a Kenwood TM-D710GA into a Diamond SG7500NMO dual-band mounted on the opposite bed rail just behind the cab. I also have a Kenwood TH-D72A Handheld for when I am hiking or when I am away from the truck.
The body for each radio is mounted under the rear seat in my truck and only the face plate/microphone are mounted by the driver seat.
the 710 output is 50 watts and I have hit repeaters 75~100 miles from my location on it. The 72 only outputs 5 watts max which is still higher then legal CB operation which is 4 watts. Both of the HAM radios have APRS (Automatic Packet Repeater SYSTEM) capability. This allows you to not only broadcast you location in a standardized digital signal, it also allows you to send and receive short messages. It is really nice if you have a large group traveling together. Keep a HAM at the front and another at the rear and you know where approximately everyone is.
As said before, the FCC has removed the Morse code requirement from all licensing levels for the Amateur Radio License. It is actually pretty easy to get and there has been a huge growth in amateur radio in the past couple of years. Also entry level equipment is pretty inexpensive and easy to find.
KF5QBY