You're all mad. Have you read the description on applications like Trapster? They list where common speed traps and posted-by-law DUI checkpoints are.
This is setting a very dangerous precedent for app removals if it goes through.
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U.S. Senators Ask Apple to Remove DUI Checkpoint Apps From App Store
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You're all mad. Have you read the description on applications like Trapster? They list where common speed traps and posted-by-law DUI checkpoints are.
This is setting a very dangerous precedent for app removals if it goes through.
From apps like this to radar detectors, I cant believe its legal to release products designed to circumvent laws, resulting in preventable deaths.
If you think it should be legal to speed, or to drive drunk, that change THAT law, dont make it legal to circumvent the existing law. It makes no sense.
If you think it should be legal to speed, or to drive drunk, that change THAT law, dont make it legal to circumvent the existing law. It makes no sense.
All DUI Checkpoints should be announced anyway beforehand. Apple will just throw these letters away.
********
They are couching this as a fight against drunk driving, but Trapster primarily is about alerting you to speed traps, red light cameras and other purely revenue generating tools used by local cops and insurance companies to take your money from you using the fig leaf of allegedly improving traffic safety.
pro-tip: You want to reduce red light crashes? Make the yellow light longer. Oh but that won't make you more money in traffic fines. Oops. In actual fact, many communities that have put in red light cameras have been caught cheating - REDUCING the length of the yellow lights beyond the minimums in the MUTCD.
If they ban Trapster from the store I solemnly swear that I will make it my life's work to build a web-based replacement that they can't ban.
They are couching this as a fight against drunk driving, but Trapster primarily is about alerting you to speed traps, red light cameras and other purely revenue generating tools used by local cops and insurance companies to take your money from you using the fig leaf of allegedly improving traffic safety.
pro-tip: You want to reduce red light crashes? Make the yellow light longer. Oh but that won't make you more money in traffic fines. Oops. In actual fact, many communities that have put in red light cameras have been caught cheating - REDUCING the length of the yellow lights beyond the minimums in the MUTCD.
If they ban Trapster from the store I solemnly swear that I will make it my life's work to build a web-based replacement that they can't ban.
Only a member of congress can imagine someone who is drunk logging in to Trapster to determine where the cops are located or notify others users where the cops are located.
MADD needs to come out with an application that makes it easier for citizens to notify the cops of reckless and drunk drivers instead of having congress pull these apps!!!
MADD needs to come out with an application that makes it easier for citizens to notify the cops of reckless and drunk drivers instead of having congress pull these apps!!!
Maybe people should just be intelligent enough not to drink too much.
Oh, wait, I'm asking WAAAYYYYY too ****ing much there.
Whatever. Just because you're over the legal limit doesn't mean you're so completely smashed that you can't operate a touch screen device. Using an iphone is much, much easier than driving a car while intoxicated.
That said, I don't want to make this about whether or not drunk driving is OK. We all know it's wrong. At least I hope we all know it.
The way I see it, a group of politicians get together to conceive some non-issue, complain about something that is completely legal, in order to score points with their constituents and look like they're being tough on drunk driving. I guarantee you that these guys have driven home drunk just as much as the average person. Maybe I'm being cynical, but come on! Don't we have enough on our plate already with all the actual work we need to get done. Enough with the goddamned showmanship already!
Ask apple to take the apps down, who are you kidding?
Eh not really. If you've been drinking. Don't drive. Not a difficult dilemma to solve. No technology required to solve it.
And if you are planning to go out and get hammered, take a taxi.
If you've got a "buzz" - you're probably more than capable of using your phone, but less than capable behind the wheel.
You don't have to be "falling down drunk" to be dangerous (and over the legal limit).
Always one in a bunch who brings up a personal experience to shock people into shutting up. My sister was eaten by a hyena. No hyena jokes please.
I think Apple's app-approval process is pretty arbitrary, so how much do they care about precedent in the first place? Apple giveth, and Apple taketh away. There is much bile spilled over it, but Apple's sales continue to soar.
I personally think passing around checkpoint info is protected under free speech. But, to repeat myself, anyone who is over the legal limit and uses an app to avoid a DUI is a selfish, irresponsible *******.
1) If you can pull up an app about where DUI checkpoints are, recognize where one might be, and craft a proper route around the checkpoint, then you probably aren't above the legal limit. I would almost want to use this app when I am sober to avoid any obnoxious stops on the way home.
2) Gizmodo brought up a good point. What's the difference between this app and people tweeting about DUI checkpoints?
3) In connection with point #1, I'm not understanding the arguments that the app should be pulled because the app would be essentially pointless. When have apps been pulled because they are pointless?
2) Gizmodo brought up a good point. What's the difference between this app and people tweeting about DUI checkpoints?
3) In connection with point #1, I'm not understanding the arguments that the app should be pulled because the app would be essentially pointless. When have apps been pulled because they are pointless?
Just put a good sobriety test in the app.
The way to solve this is to put a sobriety test in the app that has to be passed before the user can view any checkpoints. That way sober drivers won't have to take a route that wastes their valuable time. And sufficiently impaired drunk should be locked out of the app.
The app's sobriety test "login" can check a person's balance using the accelerometer and gyro, measure their reflex time, and maybe run a short N-back memory and attention span test that should discourage anyone who can't pass these tests from driving in the first place, maybe even display the length of the latest prison sentences doled out to people who drove impaired in their county.
The way to solve this is to put a sobriety test in the app that has to be passed before the user can view any checkpoints. That way sober drivers won't have to take a route that wastes their valuable time. And sufficiently impaired drunk should be locked out of the app.
The app's sobriety test "login" can check a person's balance using the accelerometer and gyro, measure their reflex time, and maybe run a short N-back memory and attention span test that should discourage anyone who can't pass these tests from driving in the first place, maybe even display the length of the latest prison sentences doled out to people who drove impaired in their county.
In this case you getting hassled is < then the value of getting a drunk ass of the road.
I do doubt how useful this app would be to a totally inebriated person, but let's get them buzz drinkers off the road too. If you have to use NYC transit after 911 you know what hassle is.
Am I Missing Something?
US Senators (and Congressmen) write the laws of this country. If they want to make this type of information illegal, they are the ones who write the laws so they should do it that way. But as other people noted, there are some states which have laws making DUI checkpoint locations public information.
Bottom line, just because a Senator or two asks Apple to do something does not mean Apple should. They are doing it this way (the easy way) because it would be very difficult to pass as a law and it might not hold up in court.
US Senators (and Congressmen) write the laws of this country. If they want to make this type of information illegal, they are the ones who write the laws so they should do it that way. But as other people noted, there are some states which have laws making DUI checkpoint locations public information.
Bottom line, just because a Senator or two asks Apple to do something does not mean Apple should. They are doing it this way (the easy way) because it would be very difficult to pass as a law and it might not hold up in court.
Surely these apps fall foul of the rule about no lasting entertainment?
They seem pointless if you're already drunk to be able to use it.
They seem pointless if you're already drunk to be able to use it.
Unless an app is breaking the law, then they have no authority and should have no reason to concern themselves with apps.
It's already been said, these checkpoints are posted in local papers, this is just an app that makes that information easier to access.
I bet Apple pulls them. RIM already did. Companies far too often cave to the illogical or crazies rather than standing up for what is logical and right.
It's already been said, these checkpoints are posted in local papers, this is just an app that makes that information easier to access.
I bet Apple pulls them. RIM already did. Companies far too often cave to the illogical or crazies rather than standing up for what is logical and right.
+1.
Though I've heard of cops pulling people over for flashing their lights at oncoming cars to warn of speed traps... I wonder if those people managed to get out of that ticket with the "Freedom of speech" (I hope they did).