U.S. Senators Ask Apple to Remove DUI Checkpoint Apps From App Store

[WestonHarvey1]

show me the law that says it'l illegal to notify other drivers of a cop checking speeds, or to notify the position of a DUI check point.

Most state courts have come down on the side of motorists who flash headlights as a signal, arguing that it is protected speech.

Where illegal, like Washington State, it's typically flashing high beams itself that isn't legal (safety reasons or whatever), and not the sharing of information about a speed trap.

 

[duervo]

136 negatives to this story ... nice.

Any perceived hit towards censorship obviously trumps the value of human life.

 

[rtdunham]

... Honestly, do you think someone who is Drunk is going to be checking the app for the checkpoints? Its just an excuse to get rid of these apps from the store and increase revenue (by ticketing more DUI drivers)....

Your argument's inconsistent: If drunk drivers won't be checking the app, then they'd be ticketed at the checkpoint whether or not the apps exist, so pulling the apps neither increases or decreases revenue, does it? Your argument (revenue generation) ONLY works if it increases the number of drivers ticketed because those drivers use the apps.

Now, IF some drivers do check the app, it increases the likelihood they can avoid the checkpoint and being taken off the road. Remember, most drunks don't think they are. So they might use the app to avoid what they think is an unfair stop. But if the stop shows they are over the particular state's alcohol content level, then the system's sorted them out and done a favor for the rest of us, no?

 

[dime21]

136 negatives to this story ... nice.

Any perceived hit towards censorship obviously trumps the value of human life.

I wonder how many who posted here in favor of removing these apps, are also supporters of wikileaks? i'm sure it's a significant number. how ironic.

How about you duervo, you a wikileaks fan? hmm?

 

[Calidude]

Lets leave these apps alone and put the Senators in jail.

 

[vwcruisn]

136 negatives to this story ... nice.

Any perceived hit towards censorship obviously trumps the value of human life.

should we ban email? I get mass emails on occasion from people at work notifying me of check points. Where does the censorship end "to save a life"?

 

[lllll]

Senators stop wasting tax payer money soliciting Apple to your feet and start asking Apple from bring jobs back to America. This makes more sense then trying to eliminate one app.

sure, 10,000 died DUI every yr. But 1,000,000 died every yr because they didn't have a job to support themselves.

CNET reports that four U.S. senators have sent a letter to Apple's iPhone software head, Scott Forstall, asking the company to remove from the App Store applications that are designed to allow users to be alerted to checkpoints for sobriety testing.The same letter was also sent to Google and Research in Motion to encourage those companies to remove similar apps from their application stores. Research in Motion has already agreed to remove applications offering data on DUI checkpoint locations.

While the letter itself does not specifically reference any iOS applications, a press release from Senator Schumer names Trapster and PhantomALERT as examples of free apps offering location information on such checkpoints.

In addition to real-time information on DUI checkpoints, many of the apps in question also offer information on speed traps, red light and speed cameras, accidents, and other traffic conditions, several of which have also been considered controversial, but the senators' letter focuses specifically on the DUI checkpoint functionality.

Article Link: U.S. Senators Ask Apple to Remove DUI Checkpoint Apps From App Store

 

[nsayer]

136 negatives to this story ... nice.

Any perceived hit towards censorship obviously trumps the value of human life.

Yes. It actually does. Because without freedom, human life has no value.

 

[sinsin07]

Exactly. This made me download Trapster, which warns of flooded roads, construction, etc. Perhaps you (all the people saying it should be pulled) should research the app first.

In addition, I just had the pleasure of going through a sobriety checkpoint a few weeks ago. I rarely drink - gives me an amazing headache, which has earned me the ridicule of college friends for years... it took 20 minutes to get through the checkpoint, and I felt embarrassed and harassed.

Sorry folks, we don't live in a police state. If you want to have police checkpoints everywhere to track your movements, yeah remove this. Otherwise, give those of us who don't feel like having bright lights shined at us and being talked down-to by the cops a way to avoid it.

BTW, can the government demonstrate any impact on law enforcement through the use of websites/apps that display this information? Don't blindly support things that have no data to back them up.

The app does not need to go away completely. The "offending" information could just be made not available.

 

[SolRayz]

The beautiful thing is that this is great advertisement for the app. I bet more people have downloaded this than ever before. I didn't know about this app until today, so thanks for that senator dumbfukz...

 

[duervo]

I wonder how many who posted here in favor of removing these apps, are also supporters of wikileaks? i'm sure it's a significant number. how ironic.

How about you duervo, you a wikileaks fan? hmm?

The true irony here is your blatant assumption that is based on nothing more than a "gut feeling".

 

[rajid]

show me the law that says it'l illegal to notify other drivers of a cop checking speeds, or to notify the position of a DUI check point.

Maybe it's not illegal everywhere. I was always taught that it was illegal, for example, to flash your lights to oncoming traffic in order to warn of a speed trap. I grew up in North Carolina. Maybe it's only illegal there.

As for notifying of the position of a DUI check, maybe it's not illegal, but perhaps it should be? If it's not illegal, then these programs are doing wrong, so why pull them?

I simply maintain that pulling the programs will simply mean that people will share the information via some other method, and I even made a prediction of the method they will use. It would actually surprise me if it's not already in use that way.

 

[kenaustus]

I prefer to see the apps pulled. Some apps are best not available. Maybe we could add others, like the locations of the various whorehouses, and best corners for buying drugs.

It certainly doesn't hurt to add to Apple's No Porn standards.

 

[dudemac]

I actually agree. Pull 'em. It may be censorship, but it's dangerous not to.

Freedom has a lot of risk involved. This does nothing more than negates the illegal check points. I don't care what the argument is. This is nothing more than an internal checkpoint that is illegal. If you are old enough to remember the 80's then you will probably recall how the eastern block communists countries were portrayed on TV. And we the good guys would never do things that they were doing "over there"! But alas there is no soviet union so I guess that makes it ok to do it now.
Just remember this safety while a concern can turn in to a prison that no one can get out of. Because the safest position is to have no choice. And without choice you are a slave. So enjoy your servitude.

 

[dime21]

The true irony here is your blatant assumption that is based on nothing more than a "gut feeling".

ok... so will you answer my question then please?

 

[sinsin07]

His counter point is supposed to be just as silly. That's his point.

No, that's your take on the point. My mileage varies.

 

[duervo]

should we ban email? I get mass emails on occasion from people at work notifying me of check points. Where does the censorship end "to save a life"?

Where does it begin to save a life? Removing apps that give real-time status to DUI checkpoints.

 

[Zeiss]

Ahh... America, the land of the free.... all rights and no responsibility. Its an insult to the concept of safe and responsible actions to think that an app that alerts you to a DUI checkpoint is OK. Speeding and red light is different, cause that STOPS people speeding and running red lights, but getting drunk (even moderately - you can still read an app and press a button on your phone) then knowing how to avoid the repercussions aint cool. And hey - try living in Australia - Random Breath tests and drug testing, but then the road toll here has significantly been reduced over the last decade - we have that wonderful campaign - 'If you drink, then drive - your a bloody idiot'!!

 

[sigma8]

No one likes drunk drivers. No one. Period. That being said, Apple should not pull the App. Speed trap apps will be next (Trapster)... Keep the app store open to everything thats legal. This is no different than a friend calling you telling you to avoid a check point. Neither is illegal.

I agree. These apps are only letting people share information. If law enforcement doesn't want people avoiding the traps and checkpoints, then they should randomize their placement. They can quickly render these apps useless by simply changing their methods. That solves the problem without impinging or seeming to impinge upon any free speech issues.

In fact, the notion that these apps exist at all demonstrates that people are sharing this information. I'd wager this was happening on forums or IRC (or through other means) on the QT well before the apps themselves were created. If they get the apps removed, it will still be happening. Law enforcement should be glad to learn that their methods have been circumvented, and that they should change them.

 

[sinsin07]

you don't think a web app will pop up for this the second these apps are removed from the store?

***I am 100% against drunk driving, if you drive drunk you are ignorant and should be put in jail. period.

Point not relevant. Apple runs the biggest app store in the world with the most desired devices on the planet, as evidences by 200 people standing in line at the Fifth Ave store at 5:55 AM in the rain this morning,, 12 days after the release of the iPad2.

 

[dudemac]

I prefer to see the apps pulled. Some apps are best not available. Maybe we could add others, like the locations of the various whorehouses, and best corners for buying drugs.

It certainly doesn't hurt to add to Apple's No Porn standards.

This is not even close to the same as having locations of whore house or drug dealers. However I would guess the police might like to have these apps.
Where and what police are doing is a matter of public knowledge. Posting where they are is not illegal or going against some other standard.

 

[JAJ]

Same here in NJ...The local papers always list the upcoming check points...Legally obligated to

Maybe certain municipalities do list them, but NJ does not have a law like that.


And all of you who say "the country is in flames", "unemployment is high", and ask how politicians can focus their time on this is amazing...you people are stupid. Do you understand how being a politician works? What their staff does all day? That you can't fix a nation in a day?

And not that it really matters, but our problem in America is that we're refusing to accept the global economy and that we can't remain a strong manufacturer and a strong service provider...tariffs and taxes won't accomodate both happily.

We still have an incredibly strong economy, so I don't really see what anyone is complaining about...

 

[eye]

I wonder how many who posted here in favor of removing these apps, are also supporters of wikileaks? i'm sure it's a significant number. how ironic.

How about you duervo, you a wikileaks fan? hmm?

I think wikileaks is funny and I don't think the apps should be pulled. Now THAT is ironic!

 

[GRuizMD]

Pull them... As trauma surgeon I see the tragedies caused by drunk drivers EVERY Day. Whoever is on agreement to provide means to avoid check points is invited to my local trauma center to see the victims and their families. If we can save one life, one innocent student or parent, even someone who made the mistake of drinking and driving... I would consider this worth.

Besides, the cost of taking care of those who do not die, but spend weeks months or years in the hospital due to a drinking related accident is enormous.

Speed radars are another big issue. In my state, its ok to refuse a helmet while driving a donor-cycle, as we call them, yesterday alone, we lost one kid who is waiting for transplant procurement and half a dozen were admitted with severe injuries most of them traumatic brain injuries while driving motorcycles.

 

[sinsin07]

I'd rather have an app that shows police officers donut runs.