Senators urge Apple to pull DUI checkpoint apps

If a driver is drunk enough to be a threat to society, then I would guess they would probably be too drunk to check their phone for DUI Checkpoints. This is an issue that fixes itself.

@SimonJesterUS

It sounds like you're suggesting that illegal searches and planting evidence are more likely causes of arrests than actual wrongdoing. If corruption and abuse or power are behind all this, why go to the trouble of coordinating (and announcing) a checkpoint, rather than just pulling people over at will?

When I pass someone struggling to walk a straight line on the sidewalk, I can guarantee you I'm not thinking, "Look at that horrible corrupt police officer, harassing an innocent citizen and just trying to pull in more revenue." The overwhelming majority of police officers are honest and do their job to protect citizens. People in many other countries are not so lucky.

@jonw

I'd certainly rather not be inconvenienced by a checkpoint, but I guess I'm kinda in the opposite camp — the minor inconvenience is a small price to pay for catching (and hopefully severely penalizing) a drunk driver. If I were to hazard a guess, such checkpoints are more likely to occur late at night, when I'm at home anyway. Besides, I've yet to hear complaints from someone I know personally about being wrongfully stopped at a DUI checkpoint.

Let's see...

Crushing debt, no federal budget in place, THREE military engagements, unemployment still hovering around 10%, unfunded entitlement programs, the middle east is in turmoil, Japan's disaster and on and on...

And now we have United States Senators taking time to get involved in state and local affairs & law enforcement, while telling people what's they're permitted to install on their phones...unreal.

I guess they're hoping that if they try to fool us into thinking they're doing something positive we'll forget about their total dereliction of duty.

I really hope Apple tells them to piss off and take care of the jobs they were elected to do in WASHINGTON.

Aren't all these checkpoints, by law, required to be put into the local newspapers a day before they are set up? So then why is this app so detrimental and different than the newspaper? It's purpose is the same as the newspaper, to alert the drivers. And while I see good reason for these stops, as others stated, they're definitely a way to make revenue. But at the same point, I feel like entrapment laws don't apply to DUI checkpoints. I went through one, and it took 45 minutes for them to accuse me of drinking and driving. I politely said no, and they said okay and had me on my way.

RIM has agreed to remove the apps from their store, cnet has the scoop on that here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20046291-94.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

I live in a city that has about 300 murders a year (go bmore!) I don't think cops around here are too worried about drunk driving until you actually go wreck some ish.

This kind of bs only affects some po-dunk town with some bored po-dunk cops with nothing else to do.

Also, laws are in place in this country to PROTECT THE CITIZENS FROM THE GOVERNMENT. You give them an inch, they take a mile

If apple and google pull any of these apps it will be a sad sad day

I suspect that checkpoints in each state are different. In Ohio there is a requirement of advertising the checkpoint in advance, to pick a road that traditionally has high traffic and has a potential for likely drunk drivers. In addition, the checkpoint must be marked prior to the closest intersection BEFORE the checkpoint so drivers can CHOOSE to go an alternate route.

It is amazing how many people with alcohol in their systems will still forge ahead into the checkpoint. Many are low testers (they thought they were ok), but many just miss the opportunity.

And as to radar detectors...I remember reading somewhere that a survey of drivers with radar detectors indicated that those who spent the money to have one were actually slower and safer drivers. They were just gadget nuts who thought it was cool to be ahead of the cop curve.

I agree with those who feel the app is harmless to society. Drunk driving is illegal. It is EASY to NOT drink and drive. But many still choose to do so. They will continue to do so regardless if Apple continues to approve of such an app.

Here in Tucson, checkpoints and mobile speeding radar units are advertised in the paper, TV and radio (even NPR).

Some curmudgeons complain in the letters to the editor, ect about the public notices but most people and cops actually believe it makes people slow down in those areas. Accidents do decrease in those areas.

(note: Tucson is one of the places Old people are legally required to go to die - we call them Snowbirds - so we have a lot of crumudgeons!)

I live in Los Angeles where after 10pm more than half of the people on the road are driving drunk. Checkpoints should be more numerous, and penalties should be much harsher.
People won't stop until it hurts them in the wallet, be it from massive fines or from missing work due to jail.

If your actually drunk I doubt your going to be aware enough to notice the alert and, even if you do, avoid the checkpoint.