Numerous Applications For Smartphones Help Drivers Identify Where Local Police Officers Have Set Up DUI Checkpoints – Allowing Intoxicated Drivers To Avoid Them

In March, Senators Reid, Schumer, Lautenberg and Tom Udall Asked Apple, Research in Motion (RIM), Google to Remove These Applications From Their Online Stores; RIM Agreed Immediately, Apple and Google Initially Declined

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Tom Udall (D-NM) today announced that, in response to their request, Apple Inc., manufacturer of iPhone smartphones, will ban from their online store new applications that help drunk drivers evade police.  In March, the Senators sent a letter to smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, asking them to ban the dangerous applications or alter them to remove the DUI/DWI checkpoint functionality.  Research in Motion, manufacturer of Blackberry smartphones, immediately complied with the Senators’ request, but Apple and Google initially refused.  At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in May, Senator Schumer again pressed Apple and Google to ban the apps.

Apple yesterday updated its App Store Review Guidelines, prohibiting the inclusion of DUI checkpoint information in iOS apps.  Section 22.8 of those guidelines now states:  Apps which contain DUI checkpoints that are not published by law enforcement agencies, or encourage and enable drunk driving, will be rejected.

The existing applications pinpoint police enforcement zones through user-submitted information that connects to GPS data, providing drivers with the ability to evade DUI checkpoints, speed traps, and red light cameras. The applications are free or inexpensive to download from application stores.   The Senators lauded Apple’s decision to ban future applications from their store that enable drunk driving, and urged them to immediately remove existing applications that continue to help drunk drivers evade police.  The Senators said that it was their understanding that Apple was currently reviewing those existing applications.

“I commend Apple, Inc for taking this important first step towards making our roads and neighborhoods safer from drunk drivers,” said Reid.  “However, I strongly encourage Apple to take the next responsible step of removing all applications that allow unsafe drivers to evade police checkpoints.  Far too many families in Nevada and across the country have lost loved ones due to accidents involving drunk drivers, and we must do everything we can to stop more innocent men, women and children from becoming needless victims.”

“Apple has done the right thing in barring new DUI applications, but this victory will remain only half-won until the existing apps are removed from the store,” said Schumer.  “This is about eliminating tools that people currently have to avoid drunk driving checkpoints, and leaving these dangerous apps online would be a major and dangerous loophole.”

“Rejecting apps that help drunk drivers evade the police is a common-sense and responsible decision.  While this is a good step forward, we must also ensure that any existing apps are removed,” said U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ).  ”With someone in our country dying every 50 minutes as a result of an alcohol-related car crash, we need to focus on initiatives to keep drunk drivers off our roads and save lives.”

“The bottom line is that DWI Checkpoint Apps empower drunk drivers to break the law and, as we know all too well in New Mexico, the consequences can be deadly.  The new Apple policy is progress, and I look forward to their complete removal of the apps. It’s the responsible thing to do,” Udall said.

The applications in question help drivers identify where local police officers have set up DUI checkpoints, allowing offenders to escape detection.  One application contains a database of DUI checkpoints updated in real-time. Another application, with more than 10 million users, also allows users to alert each other to DUI checkpoints in real time.  Apple yesterday updated its App Store Review Guidelines, prohibiting the inclusion of DUI checkpoint information in iOS apps.

Law enforcement agents across the country have voiced concern over these products, with one police captain saying, “If people are going to use those, what other purpose are they going to use them for except to drink and drive?”

The dangers of drunk driving are well-documented. One person dies every 50 minutes in a drunk-driving accident, and more than 10,000 Americans die in drunk-driving crashes each year.

The full text of the Senators’ March letter can be found here.

Yesterday, Senators Reid, Schumer, Lautenberg and Tom Udall Asked Research in Motion (RIM), Google and Apple to Remove These Applications From Their Online Stores

Today, Research in Motion, Maker of BlackBerry, Told The Senators That The Company  Will Comply With Their Request

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Tom Udall (D-NM) today announced that, in response to their request, Research In Motion (RIM), manufacturer of Blackberry smartphones, will remove from their online store applications that help drunk drivers evade police.  Yesterday the senators sent a letter to smartphone companies, including RIM, asking them to remove the dangerous applications or alter them to remove the DUI/DWI checkpoint functionality.

The applications pinpoint police enforcement zones through user-submitted information that connects to GPS data, providing drivers with the ability to evade DUI checkpoints, speed traps, and red light cameras. The applications are free or inexpensive to download from application stores.   The senators lauded RIM’s decision and renewed their call for other smartphone makers to follow suit.

“Drunk drivers will soon have one less tool to evade law enforcement and endanger our friends and families,” said the senators in joint statement.  “We appreciate RIM’s immediate reply and urge the other smartphone makers to quickly follow suit.”

The applications in question help drivers identify where local police officers have set up DUI checkpoints, allowing offenders to escape detection.  One application contains a database of DUI checkpoints updated in real-time. Another application, with more than 10 million users, also allows users to alert each other to DUI checkpoints in real time.

Law enforcement agents across the country have voiced concern over these products, with one police captain saying, “If people are going to use those, what other purpose are they going to use them for except to drink and drive?”

The dangers of drunk driving are well-documented. One person dies every 50 minutes in a drunk-driving accident, and more than 10,000 Americans die in drunk-driving crashes each year.

Yesterday, the four senators sent a letter to the smartphone makers Research in Motion, Google Inc., and Apple Inc, asking them to remove these apps from their online store.  Today, a RIM representative thanked the senators for bringing the issue to the company’s attention and said that they would comply with the senators’ request to remove the applications, likely within the day.

The full text of yesterday’s letter is below:

Eric Schmidt

Chief Executive Officer

Google, Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043

James L. Balsillie and Michael Lazaridis

Research In Motion
295 Phillip Street
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3W8

Mr. Scott Forstall

Senior Vice President, iPhone Software

Apple, Inc.

1 Infinite Loop

Cupertino, CA 95014

Dear Mr. Schmidt, Balsillie, Lazaridis and Forstall,

We write today with grave concern regarding the ease with which downloadable applications for Apple, Blackberry and Android operating systems for smartphones allow customers to identify where local police officers have set up DUI checkpoints. With more than 10,000 Americans dying in drunk-driving crashes every year, providing access to applications that alert users to DUI checkpoints is harmful to public safety.

We know that your companies share our desire to end the scourge of drunk driving and we therefore would ask you to remove these applications from your store unless they are altered to remove the DUI/DWI checkpoint functionality.

One application contains a database of DUI checkpoints updated in real-time. Another application, with more than 10 million users, also allows users to alert each other to DUI checkpoints in real time.

Police officers from across the country have voiced concern about these products, with one police Captain saying, “If people are going to use those, what other purpose are they going to use them for except to drink and drive?” With a person dying every 50 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, this technology should not be promoted to your customers – in fact, it shouldn’t even be available.

We appreciate the technology that has allowed millions of Americans to have information at their fingertips, but giving drunk drivers a free tool to evade checkpoints, putting innocent families and children at risk, is a matter of public concern. We hope that you will give our request to make these applications unavailable immediate consideration.

Thank you for your prompt and careful consideration of this matter.  Should you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact our offices.

Sincerely,

Senator Reid

Senator Schumer

Senator Lautenberg

Senator Udall

With More Than 10,000 Americans Dying In Drunk Driving-Related Crashes Each Year, Senators Urge Smartphone Providers To Remove Dangerous Apps From Devices

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Tom Udall (D-NM) today urged smartphone makers to no longer offer software applications that help drunk drivers evade police, calling the applications “harmful to public safety.”  In a letter to Google, Blackberry and Apple, Inc., the senators acknowledged the companies’ commitment to social responsibility and asked that the applications be removed from online stores or else altered to remove the DUI/DWI checkpoint functionality.

“Giving drunk drivers a free tool to evade checkpoints, putting innocent families and children at risk, is a matter of public concern,” the senators said. “We hope that you will give our request to remove these applications from your store immediate consideration.”

The applications in question help drivers identify where local police officers have set up DUI checkpoints, allowing offenders to escape detection.  One application contains a database of DUI checkpoints updated in real-time. Another application, with more than 10 million users, also allows users to alert each other to DUI checkpoints in real time.

Law enforcement agents across the country have voiced concern over these products, with one police captain saying, “If people are going to use those, what other purpose are they going to use them for except to drink and drive?”

The dangers of drunk driving are well-documented. One person dies every 50 minutes in a drunk-driving accident, and more than 10,000 Americans die in drunk-driving crashes each year.  Given the harmful effect drunk driving has on families and society, the senators asked that the smartphone manufacturers stop facilitating access to this technology through their online stores.

March 22, 2011

Eric Schmidt

Chief Executive Officer

Google, Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043

James L. Balsillie and Michael Lazaridis

Research In Motion
295 Phillip Street
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3W8

Mr. Scott Forstall

Senior Vice President, iPhone Software

Apple, Inc.

1 Infinite Loop

Cupertino, CA 95014

Dear Mr. Schmidt, Balsillie, Lazaridis and Forstall,

We write today with grave concern regarding the ease with which downloadable applications for Apple, Blackberry and Android operating systems for smartphones allow customers to identify where local police officers have set up DUI checkpoints. With more than 10,000 Americans dying in drunk-driving crashes every year, providing access to applications that alert users to DUI checkpoints is harmful to public safety.

We know that your companies share our desire to end the scourge of drunk driving and we therefore would ask you to remove these applications from your store unless they are altered to remove the DUI/DWI checkpoint functionality.

One application contains a database of DUI checkpoints updated in real-time. Another application, with more than 10 million users, also allows users to alert each other to DUI checkpoints in real time.

Police officers from across the country have voiced concern about these products, with one police Captain saying, “If people are going to use those, what other purpose are they going to use them for except to drink and drive?” With a person dying every 50 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, this technology should not be promoted to your customers – in fact, it shouldn’t even be available.

We appreciate the technology that has allowed millions of Americans to have information at their fingertips, but giving drunk drivers a free tool to evade checkpoints, putting innocent families and children at risk, is a matter of public concern. We hope that you will give our request to make these applications unavailable immediate consideration.

Thank you for your prompt and careful consideration of this matter.  Should you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact our offices.

Sincerely,

Senator Reid

Senator Schumer

Senator Lautenberg

Senator Udall