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Last week we wrote about how members of the law enforcement community are divided over the benefit of smartphone apps that inform drivers on the location of school zones, speed limits, red-light cameras and DUI checkpoints. Some members of the law enforcement community believe the smartphone applications will cause more car accidents by inhibiting law enforcement efforts, and other members of the law enforcement community believe the additional information can help drivers abide by highway laws.
Four United States Senators have also decided to weigh-in on the issue as well. The four Senators, Harry Reid, Charles E. Schumer, Tom Udall and Frank Lautenberg wrote to the leaders of Apple, Google and Research in Motion and asked for the removal of any apps that contain DUI checkpoint information. The letter the four Senators sent did not specifically identify one single application but rather provided a general description. The Senators described an app where users contributed to the DUI checkpoint database and had a subscription of around 10 million users.
Each of the technology companies has their own guidelines regarding the creation and functionality of smartphone applications. Generally, each of the companies has a policy that bans apps that promote illegal activity. Despite the similar guidelines, the three companies had unique responses. Apple did not immediately respond to the Senators' request. Google said it would remove any application that did not conform to its policy but did not identify any applications that were not compliant. Research in Motion was the only company that promised to remove applications from its app store.
Source: CNET, "RIMS says it will pull drunken-driving apps," Josh Lowensohn, 3/23/11
Tags: DUI checkpoints, car accidents, drinking and driving, smartphone appsComments: Leave a commentView the Original article