HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Don't Ban DUI Checkpoint Apps!

Views:959
@ReasonVids

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wants to control your smartphone.

Yesterday, Schumer went after Google, Apple, and other smartphone-industry players who have refused to follow a "voluntary" request by him and Sens. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) that they ban apps that show where police are setting up driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints, speed traps, and the like.

State officials are applying similar pressure (and are also claiming that all requests for compliance are "voluntary"). Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, the son of Vice President Joe Biden, is pushing for bans and so is Maryland's Attorney General Doug Gansler, who likened the apps to "giving a robber the key and the alarm pad code to go rob a bank."

As a direct result of the pressure, Research in Motion, maker of Blackberry products, blocked the apps.

But are apps that give citizens more information about what law enforcement is up to a bad thing? They clearly fall under First Amendment guarantees of free expression (that's why lawmakers are saying their requests are "voluntary"). But perhaps more important, such apps actually minimize drunk driving and speeding - which is one of the reasons why police in places such as Travis County, Texas, are the ones entering the information for DUI checkpoint apps such as Trapster. As a Travis County cop puts it, if he can stop the problematic behavior without writing tickets or hauling people in, everybody is better off.

That's an irony that's lost on bullying pols such as Schumer, Biden, and others. But it's one of the reasons why the audience for such apps continues to grow.

Approximately 3.27 minutes. Featuring Cato Institute policy analyst Julian Sanchez and President of the Association for Competitive Technology Jonathan Zuck.

For links and more info, go to http://reason.com/blog/2011/05/11/reasontv-dont-ban-dui-checkpoi

Produced by Joshua Swain with Nick Gillespie, who also narrates. Filmed by Swain and Jim Epstein.

reason magazine
,
reason foundation
,
reason tv
,
nick gillespie
,
smartphone
,
libertarianism
,
regulation
,
nanny state
,
google
,
apple
,
technology
,
government
,
intervention
,
economy
,
economic
,
smart phones
,
mobile
,
nokia
,
news
,
cell
,
politics
,
police
,
cops
,
dui
,
checkpoints
,
iphone
,
biden
,
free expression
,
free speech
,
first amendment
,
travis
,
county
,
trapster
,
julian sanchez
,
jonathan zuck
,
cato
,
act
,
joshua swain
    Thumbnail for Calculate YOUR Share of Govt Spending on War, Entitlements, & More: Q&A with Emily Skarbek7:28
    Calculate YOUR Share of Govt Spending on War, Entitlements, & More: Q&A with Emily Skarbek
    ReasonVids
    961 views
    Thumbnail for Global Warming Scam Explained by Scientist — He schools CNN announcer — It's just money & fairytales2:18
    Global Warming Scam Explained by Scientist — He schools CNN announcer — It's just money & fairytales
    bestofsaidit
    939 views
    Thumbnail for How Rand Paul & Eric Holder Are Working Together on Criminal Justice Reform4:51
    How Rand Paul & Eric Holder Are Working Together on Criminal Justice Reform
    ReasonVids
    1647 views
    Thumbnail for Candace Owens rips Lebron a new asshole.10:44
    Candace Owens rips Lebron a new asshole.
    AOU
    1495 views
    Thumbnail for Goku gets his revenge on Krillin | Koi0:51
    Goku gets his revenge on Krillin | Koi
    invidious
    352 views
    Thumbnail for Outlast Whistleblower Gameplay Walkthrough Part 3 - Outside (DLC) | theRadBrad26:14
    Outlast Whistleblower Gameplay Walkthrough Part 3 - Outside (DLC) | theRadBrad
    invidious
    341 views
    Thumbnail for Switch 2 Mouse | UFD Tech0:45
    Switch 2 Mouse | UFD Tech
    invidious
    165 views
    Thumbnail for Trackmania 2020 RPG - Riverside Summer 2021 Remix - World Record by Micm0 (3:27.841) | blackpulse4:18
    Trackmania 2020 RPG - Riverside Summer 2021 Remix - World Record by Micm0 (3:27.841) | blackpulse
    invidious
    484 views
    Thumbnail for NUEVA LEY PERMITE MEDICAMENTOS SIN CONTROL | OUKE1:50:36
    NUEVA LEY PERMITE MEDICAMENTOS SIN CONTROL | OUKE
    invidious
    84 views
    Thumbnail for Any Goats Know Somebody With Cancer?2:03
    Any Goats Know Somebody With Cancer?
    bestofupgoat
    534 views
    Thumbnail for The Whitest Kids U'Know Season 4 Episode 722:49
    The Whitest Kids U'Know Season 4 Episode 7
    wkuk.topic
    517 views
    Thumbnail for America's Future Foundation: Roger Custer on Millennial and the Liberty Movement5:35
    America's Future Foundation: Roger Custer on Millennial and the Liberty Movement
    ReasonVids
    1013 views
    Thumbnail for My GIANT wall painting robot | Stuff Made Here23:24
    My GIANT wall painting robot | Stuff Made Here
    invidious
    428 views
    Thumbnail for C-SPAN After Dark: Alcee Hastings' Cher-Like Awards Show Acceptance Speech0:53
    C-SPAN After Dark: Alcee Hastings' Cher-Like Awards Show Acceptance Speech
    ReasonVids
    909 views
    Thumbnail for Hey don’t be a bigot!  | Since when is stating the truth bigoted2:09
    Hey don’t be a bigot! | Since when is stating the truth bigoted
    bestofvoatxyz
    681 views
    Thumbnail for MADRUGOL CON MR PEET: SIGUE EN LA PELEA - DEPORTIVO GARCILASO 0 - 1 ALIANZA LIMA1:43:22
    MADRUGOL CON MR PEET: SIGUE EN LA PELEA - DEPORTIVO GARCILASO 0 - 1 ALIANZA LIMA
    invidious
    156 views
    Thumbnail for Is It Time to Abolish Three Strikes? "The Return" Follows Newly Released Inmates Into the World13:46
    Is It Time to Abolish Three Strikes? "The Return" Follows Newly Released Inmates Into the World
    ReasonVids
    851 views
    Thumbnail for The Pat McAfee Show | Thursday March 7th, 2024 | The Pat McAfee Show3:39:51
    The Pat McAfee Show | Thursday March 7th, 2024 | The Pat McAfee Show
    invidious
    363 views
    Thumbnail for High-Quality Instant Ramen0:37
    High-Quality Instant Ramen
    invidious
    199 views
    Thumbnail for You can’t get more flavour than this | Fallow0:57
    You can’t get more flavour than this | Fallow
    invidious
    90 views
    Thumbnail for New Year Music Mix 2025 ♫ Best Music 2024 Party Mix ♫ Remixes of Popular Songs | Magic Club11:54:57
    New Year Music Mix 2025 ♫ Best Music 2024 Party Mix ♫ Remixes of Popular Songs | Magic Club
    invidious
    148 views
    Thumbnail for That one unemployed mate on a random thursday: | FunnyMemeSpot0:13
    That one unemployed mate on a random thursday: | FunnyMemeSpot
    invidious
    186 views
    Thumbnail for Can it run Doom? | SeanHodgins0:22
    Can it run Doom? | SeanHodgins
    invidious
    390 views
    Thumbnail for TIS Tetris [Game]1:00
    TIS Tetris [Game]
    whated
    1252 views
    Thumbnail for MAR 29 ABR | EXCLUSIVA: UN ALCALDE DE SINALOA A DESAFUERO…POR NEXOS CON EL NARCO. | PIE DE NOTA | Con Luis Chaparro1:09:44
    MAR 29 ABR | EXCLUSIVA: UN ALCALDE DE SINALOA A DESAFUERO…POR NEXOS CON EL NARCO. | PIE DE NOTA | Con Luis Chaparro
    invidious
    102 views

points

Permalink
Reply
reason magazine
,
reason foundation
,
reason tv
,
nick gillespie
,
smartphone
,
libertarianism
,
regulation
,
nanny state
,
google
,
apple
,
technology
,
government
,
intervention
,
economy
,
economic
,
smart phones
,
mobile
,
nokia
,
news
,
cell
,
politics
,
police
,
cops
,
dui
,
checkpoints
,
iphone
,
biden
,
free expression
,
free speech
,
first amendment
,
travis
,
county
,
trapster
,
julian sanchez
,
jonathan zuck
,
cato
,
act
,
joshua swain
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle