Schumer Announces that Apple, in Major Change in Policy, Will Ban New Apps That Help Drunk Drivers Evade Police

Press Release

Yesterday, At The Schumer's Request, Apple Changed Their App Store Policy, Banning Future Applications That Inform Users of DUI Checkpoints; Schumer Continues to Urge Apple to Remove Existing Applications That Still Enable Drunk Driving

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

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

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) today announced that, in response to his request, Apple Inc., manufacturer of iPhone smartphones, will ban from their online store new applications that help drunk drivers evade police. In March, Schumer, joined by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Tom Udall (D-NM), 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 request, but Apple and Google initially refused. At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in May, Schumer again pressed Apple and Google to ban the apps, and Apple yesterday updated its App Store Review Guidelines, prohibiting the inclusion of DUI checkpoint information in iOS apps.

"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."

These applications 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. 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.

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. Schumer 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. Schumer said that it was their understanding that Apple was currently reviewing those existing applications.

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. 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?"

Source