We have talked in class about whether there should be laws regarding what products can be produced. If there is a market, should anything/everything be able to be produced and sold?
There is currently controversy over whether apps alerting consumers to police checkpoints should be allowed. "Locate Speed traps, speed cameras, DUI/DWI check points, red light cameras, active police vehicles and police enforcement areas." is how FuzzAlert advertises themselves. PhantomAlert is another company producing similar software. They claim that their product is to discourage drivers from drinking and driving. Four U.S. Senators have called for Apple to pull the apps from their devices, saying that alerting drunk drivers to the fact that police have a checkpoint set up is potentially dangerous for other people on the road who could be victims of the drunk drivers.
What do you think? Should we have software that alerts consumers to police checkpoints, speed cameras, etc.?
I think that although there may be a market for this product, I don't think it should be for sale as an app. I think that this would only encourage drunk driving if people were to know where the Police checkpoints are. Certain other products that detect police officers are illegal where I am from, and this app seems to bypass the law. I think this would increase drunk driving and should not be for sale.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Jackson
I agree with Kelsey. Though the idea of the app is to deter people from drinking and driving I think it would have the exact opposite effect. If people were drinking or partying at a friends house and on their way home were able to check to see if there were any checkpoints, all the app does is encourage these people to find an alternate route home. I do not think this app should be on the market.
ReplyDeleteOur nation gives us the freedom to act, say, or buy whatever we want to until it infringes upon the rights of others. An app like this would infringe upon the safety of others, a right of utmost important. I believe this product should be made illegal, as many other products that are harmful to consumers are often made.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this app may encourage drunk drivers to "get away with it." I could be wrong on this, but aren't the checkpoints posted in the newspaper? In the newspaper, it says the day, time, and cross street that the checkpoint will be at. Therefore, what is the difference between an app that tells you or the newspaper that tells you?
ReplyDeleteLaw enforcement agencies are required to disclose the location of sobriety roadblocks before the event, so news stations will often report them for your convenience. With this requirement, it doesn't seem like having an app that just serves as a reminder should be made illegal.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't believe that police should be legally required to say where the check points are. If you are going to drive drunk, you deserve to be caught. But that is a whole different debate.