Apple will reject DUI checkpoints app

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/apple-will-reject-d-u-i-checkpoints-apps/?hpw

by raheemm • 15 years ago

23 35 15 years ago

bits.blogs.nytimes.com

orangecat• 15 years ago

Regardless of whether you believe apps like this have a legitimate purpose, it demonstrates a disturbing aspect of the walled garden model. The government doesn't have to specifically prohibit an app it doesn't like, it just has to "encourage" the gatekeeper to remove it.

siglesias7• 15 years ago

That would be a disturbing aspect of government.

EDIT: To be clear, walled garden owners are under no legal obligations to comply with "suggestions" from government that apps be removed. If senators try to get their way by threatening regulation, I would say that's bad behavior on the part of those senators.

Urgo• 15 years ago

While I don't condone drunk driving at all and personally don't have a use for this app as I don't drink and drive this is just one more example of why I'm an android user. I don't need papa jobs looking out for me.

noarchy4• 15 years ago

You don't have to add a disclaimer about not condoning drunk driving. That you felt it was necessary says quite a bit about how we've been groomed to accept these checkpoints.

nasmorn• 15 years ago

The problem is that DUI is actually dangerous and the threat of being punished when you do kill someone does not deter people enough. Plus they obviously have low regard for their own life already. You need to threaten them with something that happens more frequently. Tada DUI checkpoints and losing your license or money.

ignifero2• 15 years ago

It would be socially responsible for Android/Google to do the same.

Steko• 15 years ago

"I don't need papa jobs looking out for me."

I hope you apply similar logic to all of the businesses you use. No onion rings at McDonalds? One more reason why I'm a Burger King customer. I don't need papa Ronald looking out for me.

redrobot5050• 15 years ago

Oh well. The developer will just move it to a web app. If he was smart, he was just using the embedded app version of Safari anyway to access a web site.

ianferrel• 15 years ago

To be fair, there are plenty of reasons to avoid DUI checkpoints even if you're not driving impaired.

They tend to substantially slow down traffic, for one.

siglesias7• 15 years ago

Do you check for DUI checkpoints every time you get in your car? Because I don't.

noarchy4• 15 years ago

Most people wouldn't think to do it. But if you have a busted tail light of which you were not aware, for example, rest assured that you'll know about it after passing through a "DUI" checkpoint.

_delirium• 15 years ago

I don't mostly because it's not easy. If there were an easy way to see where police roadblocks are, I would definitely glance at it and avoid them, because I don't really like interacting with police. I've never had any particularly bad experiences, fortunately, but it still slightly creeps me out to have to go through a police checkpoint in my own country, especially absent exigent circumstances like a recent shooting, or prison break, or something. (I don't really like going through the permanent immigration-check roadblock on I-10 in West Texas, either, but no app can do much about that one.)

Although what I'd really prefer is not a separate app I have to consciously check, but integration with a GPS routing device, the way some of them can use real-time traffic info. Just let me program in a police-roadblock penalty (say, call it equal to 30 minutes of traffic), and then reroute based on the real-time roadblocks info; that way I routinely avoid police roadblocks in my daily life without having to think about it.

unshift• 15 years ago

not to mention they give out more seatbelt and sticker violations at DUI checkpoints than they do DUIs

lurchpop• 15 years ago

Not to mention the fact that they violate the 4th amendment and even the founder of MADD is against them.

aguynamedben• 15 years ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_...

Where society's need is great and no other effective means of meeting the need is available, and intrusion on people's privacy is minimal, checkpoints toward that end may briefly detain motorists. In Michigan v. Sitz 496 U.S. 444 (1990), the Supreme Court allowed discretionless sobriety checkpoints.

ignifero2• 15 years ago

Don't you guys have friends who died DUI? Here in southern europe it's a big probelm. I hate it that when i learn somebody i knew died or killed this way, i can't help thinking 'he brought it to himself'.

tzs• 15 years ago

Note, however, that a good crowd-sourced traffic monitoring app could deal with that, without having to know that it is a DUI checkpoint. It just needs to know that there is an area where traffic is slow.

tlrobinson• 15 years ago

Where do they draw the line? What about Trapster/RadarActive?

siglesias7• 15 years ago

The moral argument in favor of rejecting this app pivots around whether it does in fact enable more drunk driving. If it does, there doesn't seem to be good justification for allowing the app to exist. I don't think the calculus should be any more complicated than this.

Edit: I'll disclaim that I have a bias, having had a friend die drinking and driving.

mw1234• 15 years ago

Should the calculus for banning vehicles or alcohol be any more complicated than whether they enable more drunk driving?

siglesias7• 15 years ago

When I say "enable," I mean "encourage more of," which implies preexistence of a problem that is being exacerbated.

qubit2• 15 years ago

I disagree. I think the argument is more about who gets to decide what is "moral" and who gets to promote/enforce that morality.

siglesias7• 15 years ago

OK, may I ask who that is that should make this call?

If I have a kill switch on my platform for apps that endanger people and I see that the app is endangering people, I'll feel a moral obligation to toggle that kill switch. Again, this is a rather straightforward call.

johngalt• 15 years ago

Perhaps some people take an issue with mandatory police inspections.

Someone who's salary I pay, using equipment I bought, forcibly stopping me on a street that I paid to build, and asking me what business I have being there.

Edit: What is the criminal penalty for having a .08 while performing law enforcement duties?

jseliger• 15 years ago

This is rather annoying, because I have two of them installed. They've never worked especially well, but it would be nice if they did.

Anyone know of a web app that's doing substantially the same thing?

kmfrk• 15 years ago

This is not the first police checkpoint app rejection, as I recall.

I think this is a fairly grey area, and I assume people are aware of the same thing. Instead of taking the gamble, I would looking into contacting someone related to the app review process and check if it would be acceptable.

Apple will reject DUI checkpoints app

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