Utah DUI - Checkpoints & Smartphone Apps
Utah DUI checkpoints and smartphone apps that help drivers located DUI checkpoints are covered in this post from Utah criminal defense attorney Steven M. Dubreuil.
Utah DUI checkpoints can now be downloaded via multiple applications that offer map alerts, and an opportunity for people to report speed traps to other motorists. One application named "Fuzz Alert" has caused concern among some Democrat lawmakers, including Sen. Charles Schumer of New York and Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada. These top politicians are asking Apple, Research in Motion, which make the iPhone and Blackberry smartphones as well as Google to ban the sales of these apps.
The CEO of "Fuzz Alert" has actually seen in an increase in sales since the lawmakers have spoken out against such technology. Some Utah police agencies are not concerned, "It actually helps us do what we want to do." said South Salt Lake police officer Gary Keller. "We want to deter DUI’s. We want people to know that, yeah, we are out there looking for them."
Sgt. Ted Tingey of the Utah Highway Safety Office agrees in that he advertises its DUI enforcement in hopes of keeping drunk drivers off the road. He has noticed that when they put up DUI checkpoints many club and bar owners provide courtesy ride homes for patron on these particular nights.
Most people including the officers tend to think that a true drunk driver will not get into his vehicle flip on his app and search for local law enforcement checkpoints. Keller stated, “When people become intoxicated, the first thing that goes out the window is judgment, so a lot of times they may know about the DUI checkpoints. They may have these apps on their phone but they ignore them because of the lack of judgment."
If you get a DUI, contact Steve DuBreuil at http://www.dubreuillawoffice.com, do not let this situation be worse than it already is, get representation.
Regardless, there is nothing wrong with having these apps; unless the laws change and make it illegal to do so.
