Several United States senators are protesting a new wave of iPhone apps that highlight the location of known DUI checkpoints. The legislators are calling on the apps to be pulled from the market.
PhantomALERT Becoming More Known
After a wave of publicity earlier this week, including here on Gather, iPhone apps like PhantomALERT are becoming more known and possibly purchased. PhantomALERT professes to show DUI checkpoints in addition to other traffic alerts to help users avoid a ticket or worse.
Upset Senators Request Removal
Tuesday, four U.S. Senators came out asking for these apps to be removed from the market. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nevada), Chuck Schumer (New York), Frank Lautenberg (New Jersey) and Tom Udall (New Mexico) all signed the letter to Apple, Google Android, and Blackberry RIM asking for the immediate removal of any application that would help drunk drivers avoid detection. In the letter, the senators write, "(w)e know that your company shares our desire to end the scourge of drunk driving and we therefore would ask you to remove these applications from your store."
Blackberry RIM Has Removed Apps
According to MSNBC, this afternoon, Blackberry RIM removed all such applications from their marketplace. The senators issued a statement commending them and asking their competitors to follow suit. However, that may be a difficult request, particularly given the profits the companies are making on these ever-more-popular apps. In addition, Apple is known for not bowing to pressure over app removal unless the app proves to be particularly offensive.
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