DoT exploring technology that would disable cell phones in cars

The Hill ^ | 3 Dec 2010 | Sara Jerome

[Innovative]

The Transportation Department is looking into technology to disable cell phones in vehicles, according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

"There's a lot of technology out there that can disable phones and we're looking at that," LaHood said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

"I think it will be done," he said.

[JRandomFreeper]

Only problem is that OnStar(tm) uses the same frequencies that cell phones do. GPS uses 1.5Ghz, so depending on the splash of the jammer, GPS may not be affected. OnStar(tm) would. Jammers may also affect B/G 802.11 wireless internet.

/johnny

[Gene Eric]

Okay Feingold, yet another chance to say something, another chance to get all dramatically enraged...

(crickets)

[fishtank]

So not even your passenger can use the cell phone????

[DonaldC]

They will probably implement something that prevents the working of buttons on a phone, like they do with GPS when the car is in motion. It will be interesting to see what they come up with.

[broken_arrow1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CGm1WMmYyI

[SaraJohnson]

Now that you mention it, I supposed Homeland Security could make the argument that cell phone users in cars are domestic TERRORISTS! Obama could just order them all shot.

[manic4organic]

Damn Obama and his administration.

[ColdOne]

This is nothing but an attempt to move consumers to On Star which is a Government Motors product. Cell phones are direct competition to this product and they don’t like it. Not too long ago there was a commercial running were a guy gets into a accident and can’t find his cell phone because of the impact. The hook was that On Star was there and came to the rescue. Well that explains a lot for me.

[JRandomFreeper]

In that case, a jammer would be to the benefit of the auto thief.

Because the OnStar(tm) commands are transmitted over the .8 or 1.9GHz bands.

/johnny

[Logical me]

King Obama’s communists America finishing soon.

[Cicero]

Presumably this will raise the price of a new car by another thousand dollars.

How much government mandated junk are we already paying for in our cars?

[TigersEye]

They have loads of ideas for more.

Feds Propose Backup Camera Mandate By 2014

[SaraJohnson]

Lahood from da hood wants a lot of things he ain’t gonna git. The pinko. ;)

[RichInOC]

No, Secretary LaHood. Bad idea. Here in Southern California, people live in their cars and on their phones. I say this not as a threat but as a simple fact: You will have people of all political parties trying to kill you guys.

[FrankR]

No cell phones in cars...ooooooookkkkkkkkkkay

First of all, from where was the "cellular phone" derived? Methinks it was from (dare I say it, dare I say it) CAR PHONES

Gosh, what an idea. An actual phone you can use in your car! Wow!

Portability unheard of in generations past.

The ability to call an ambulance if you're in an accident. the ability to call for a mechanic or a wrecker if you're stalled in the hood. The ability to let your spouse/parents/kids know you arrives safely.

Now comes this minute wiener, DaHood, wanting to block said phones in cars...what a totalitarian control freak.

How is this technology going to be confined within the car? Will we be blanking out other pedestrian cell phone users? Why do pedestrians have the right to mobile communications and the drivers do not?

Is anyone besides me tired of this nanny-state bull$hit?

What possible good are cellphones if we can't use them driving?

Again, a few dolts have wrecks while texting and this nannystate nabob wants all drivers to lose phone priviledges.

I say if this is implemented, that we should all just totally cancel cellphone services all over the US. I'll be damned if I'm going to pull off somewhere, and have to get out of my car to use my cellphone.

We'll just bring the industry to it's knees due to cancellations and let DaHood be responsible for loss of all that tax revenue...right here when we can least afford to lose it.

I can pretty much say - knowing some about electronics - that I will disable such a circuit in my car, post haste, and screw'm if they don't like it.

It's time to crank up the TEA party and go back to DC...this nanny state freedom robbing has got to stop.

[Secret Agent Man]

Liberals are either just full bore on 100% of totally off.

Why use common sense when you either say “all must do it” or “none can do it”?

The solution is simple. IF people get into accidents and a cell phone is suspected being in use during the accident, PUT A PENALTY MULTIPLIER ON WHATEVER THEY ARE CHARGED WITH. If they cause manslaughter, triple the penalty because they were on a cell phone at the time. Nailed with distracted driving because of an accident? Multiply the penalty. Cause an accident on the phone, the penalty doubles or triples. Cause a death and it’s multiplied to felony manslaughter and loss of license for awhile. We are so lenient towards people who kill others using a car, compared to how we treat those with a firearm or knife. A car is a deadly weapon, you can kill so easily with it. The fact most don’t is immaterial.

You only nail the people who actually get into trouble with the phone. Not the rest of us. There are times when you are following a drunk that you’ll call 911, or if you are phoning in an accident. Sometimes it’s a lot safer to keep moving phoning in problems. I think most calls in the car can wait, and the only time I’ve ever called while driving is for 911 calls, but unless actual harm has come about, don’t charge anyone with anything.

[penelopesire]

Are we ready for the pitchforks yet? What is it gonna take to overthrow these tyrants?

ENOUGH OF THIS CRAP!!

IMPEACH!

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Imagine taking a long trip with your kids who cannot text and would rather be elsewhere. I can see an increase in the homicide rate.

These people are so damned stupid.

[ReverendJames]

So in case of emergencies???? You’re trapped in your car for five days or so but can’t call 911 ... almost the same reasoning for plastic bags ... don’t kill trees for paper bags but now plastic bags are being banned. Don’t you just love the reasoning of these people?

[SaraJohnson]

These are the kind of State controls the left has been imposing in Britain.