• 24
  • March
    2011

We have talked in other articles about the consequences of a drunk driving arrest. Even the first time a person is arrested, in Pennsylvania, the penalties can include jail time, fines, probation and hefty court costs. Although an attorney can work with you to minimize the charges and consequences of a drunk driving arrest, it is better to avoid the arrest entirely.

With some of the new apps that are available, avoiding arrests may be possible. Apps such as Cobra's iRadar, Trapster and Fuzz Alert all warn drivers about situations that could lead to arrest. The apps provide information about the location of red-light cameras, speed traps and DUI checkpoints.

Each of the apps works in different ways. Trapster bases its information on the input of others. PhantomAlert can be downloaded to GPS devices and uses information that has already been verified, as well as DUI checkpoint information sent in by other drivers. The app makes has an audible alarm that warns drivers of various situations that could cause tickets.

Some police dislike the apps, claiming that they were created with the purpose of helping people break the laws. Other officers take a different approach. They believe that because the apps warn people about all the places in which the law is enforced, that it encourages people to drive safely.

For now, the apps may be a great tool for reminding individuals to slow down. However, some senators have started attacking the apps, suggesting that it encourages drivers to break the law. Watch the blog to learn more about whether the senators' opposition to the apps changes the legality of using them.

Source: USA Today, "High-tech apps help drivers evade police," Larry Copeland, 21 March 2011